The Bunny Camp Newsletter is brought to you by Leeds & Bradford Hopper Group in support of The Bunny Camp Sanctuary, who kindy let it feature on Rabbit Rehome. If you have any queries regarding the newsletter, appeals or rabbits in it please contact them directly not Rabbit Rehome.

> Rabbit Rehome Homepage
> Bunny Camp News Homepage

Bunny Camp News

Volume 1 Number 11 November 2003

Contents:-

A very special bunny.
Can you help with our website?
The Bunny Camp Calendar
Countdown to our Christmas party
Bunny Health
The Barbara Peters Pages
Bun of the month!
Comment from our editor
Join the Leeds & Bradford Hopper Group
A reminder of who we are
Some useful contact details

Ø Bunny Camp News is produced by the Leeds & Bradford Hopper Group

Ø In support of The Bunny Camp Sanctuary.

A very special bunny - HONEYS APPEAL

We are trying to set up a TRUST FUND for Honey as her weekly care is expensive and the veterinary bill is getting higher and higher. This fund would enable us to give her the care she needs and the life she wants. Please read her story and then decide if you can help.

Honey’s Story

My first sighting of Honey was on Tuesday 9th July 2002 sitting under a small round upside down laundry basket on a cold kitchen floor. She had become an unwanted pet like hundreds of others that I have rescued over the years but right from day one it was obvious she was different.

I will never forget the two big eyes peering out of the holes in the basket. I lifted the basket up and fought back the tears. I noticed her back was full of scurf as I bent down and scooped her into my arms but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw when I turned this adorable bunny on her back. Her left leg was large, swollen and unusual in shape. All her skin underneath and half way up her back was red and very sore from urine scalds and she was heavily soiled. Amazingly she had not been struck down with fly strike.

My first thought was to get her checked over by the sanctuary vet (Mr Simon Thomas of the Gatehouse Veterinary Group, Allerton). Her owners with tears in their eyes said their goodbyes and I placed her in the warm fleece filled carry box and jumped in the car. My heart was beating fast as I drove the car straight over to the vets, I couldn’t help wondering what was going through her scared little mind. Honey was seen straight away by Simon who examined her and suspected she had at some point broken her leg, he was keen to get her cleaned up and made comfortable before X raying her leg. She spent the afternoon in the veterinary hospital where she was cleaned up and treated for skin mites before being allowed home with me.

I knew from day one Honey was going to need extensive care on a daily basis so I brought one of the indoor cages into the house and put an incontinence mat and a large fleece in the bottom of the cage and in the corner a large litter tray for her to use. As I placed her in the cage she looked bewildered, a look that made me think she knew she was safe but also unsure about trusting me. I carefully introduced my husband Jim to Honey so as not to frighten her. His face looked sad, a tear ran down his cheek and he wiped it away quickly hoping I wouldn’t notice but it was too late I had already realised how upset he was.

Over the next few days we spent a lot of time tending to the sores on Honeys skin and the very severe dirty bottom, this meant bathing her on a daily basis. She slowly started to trust me and seamed to know I was trying to help her despite the pain she was obviously in. As I began to win her trust it became obvious she was a real character and was strong willed. This became more apparent when Pet Rescue contacted us requesting the opportunity to follow Honey through her treatment.

On the 17th July Honey went into the vets camera crew in tow to have her leg x rayed. First the crew filmed her being examined by Simon which meant shifting and moving her into position which she objected to with a quick nip on my tummy showing her assertive personality. Later that day I went to collect Honey from the vets and get the results, I was very distraught when Simon showed me the X rays, her left tibia should have been straight but instead it was in the shape of a T and had healed that way. This meant she was in severe pain, unable to hop properly and keep her bottom clean. The next step was to take her home and return her the following day for the leg to be repaired.

I woke very early on Thursday 18th July with a very sick feeling in my stomach, today was the day of reckoning for Honey. I was worried about how she would cope with the anaesthetic and the operation but I also knew she couldn’t be left as she was and that Simon was the best person for the job. I gave her the usual morning bath and waited for the camera crew to arrive which wasn’t long. At ten o’clock we set off to the vets, the journey seemed to take for ages despite the fact we were only five minutes away. When we arrived I reluctantly handed Honey over to one of the nurses and signed the consent form agreeing to the operation. Feeling very emotional I set off home leaving the camera crew to film her operation.

Hours felt like days as I tried to keep busy waiting for the all important call, eventually the phone rang and I hesitated before lifting the receiver. My heart was pounding and my hand shaking as I answered the phone, it was Simon he sounded very pleased with himself. I asked how she was and his reply was so positive, the operation had gone very well and she was starting to come round. The break had been repaired and an external fixater had been put on her leg to hold the bone in place while it healed.

Jim and I went to visit her that evening and were amazed, as soon as she heard our voices she lifted her head and a look of relief came over her face. I gave her some fresh vegetables that I had prepared for her and she tucked straight in as though she had never been fed. It was hard to believe she had just gone through a major operation. I suddenly realised she was one tough cookie and it would take a lot to keep her down.

It only took three days and we were going to collect her from the vets. She had to return for check ups once a week but everything seemed to be progressing normally. She settled very well into what she now considered home. Apart from a daily bath in the morning for her dirty bottom she was very happy. Every day after her bath she would sit in the dog’s bed and survey all that was hers and she seemed very happy. It soon became apparent that she had a strong personality and if she didn’t want to do something it was very obvious when a loud bang would come from her back feet. This would for most bunnies have been ok but for Honey this was to be fatal as she managed on the 23rd September to re fracture the bone and was admitted back into the veterinary hospital to have the bone re aligned and a pin inserted down the side of the bone as well as the fixater to give the bone more stability.

Home again she came and her routine continued as normal, but unfortunately on the 4th December she was re admitted into the hospital when she reasserted her authority and stamped her foot with disapproval when she couldn’t have her own way dislodging the pin. The pin was then removed and the fixators re positioned. She once more returned home but this time she seemed very quiet. By the 9th December she was only eating veg which was worrying and she was miserable so back into hospital she went staying for about a week on antibiotics and duphalyte injections. She arrived back home on the 16th December a lot happier, eating well and from her reaction also glad to be home. Apart from her very sore skin and a dirty bottom everything else seemed fine.

The more time I spent with Honey the stronger the bond between us became, I admired her great love for life and ability to overcome every hurdle put in front of her. Life became settled and quiet over the Christmas period and she enjoyed all the trimmings especially the lights which seemed to fascinate her as they twinkled in the dark winter evening.

Unfortunately this period of calm couldn’t continue and on the 17th January 2003 she visited the vet with a further problem with the bone. It was decided that the fixators should be removed and a plate and 9 screws be inserted in its place. Yet again the surgery went well and this adorable little girl was back in the clutches of my arms. She had to continue on the Baytril and also depocillin injections daily to try and clear up the infection.

Over the next few months things became very quiet as regard Honeys health. Every week she had a check up with Simon who was very pleased with the progress. The antibiotics were continued long term as there was always a discharge from the wound and a little inflammation. During this quiet period tests were done to see if she was E Cuniculi (Encephalitozoon Cuniculi) positive due to the dirty bottom and urine incontinence. She had three tests and all of them produced a negative result which was fantastic as she had enough to cope with.

Now that everything seemed to be going in the right direction I suddenly thought about her age and Womb cancer as 95% of all the female rabbits over four years old that the Sanctuary has had spayed have had cancer. On a routine visit to check her leg I discussed this with Simon, we had both been so wrapped up in the leg that spaying had passed us by. She was admitted that morning and scheduled for surgery after Lunch. Leaving Honey never got any easier and the anxiety was there until the dreaded phone call came. Simon phoned early evening to say she was doing well however the womb wasn’t health and it would have to be sent off for report.

I felt so deflated, part of my work at the sanctuary is to guide and advise owners of bunnies about the risks of womb cancer in female bunnies and I had been so wrapped up in honeys leg I had forgotten this all important advice myself. The next two weeks were hard waiting for the outcome of the tests. I sat down in the surgery that morning waiting, my heart pounding. Simon sat on his chair in front of me with a piece of white paper holding the all important answers. Quietly he read the outcome but all I heard was UTERINE ADENOCARCINOMA. I struggled to fight back the tears as he explained what this meant for Honey. Simon was hopeful the womb was complete on removal and it may not yet have spread. We have to now hope that her determination will keep her well.

Honey settled back into home life once again unfortunately as the wound from her spay healed the leg again got worse and on the 11th October she was taken back into hospital and the left leg amputated. Again her personality had carried her forward as she started to recover from this major operation, however fate wasn’t on her side again as the infection took hold once more and the wound opened up.

At present she is in good spirits and loves life to the full running all over the lounge and dining room every day. She accepts that the twice daily baths are part of her routine and the medication and injections must continue for the time being. Her incontinence will stay with her but it doesn’t bother her so it doesn’t bother me.

For anyone who is wondering why carry on with the treatment should come and meet Honey and see what a happy life she leads here at the Sanctuary.

Now you have read her story if you wish to donate to her cause contact the sanctuary. We are grateful for any help however small. You can pay by cheque (payable to "Bunny Camp Sanctuary" please make sure you write honeys appeal on back of cheque), standing order if you wish to give continuous help (form available from sanctuary) or alternatively call in at the sanctuary with your donations or left over foreign coins.

Please make sure all correspondence is marked "HONEYS APPEAL"

Contact details: Bunny Camp Sanctuary
4 Stoney Ridge Ave
Heaton
Bradford
BD9 6PA

Tel: 01274 821665

Can You Help Us

As a lot of you will be aware we have our own website but unfortunately we are not in contact with the person who built and launched it for us so we are looking for someone with the knowledge to advise and aid us in updating our site as it is very much out of date.

E Mail: bunnycampsan@blueyonder.co.uk

Phone: 01274 821665

Post: 4 Stoney Ridge Ave
Heaton
Bradford
BD9 6PA

The bunny camp calendar

The Bunny Camp Calendar is now available, and costs just £5. All profits (£2.45 from each calendar sold) go directly to benefiting the buns. We are gradually replacing all of the old wooden cages with state of the art metal ones, which are much easier to keep clean for their occupants. All of the buns featured in the calendar are our permanent resident “sponsor bunnies”, that are too ill to leave Bunny Camp. So forget popping out to the newsagents for a calendar for Granny, buy her one of ours instead. Go on, you know you want to!

Countdown to Christmas

Well Bunny Campers, December 7th is fast approaching, and with it, the Bunny Camp Christmas Party Day.

Our party days are often the first time that we get the opportunity to meet our many friends and supporters, so if you have thought before about visiting Bunny Camp, but have not somehow managed to do so then why not come along?

You will meet lots of other Bunny People, and you will have the opportunity to meet all of our buns. There will be stalls where you can buy goodies for both your buns and yourselves, as well as raffles, games, refreshments, and much, much more. So come along and join in the fun!

Bunny Health – Urinary Problems
by Paul Hutchinson

Bunny people often go on at length about the solids that come out of a rabbit’s backside (yes, we are strange like that), but people new to keeping buns often notice the urine first. I’m sure that I was not the first to panic when I first saw red wee, and I’m sure that I won’t be the last either!

Rabbit urine varies greatly. The colour changes that you will see mostly originate from diet. The more carrots they eat, the redder it gets. What is far more important to watch for is sludgy urine, as this can indicate problems. It is often caused by calcium carbonate building up in the bladder, and can result in Cystitis, Urethritis, and even Dermatitis.

Another thing to watch for is “urine scalding” this is a condition that occurs when the bun gets the perineal skin wet, and soreness, or “scalding” occurs. This is in itself a painful condition for any rabbit, but it usually is just a symptom of other problems. Does your bun have arthritis that prevents him or her squatting properly to pass urine? Is he or she overweight? Do they have a condition that prevents normal grooming which would prevent them from cleaning themselves? And is their litter tray cleaned out as often as it should be? Another less obvious cause is dental disease, or malocclusion of the teeth. Again, a painful mouth can be the trigger to stop grooming, therefore causing your bun to stay wet.

So what can you do to prevent problems?

Make sure that your bun has a correct diet. Too many pellets make for overweight buns that have problems cleaning themselves
Feed unlimited hay. This will NOT make your bun fat, but will help grind the teeth (it is also vital for good digestion).
Keep litter trays as clean as you possibly can.
Check your buns at least once a day by cradling them in the crook of your arm (Most of them get used to it eventually!)

The important thing to remember is that if you are in any doubt, then take your bun to your vet. A good vet will be able to give you advice on feeding, and helping your bun to keep clean, as well as being able to give a full dental examination. If you are unsure about bunny savvy vets in your area, you can always check the list published by the Rabbit Welfare Association at:- http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/RWA/vetlist_info.htm Currently, you need to join the R.W.A. to access the list, but it’s a worthy cause anyway! Another thing you could do is to ask any potential vet what animals they specialise in. Rabbits are very different to dogs and cats, and are actually more like sheep in the way that their digestion works! Finally, a good indication is what textbooks do they have? Do they for example have Francis Harcourt-Brown’s “Textbook of Rabbit Medicine?

Last but not least remember not to panic. Your furry friend picks up on your demeanour, and will react.

The Barbara Peters Page

WOT .. NO CURRENTS!

You wake up in the morning pay a visit to your beloved bun armed with fresh supplies for breakfast, and to your horror you realize you are a few currents short up the corner.

Whilst flying around getting dressed with one eye on the clock willing the vets to open, do stop and think for a minute and head for the bunny medicine cabinet.

Is bun a little hunched and not eating? If so, give him 2mils of Infacol, he might just have wind.

Is bun quietly eating his breakfast and faintly wondering what all the fuss is about? Give him 20mils of pineapple juice this should help him push out a few currents.

It is really up to your instincts as to whether bun needs the vets, but the above simple remedies won’t hurt him and may just help his situation.

Bun of the month

Harvey Who owns BCN reader Gabriella

End column By Dandy

Goodbye Mrs Smith

It is always a sad day when somebun goes off to the rainbow bridge. This month, there are two very special buns who have made the journey. Below is a message from Vicci (a 2-foot) had to say goodbye to Mrs. Smith her beloved companion, and on the next page is a message from - Loppy, Mister Jingles and Tigger, who lost their very good friend Thumper-Binx.

Mrs Smith : 1997-2003
by Vicci

On Sunday 18th October, I had to say a very painful goodbye to my beautiful bunny Mrs. Smith. We’d had 7 ½ wonderful years of cuddles together, but sadly last week, she became very poorly, and I had to let her go.

I am devastated, as I miss her beautiful face so much, but I know that she is now on the bunny bus to heaven, and I’ll be looking for her again when it’s my time to cross the rainbow bridge.

God Bless sweetheart

Vicci
XXXX

Hello Dandy
We are sorry to trouble you, (and we should not really be using our 2-foots email address), but would it be possible in your next journal entry to type a few lines of thank you’s to everyone for the wonderful messages we have been receiving about Thumper-Binx?

With huge thank you’s to you - Loppy, Mister Jingles and Tigger

PS - The day you held the wake (which was ever so kind of you) we got our castle ... it was from Thumper-Binx.

Read Dandy’s live journal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/dandybun/

Why not join us?

The Leeds & Bradford Hopper Group meet about once a month, usually in a child friendly pub (yes Sonya brings her kids!). We talk about Bunny Camp and plans for the future, but we do not just confine ourselves to that. We are a general talking shop for all things rabbit, and would love to welcome any Bunny Camp News readers to join us.

If you would like details of where and when we meet, then call Allison Girt on 0113 239 7408 (evenings), or e-mail her on : alison.girt@btinternet.com

Who we Are

Here at the Bunny Camp Sanctuary, we strive to provide a safe haven for rabbits who, through no fault of their own, end up here because they have been mistreated or neglected, or simply because their owners can no longer look after them.If you are interested in re-homing or sponsoring any of the gorgeous creatures that we have, or simply wish to make a donation to this worthwhile cause, please contact:

Sonya and Jim McDonough
4 Stoney Ridge Avenue,
Heaton,
BradfordWest Yorkshire
BD9 6PA
England
Tel: (0044) 01274 821665
Email: bunnycampsan@talk21.com

Useful Contacts

R.S.P.C.A. regional headquarters
P.O. Box BR29
LS13 2XL
Phone (24 hours) 08705 555 999

The Rabbit Welfare Association PO Box 603,
Horsham,
West Sussex
RH13 5WL

Some Other Good Rabbit Sancturies

BUNNY BURROWS. RABBIT RESCUE
Gwen & John Butler
68 Whitefields Drive,
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL10 7DL

Telephone: 01748 824788
Website:- http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/bunnyburrows/index.phtml
E-Mail:- bunnyburrows@ne.communigate.co.uk

Society for Abandoned Animals
The Peggy Henderson Animal Sanctuary
Barfoot Bridge
Stretford
Manchester M32 9UP