FREE PLEASE TAKE A COPY
AUTUMN 2019
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In this issue
> Top tips to keep pets calm during fireworks > A guide to... probiotics for pets > Preparing for a new kitten > Getting to know, Melanie Sainsbury Veterinary Nurse, Natures Menu > How to handle your rabbit
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EDITOR’S COMMENT I’m delighted to present the autumn 2019 edition of Companion Life Magazine. Companion Life is a free magazine, which aims to offer pet owners information, news and advice. In this issue we focus on the challenges that the fireworks can bring for pets and their owners, offering some top tips, as well as highlighting the latest news in the animal world. We also share a guide to probiotics for pets and how to prepare for a new kitten. Feel free to get in touch with any features, news, pet products or even your pet pictures.
NEWS
Nutravet celebrates five years calming anxious pets Back in 2014 Nutravet launched their fast acting calming supplement to help reduce stress and anxiety in pets.
Developed to fill a gap in the market for a fast-acting natural calming supplement for pets Nutracalm soon became the calming product of choice for vets throughout the UK because of its natural and fast acting nature. Other products on the market at the time (and still today) expected pet owners to wait up to 6 weeks before seeing any noticeable benefits but Nutracalm is
Circulation: 40,000 copies of Companion Life are distributed to veterinary practices across the UK. Contact details: Companion Life, Barn 3, Somerford Business Court, Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12 4SN www.companionlife.co.uk Editor: Laura Evans.
Editorial: editor@companionlife.co.uk Advertising/artwork: advertising@companionlife.co.uk Companion Life is part of ‘WITH Marketing Ltd’, The contents within Companion Life is fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Companion Life. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Companion Life, its distributors and WITH Marketing Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.
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Today, it is the UK’s number one veterinary exclusive calming product, recommended by thousands of vets throughout the UK and Ireland. Matthew Shaw, Managing Director of Nutravet commented: “Nutracalm has been very successful in the market since its launch in 2014 and is now recommended in over 70% of vet practices throughout the UK. It provides a novel and natural alternative for animal healthcare by providing a unique high strength formula for supporting behavioural management.”
Rescue dog is enjoying the life of Riley during its Bring your Dog to Work Day celebrations.
Laura Evans Editor
Companion Life Companion Life is a Free Magazine providing news, information, tips and advice for pet owners across the UK.
formulated to work within 1-2 hours, which makes it perfect for one off stressful events such as the fireworks.
A rescue dog is enjoying the life of Riley after being adopted by the CEO of Fish4Dogs.
The working cocker spaniel, who is about 18-months old, was handed over to Birmingham Dogs Home by his original owners who could not afford to pay for ongoing care needed to manage his urinary tract problem. Riley received veterinary attention to control the bladder stones he had developed and was on the road to recovery when Giles Webber, CEO of Birmingham Dogs Home (BDH), took Riley to visit Fish4Dogs
The chocolate and white dog immediately stole the hearts of those at the event including Graham and Jo. The couple already have a springer spaniel, Sadie, aged seven, along with cats Milo and Max and were actively looking for another dog to join their furry family. Fish4Dogs is an active partner of BDH supporting their operations through food donations and joining forces to raise awareness and raise funds. Riley arrived at his new forever home in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside in July. He immediately acclimatised to his new surroundings, was a popular choice with Graham and Jo’s children and grandchildren and was quickly accepted by their existing pets.
Agility Team GB announce new partnership The Kennel Club has announced a new partnership between Agility Team GB and Hartpury University & Hartpury College.
As one of the leading education providers in agriculture, animal, equine, sport and veterinary nursing, Gloucestershire-based Hartpury University and Hartpury College joins the Kennel Club and Natural Instinct in supporting Great Britain’s top dog agility team. The announcement comes ahead of next year’s European Open 2020, which will be
held at Rutland Showground in Leicestershire from Thursday 3 July to Sunday 2 August 2020. As well as their support for Agility Team GB, through the provision of the venue and facilities for both squad and team days, the partnership will also see a collaborative approach to sports science research in competitive canine activities. Kathryn Mansfield, Kennel Club secretary comments: “Agility Team GB represents the highest standard of agility on a global stage, as well as showcasing the benefits of sport which caters for all breeds and all ages of handlers.”
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Rosewood Pet Products gets tails wagging with exciting new products Rosewood Pet Products has announced a new line-up to its portfolio of pet toys, treats and accessories.
The new line-up of products features a number of exclusive new brands, including Planet Dog and Outward Hound. For dogs, Rosewood has introduced the following: Little Nippers - A new range of toys which caters for very young or small dogs who need special care and attention. Designed to provide hours of fun, develop their play skills and keeping their little
NEWS SNIPPETS
mouths busy and minds satisfied. Planet Dog - Made in the USA, Planet Dog has created, innovated and developed premium, eco-friendly products. A Rosewood exclusive, Planet Dog products are manufactured without the use of any chemicals, softeners or toxins. Outward Hound - Rosewood holds the exclusive license for Outward Hound, which features a number of sub-brands, including Bionic and Nina Ottoson toys, and the best-selling Hide-A-Squirrel dog toy. The new products are available from various retailers and online retailers. To view the full new product range, you can visit www.rosewoodpet.com/new-products.
Pets are guests at almost half of weddings, survey reveals A survey commissioned by The Insurance Emporium revealed that pets feature as a guest in almost half of weddings in the UK.
Dogs were man’s best friend when it came to the wedding pet of choice, with cats quite some way behind. Pigs, horses and snakes were all in the top 5 wedding pet guests too. On the more unusual end of the spectrum were ducks, monkeys, tortoises and iguanas.
Over 40% of those surveyed even said their pet had been the star turn of their wedding, with animals getting up to all sorts of entertaining capers.
Of those surveyed, 43% viewed the pet as the Guest of Honour and nearly a third said they saw their pet as Best Man and a quarter saw them as Bridesmaid. Significantly, almost a third said their pet did a better job than a human counterpart.
Almost half of the wedding pets had their own wedding outfit, and a quarter even went along to the honeymoon.
The Insurance Emporium’s Chief Executive Officer, Francis D Martin, said: “As a pet owner myself, I know that pets are like a member of the family. A wedding is one of the most special days in a person’s life, so it’s only natural that some people want their beloved pets to be there too.”
Having a pet at a wedding did not come cheap, however, with an average of £276.74 being spent on the pet’s wedding outfit, food, accommodation and travel.
RSPCA reveal popular pet names As the ONS unveils 2018’s most popular baby names, the RSPCA reveals the top names for animals taken in by the charity last year. The RSPCA revealed it took in more dogs called Buster and Bella than any other in 2018 and more cats called Harry and Poppy. Making the list of top male dog names are Buster, Max, Rocky, Bruno, Diesel, Jack, Milo, Alfie, Marley and Bobby. On the list for top female dog names are Bella, Rocky, Bonnie, Molly, Ruby, Lola, Poppy, Coco, Daisy and Tia. Top male cat names include, Harry, Charlie, George, Henry, Jasper, Tigger, Milo, Billy, Felix and Sooty and the top female cat names are Poppy, Molly, Daisy, Tilly, Daisy, Bella, Luna, Willow, Mia, Missy and Lola. New research shows abandoned pets finding a new home is on the rise Nearly half of people said a rehoming centre or animal shelter is where they would get their next pet from whilst only one in ten said family or friends, and just 13% said breeder. But, the research, carried out by Vets4Pets revealed there are still some misconceptions about pets in rehoming centres, with many people admitting they wouldn’t rehome a pet as it might have pre-existing issues. Just over a third said they think the pet would have potential behavioural problems.
Recognise yourself?
/animals
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ARTICLE
A guide to...
PROBIOTICS FOR PETS Like humans, the majority of a dog and cat’s immune system resides in their gut. The gut is the largest immune organ in the body, which also digests and absorbs food. It is populated by trillions of bacteria collectively called Microflora, which support a dog or cat’s digestive function. The bacterial population can be affected by a number of aspects and bad bacteria can flourish and multiply which can lead to an upset tummy.
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What are probiotics? Probiotics are living organisms that are found naturally in foods such as yoghurt. They are known as ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria as they compete for space and fight against bad bacteria to prevent them from settling in the gut. Probiotics can have a positive effect on a pet’s digestive system. They can help to increase friendly bacteria within the gut, as
well as replenish the natural balance of gut bacteria and improve their stool consistency. Good bacteria are integral for your pet’s gut health, but they also support their brain, digestion and their immune system. Boosting your pet’s immune system is one of the most important roles of probiotics. Approximately 70% of the body’s immune Lymphatic
tissue is located in the digestive tract, mostly in the form of ‘GutAssociated Lymphatic Tissue’ (GALT). The GALT contains many types of immune cells that optimise the efficiency of immune response. Studies have shown that having a healthy microflora stimulates the immune tissue. Therefore, a healthy digestive system is
important for optimal immune support, as well as helping to aid recovery.
This can cause digestive imbalance and impairs the GALT immune response.
What to look out for • Excessive gas • Regurgitating or vomiting • Changes in your pet’s appetite • Loss of weight • Diarrhea / changes in stool consistency and quantity • Eating grass to alleviate discomfort • High temperature • Lethargy and general feeling unwell
Viruses and bacteria can enter the body through your pet’s mouth and probiotics are present starting in the mouth and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Maintaining your pet’s good bacteria can help to keep pathogens in check.
When to use probiotics The intestinal tract is the organ in the body that digests and absorbs food. It’s populated by bacteria that keep your dog healthy.
pets that are suffering, but they can also kill healthy (beneficial) gut bacteria and upset the delicate microbiome balance.
If your pet develops an upset tummy or Diarrhea it may result in a trip to the vets where probiotics may be prescribed.
The immune system produces toxic oxidative products which can injure the cells of the gut. These are usually balanced by the animal’s own antioxidants but can become overwhelmed in times of inflammation or infection.
During illness & recovery Various drugs and pain killers can have a vital and often lifesaving role for
Tummy upsets Due to the inquisitive and natural presence to explore, scavenge, taste and put themselves in places they shouldn’t be (and because pet owners & humans have a habit of offering too many treats) pets are prone to tummy upsets.
How probiotics can be beneficial Maintain long-term gut health To help maintain long-term gut health and a healthy digestive balance Probiotics can help with conditions such as, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic or infectious diarrhoea and pets with a history of gut related problems.
Maintain tummy comfort
Immune support
During recovery
Do you have a nervous dog or cat? If this is the case it could have an impact on their digestive system and using probiotics for pets could help to look after their digestion during stressful periods.
Probiotics can help to optimise the efficiency of the immune response to help fight infection and boost immune system functioning.
They can help pets who are recovering from surgery or treatment who require added immune support.
If taking antibiotics They can help to repopulate the balance of good bacteria that antibiotics can wipe out.
Probiotics are becoming recognised more and more as a positive way to improve the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats, by both vets and pet owners. Speak to your vet for further information on how probiotics can help your pet.
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ADVICE
TOP TIPS to keep pets calm during fireworks When fireworks are let off sporadically, stress and anxiety can become common amongst dogs and cats. This can continue from October to the New Year and can be a stressful time for pets, as well as their owners.
For a pet affected by loud noises, the fireworks season can be a terrifying time. If your pet becomes stressed, they could display this in a number of ways, such as, vocalisation, shaking, aggression, reduced appetite and ears pinned back. There are, however, many positive things that can be done to help keep your pets calm. Provide a den
This can be an enclosed ‘safe place’ for your pet to hide. Cover the top and all sides of a crate, table or cupboard near the centre of the home, or where they have previously hidden. Make it comfortable. You can even add a jumper or t-shirt of yours that will smell familiar to them. Let them come and go as they please.
Stay calm
During the fireworks stay calm yourself and don’t react to any loud bangs, as your pet will react to you. Try not to worry and don’t get angry with your pet or over fuss them, just reassure them gently and be as normal and routine as possible.
Don’t punish your pet
If they do anything out of the ordinary due to stress, don’t punish them. This is a reaction to how they feel in a situation and shouting at them could lead to further stress.
Keep pets indoors
To prevent extra stress, keep pets indoors during the fireworks. For cats who like to go outside, make sure you place plenty of litter trays around the house, especially by usual exit points. Make sure your dog has had an opportunity to go to the toilet well before it gets dark.
Distractions
Provide your pet with plenty of toys to distract them from the loud noises. Ignore the fireworks yourself and play with your pet, but don’t force them to.
Mask the sound of fireworks
Try and mask the sound of fireworks by putting the TV on or playing some music, especially if animals are left home alone. You could also muffle the sound of the fireworks by closing the curtains and windows.
Stick to your routine
Maintain your routine and try to keep all feeding and walking routines as normal as possible. This will help to reduce any stress for your pet.
Take your dog for walks in the day
Burn extra energy by taking your dog on a longer walk during the day. Avoid walking them at night when fireworks are being set off, try morning or afternoon walks.
Comfort your pet
Sit close to your pet and stroke them to try and keep them calm. Physical contact could help to make them feel safe and reduce their anxiety.
Prepare in advance
If you know a specific event is taking place or when the fireworks are likely to be set off try to prepare ahead of time.
Behavioural techniques
If your pet is generally quite fretful and anxious then you can look into introducing behavioural techniques to help overcome the issues. Speak to your vet who can help advise the best approach for your pet
Utilise calming products
There are a wide range of products on the market that have been developed to help pets that get stressed and frightened by the fireworks. These include: natural supplements such as Nutracalm, which works within a couple of hours, Anxiety vests such as Thundershirts and plugin diffusers such as Adaptil.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT If you would like your product featured in a future edition please get in touch editor@companionlife.co.uk
In this edition, we highlight some pet products that we think our readers will love...
Nutracalm - reduces stress fast
BT Smart Home Cam - Keep an eye on your pets
PAWDYGUARD Live-in Animal Care
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BT’s Smart Home Cam presents a stress-free way to keep an eye on your pet and property whilst away from home. With features including HD quality video, night vision, motion detection sensors, two-way audio, alert and snapshots sent directly to a mobile device, the BT Smart Home Cam offers pet owners peace of mind.
Do you own a number of animals and find it difficult to get away from home?
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Pawdyguard is the answer. Vets advise that animals are creatures of habit; happiest and healthiest when there are no changes to routine. We are experienced, qualified, insured and police checked. Most “free” services are not and more geared towards house sitting than knowledgeable Animal Husbandry. Make arrangements for them all with just one call. www.pawdyguard.co.uk
Prices from £10.50 for a box of 15 sprinkle capsules Reducing stress and keeping your pet calm is vital for them to lead a happy and healthy life. Nutracalm has a unique veterinary strength formula that calms anxious pets and helps to reduce unwanted and unruly behaviour quickly. Nutracalm is fast-acting and works within two hours of administration without any sedative effect. It is safe for both long and short-term use and contains the key ingredients for naturally supporting stress and anxiety in dogs and cats in an easy to administer sprinkle capsule. www.nutravet.co.uk/ nutracalm
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ARTICLE
Preparing for a new kitten Getting a new pet can be an exciting time for any home. As a new pet owner, it’s important to help your new kitten settle into their environment and ensure they experience a stress-free introduction to their new home. Any new pet is a commitment and as their owner it’s important to understand their needs so you can manage their quality of life. Kittens require time and patience and it’s important to do your research and understand the cost and responsibility of owning a cat.
There are many things to consider before getting a kitten, which include: Cost – can you afford the essentials that a kitten would need, as well as any unplanned costs, such as vet bills or cattery costs if you go on holiday. Environment/space – do you have the right home environment for a cat? Will they fit in with your lifestyle? Time – do you have the time to commit to a new kitten? Can you take time off work to settle your pet into their new home?
Existing pets – do you have any other pets? Have you thought about whether they will get along? Cats can be territorial, and some don’t like sharing their environment with other cats, this can cause stress. Have you considered adopting a rescue cat? – kittens can be cute and entertaining, but they aren’t for everyone. Have you thought about adopting an older cat? There are hundreds of cats looking for new homes in rescue centres up and down the UK.
Kitten proof your home
Ensure your home is kitten proof and you have all the essentials for your new pet. Remove any poisonous plants and tie up any hanging cords or cables to prevent your kitten from chewing or choking on them. As cats are inquisitive, keep places you don’t want them to go out of bounds, keep the washing machine and tumble dryer doors closed, as well as windows shut to stop them from jumping out.
Cat toys
Provide your kitten with toys to play with to encourage exercise. Although kittens sleep a lot, they do have short bursts of energy, so be sure provide them with something to play with so they don’t get bored. Kittens also love to climb, so remove any breakable objects that they may be able to reach to prevent any accidents.
Diet
Your new kitten will need a specific diet, which will ensure that they get the essential nutrients and vitamins they need for their growth and development. Kittens have small stomachs and have to be fed little and often. Set up a feeding schedule to prevent your kitten from overeating and gaining any unwanted weight. If you have more than one cat, be sure to feed your cats separately to prevent one stealing food from the other.
Grooming
Be sure to start grooming your cat straight away to get them used to the routine early. If you start handling their paws and trimming their claws early, this will help to make it a less stressful experience.
Keep your kitten indoors
For the first few weeks and until they have been vaccinated, keep your kitten indoors. This will help them to get used to their new environment. Make sure you get your kitten micro-chipped when they are old enough in case they escape or get lost.
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There are many things to consider and prepare before bringing your new kitten home to help make the process as stress free as possible. Here are a few tips: Exercise
It is important to train your kitten to play without being aggressive. They should learn early that play with claws and biting is not acceptable behaviour. Any exercise for your kitten should incorporate their natural desire to climb and hunt.
Be patient
Give your kitten time to adjust to their new environment. Give them space and limit the amount of time you handle them in the first few weeks. Always supervise children when they hold your kitten. For safety and until your kitten gets used to their new surroundings you could limit them to just one room of the house.
Bedding
Provide your kitten with a comfy and warm cat bed. Most cats sleep where they like but having a bed will get them used to a routine and prevent them from sleeping in places you don’t want them to. Place their new bed close to their food bowls and within easy reach of their litter tray.
Litter tray
Be sure to place this in a quiet area, away from food and water bowls. Make sure that the litter tray is cleaned each day. Kittens usually pick up on how to use a litter tray from their mother, but you may need to offer some help and encouragement at first. If you have more than one cat, you need at least one litter tray per cat in the home.
Register with a vet
Scratch posts
These are important to relieve stress for your kitten and to make sure they don’t scratch at furniture. Cats naturally scratch before they settle, so make sure it is in an accessible place. You could place a few around the home.
Food and water bowls
Cats prefer to eat in a different place to where they drink, so make sure you place their food and water bowls away from each other. Provide your kitten with fresh water each day.
Make sure you register your new kitten with a vet. Regular health checks with your local vet are important to ensure that your kitten is receiving the best possible care. They will be able check their overall health and advise on important vaccinations that they will need, as well as offer advice on diet, flea and worm products.
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GETTING TO KNOW
Q&A How can owners identify that their pet’s diet is poor? All owners want to ensure their pets are happy and healthy, and one of the best ways to achieve this is through a balanced diet. A bad diet can manifest itself in several ways leading to digestion issues, unpleasant stools, skin allergies and irritations, serious weight gain leading to obesity and unstable energy levels. Dogs and cats can thrive on a natural raw meat diet and nutritionally balanced, complete raw feeding aims to give them a diet appropriate to their digestive systems in a safe format. It has been shown to have a positive impact on a pet’s health and wellbeing on countless occasions. The commonly reported benefits of switching to a healthy, raw diet include fresher breath, cleaner, whiter teeth, more stable energy levels, reduction of allergies and intolerances, increased palatability and less flatulence. For pets with sensitive stomachs, a raw diet has also been known in some cases to improve digestion. What is RAW feeding? Raw feeding aims to give dogs and cats a natural, unprocessed diet appropriate to their digestive systems and as close as possible to what they would have eaten in the wild. The stomach pH in dogs and cats is much lower than that of humans, meaning they are able to break down raw meat and bone. Closer inspection of various pet foods has shown that
Melanie Sainsbury Veterinary Nurse, Natures Menu
Registered Veterinary Nurse, Melanie Sainsbury, lives in Suffolk with her husband, pet dog and collection of chickens, quails and rabbits. She has over 15 years’ experience working in various small animal practices and has been Veterinary Education Manager since 2014 for Natures Menu, the UK’s number one for raw and natural pet food, where she helps to promote raw and natural feeding. Here, Melanie explains what raw feeding is and its benefits: many contain added sugars, salts, preservatives, meat meals and meat derivatives however, Natures Menu prides itself on using only natural ingredients and never using any additives, cheap fillers or meat substitutes in its products to provide the best food for your best friend. What are the key benefits to feeding your dog a RAW diet? More and more, pet owners are beginning to understand that what they put into their pets’ body reflects what they see on the outside with regards to overall health, vitality, energy and behavioural tendencies. One of the most overlooked aspects of raw feeding is the ‘back-end’ benefits it provides for pets. A raw diet is close to what they would have eaten in the wild and can be easier to digest and much lighter on sensitive stomachs, meaning much firmer and easier to pick up stools that are noticeably less smelly. With firmer stools, many pets suffering from anal gland issues have found a raw diet can really help to naturally empty the glands, rather than an uncomfortable trip to the vet to have them manually expressed. Personally, I find that feeding a raw diet to my own dog is an incredibly satisfying practice. I can see first-hand the benefits in my dog’s vitality, health and wonderful shiny coat. I know he is getting only the very best food which he absolutely loves and thrives on.
What advice or tips can you give to owners who are new to RAW feeding? Switching your pet to a raw diet can seem like a daunting prospect, however, Natures Menu has a wealth of advice and guidance available on their website, explaining everything there is to know about raw and natural feeding. The main thing is to be patient; we always advise a slow and gradual transition to raw to avoid any tummy upsets. Responsible raw and natural feeding is key. I would suggest pet parents do their homework, and choose a manufacturer that offers: 1. Safe production and delivery – Raw manufacturers should follow strict government guidelines on manufacture, storage, sourcing and bacterial testing. Natures Menu leads the market with quality handling methods, Defra approved microbiological testing, raw material traceability, leading in-house microbiological protocols with all deliveries supplied in refrigerated vans. When handling raw, we always advise the same hygiene rules apply when handling raw pet food as they would for handling your own raw meat for consumption at home. 2. Complete and balanced – Responsible manufacturers will ensure their food is balanced with the correct amounts of vitamins and minerals. Natures Menu provides ready-made meals in an easy to portion ‘nugget’ format which means all owners need to do is count out the number of nuggets required for their pet, defrost
over night in the fridge and feed! If your dog is a fussy eater how can you encourage them to eat RAW? The best way to encourage a fussy dog to eat a raw diet is to slowly make the transition from their current food. This can be achieved over a period of seven days and is easy to implement. As a guide, from days one to seven, divide the daily ration of food into 50% raw for one meal and 50% previous food for the other meal (feeding one for breakfast and the other for dinner). On day eight, you’ll be able to feed 100% raw for both meals. We would advise you avoid mixing two types of food in the same bowl if possible, for easier digestion. At Natures Menu, we have products that cater for all types of raw feeder. We firstly have our Natures Menu Original nuggets and 300g complete meals containing 60% meat and 40% fruits and vegetables. Some varieties also contain par-boiled brown rice for a healthy carbohydrate addition. We then have our Country Hunter range, which are all complete and balanced in 80% meat and 20% fruit and vegetable recipes. This range is available in single, novel protein options and offers more unusual meats such as venison, rabbit and duck. The whole Country Hunter range is also grain and gluten free which can be excellent for sensitive digestion. For more information about Natures Menu and advice visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk/ advice-centre
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ADVICE FROM THE EXPERT
11
How to handle your rabbit By Emma Purnell, RVN Cert.Nut. Rabbits have traditionally been bought as a child’s pet, however it is easy to incorrectly handle rabbits and potentially cause injury to both rabbit and handler. One thing we need to remember when dealing with and handling rabbits is that they are prey animals, they have a large number of wild predators. Being restrained, held and lifted off the ground is very unnatural for them and can cause a great deal of stress. Children should never handle rabbits unsupervised, they should never be the sole responsibility of a child, the parent must always be involved. Before handling your rabbit you need to ensure they trust you and are not scared of you. One of the major complaints people with rabbits have is that they become aggressive or run away when owners go to handle or interact with them, to understand this we need to understand the mindset and natural habitat of a rabbit. They live in burrows where they only expect to meet other rabbits face to face and are most exposed when outside feeding. When outside in the open their predators can include birds of prey when young, for this reason they have an intrinsic fear of shadows above them. If they are in a hutch or run and you try to pick them up from above then their natural instinct is to behave as if you are a predator and react accordingly. Where possible always get down to their level, make slow, gentle movements without any jerking or sudden grabs and it will be far less frightening for them. Any handling training is
best done on their terms, slowly and starting at floor level. Initially sit on the floor with your rabbit and allow them to get used to you, offering treats from your hand to get them used to approaching you and to make being around your hand a positive experience. Once this happens, most rabbits enjoy having their forehead gently stroked as it mimics mutual grooming, so this touching should be a positive experience. Once this is happening, getting them to either climb onto your lap with treats or gently lifting them onto your lap to give them treats and head strokes is a good next step. Clicker training, mainly used to train dogs, can also be used to help build a bond. Clicker training involves associating the sound of the click with a treat to give a positive cue to use when the rabbit displays a behaviour that is desired. For basic handling that can include training a rabbit to come close to you, to put their head down for grooming, to come out of a hutch to you or to climb onto your lap. The process initially involves the rabbit getting a treat every time the click is heard and makes sure they associate the noise of the click to a reward. The click noise is then a very quick and easy way to let the rabbit know that the behaviour they are doing is the correct one for a certain command without confusion. Once basic behaviours are trained then more advanced ones like tricks can be attempted! It can even be used to train them to go in and out of
pet carriers to avoid some of the unnecessary handling. While this seems a slow process, it is important as rabbits can suffer severe and even fatal injuries with incorrect handling. They have very strong hind legs and if unsupported or held wrongly, they can kick out and suffer major spinal injuries. Wrapping them in a towel can help to avoid scratches but care must be taken that all limbs are still contained safely and no injury can occur. Rabbits should NEVER be picked up by their ears. If your rabbit must be moved or has to be picked up then the best way to do this is to place one hand underneath their chest, one around their hind legs to stop them from being able to kick out and to make sure the weight of your rabbit is supported throughout. Ideally keep them close to the ground or a safe surface so if they do become stressed then they can be safely and quickly put down. Turning over a rabbit and placing it on its back was used as a method to restrain them as when this is done they will usually freeze and not kick out. However, we
now understand more about why this happens. This is a defensive behaviour called ‘trancing’ and is done when they are seriously stressed, they freeze and play dead in the hope that the predator will leave them alone. Rabbits that are seriously stressed are at serious risk of lashing out and causing injury to the handler or themselves, or even stress so much they can die. Rabbits can make wonderful pets, however they are complex animals and care must always be taken with their handling.
Emma qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2008 and works for Nutravet (UK) Ltd. She has a BSc in Zoology with Animal Ecology and an MSc in Ecology, helping to fuel her interest in more exotic species. She has a particular love of small furries and has a grade A distinction in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition (CertNut).
Do fireworks stress your pet?
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nutracalm is available exclusively from veterinary practices. Ask your vet for more information on how it can help your dog, cat or horse or find your local authorised stockist at www.nutravet.co.uk Support British manufacturing View our extensive natural range at www.nutravet.co.uk
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