Pets

Emily Tindall RVN FDSc

Housing:

Rabbits require large amounts of space with grazing areas, access to outdoors and dry, well ventilated indoor areas meaning the usual hutches you can get from stores are usually not appropriate. Playhouses, sheds or even aviaries can be converted to be much more suitable accommodation for your bunnies. Rabbits need to be exposed to natural light to prevent vitamin D deficiency, so supplements or time outdoors needs to be factored into their daily lives, especially for house rabbits. Suitable housing is also necessary to prevent health problems such as upper or lower respiratory disease. Therefore avoiding small, dusty and dirty environments is vital while ensuring there is suitable weatherproofing to avoid damp.

Feeding:

The diet of a domestic rabbit should mainly consist of three things: • Hay/grass (timothy hay being the preferred type) • Rabbit pellets • Mixed leafy green vegetables/herbs Hay and grass should make up the majority of the rabbits diet (a minimum of a ball of hay the same size as the rabbit or larger a day) but a handful of leafy greens/herbs and a tablespoon per kg of ideal bodyweight of pellets will lead to a well balanced diet. Treats, vegetables and herbs can be given but must be given in moderation and new food items should be introduced separately – one new item per week to allow time for any intolerances to show. Long term changes to the rabbit’s diet should made slowly over the time of 4-6 weeks to allow their sensitive digestive system to adapt appropriately and reduce chances of an upset stomach.

Bonding:

Rabbits are highly social animals and due to being prey creatures, without a buddy to watch their back, a rabbit may never fully relax. However, bonding is a complicated procedure which can change for each pairing – therefore patience is key. A fast bonding can take as little as 2 weeks whereas more complicated ones can take as long as 3-4 months or, on rare occasions, 6 months to a year. It is important to note that both rabbits should be neutered before introducing to them to reduce hormonal influence. Bonding should be started a month after neutering to allow for enough hormones to leave the other rabbit interested enough without going overboard. A second cage will be needed near the original cage alongside neutral spaces for both rabbits to interact. Introductions should be gradual and closely observed at all times.

Vaccinations and Health Checks:

Your rabbits should be fully vaccinated every year. There are two vaccinations available; a combination vaccination covering Myxo (myxomatosis) and RHD1 (rabbit haemorrhagic disease) and a single dose for RHD2 (a separate strain) – both are important and should be given 2 weeks apart from one another. The combination vaccination can be given from as young as 5 weeks old whereas the single dose vaccine has to be given from 10 weeks. These vaccines need to be repeated yearly to ensure full coverage. Frequent health checks with the vet will help to assess your rabbit’s general growth and care. It is important to monitor how much your rabbit eats, drinks and poos to make sure you can spot any potential problems early on. It is also a good idea to get your rabbit used to being handled and having their paws touched which will make health checks and nail clips generally easier and reduce stress levels during vet visits.

Flystrike

Flystrike coverage is also important during the warmer months and can be easily applied throughout the year. Speak to your vet for when best to apply flystrike protection.

Vintage Rambles with rafa and Flake Bailey Bailey

5-MILE CIRCULAR WALK FROM HOMESFORD TEA ROOMS, ON THE A6 NEAR WHATSTANDWELL

This month we welcome a new recruit to our walking Pantheon, Say Hello to Bailey (affectionately known as Bailey Boo) who has volunteered his Mum and Dad to re-walk this classic walk. The walk starts and ends at Homesford Tea Rooms at Whatstandwell, which is a fantastic place for a bite to eat. It looks like Bailey and his family had a great time.

A lovely walk for you and your dog! This walk is fairly flat and should take around 2-2½ hours to complete. There is a range of terrain, with some muddy, uneven sections, which may be slightly overgrown. There are also a few sections of road, so take plenty of care and make sure you wear appropriate footwear.

START: HOMESTEAD TEA ROOMS A6, WHATSTANDWELL, DE4 5HJ

1. Standing with your back to the Tea Rooms, turn right along the main road. After passing a 50 MPH sign and just prior to a sign board reading ‘Conservation Crafts’ turn sharp left and back on yourself to join a signposted footpath going gently uphill. 2. Follow the path with a dry stone wall on either side. After a short distance pass by some houses on your left and then continue straight ahead to enter some woodland. Continue for some distance and then the path bears to the right. Now follow the path with a dry stone wall on either side until reaching a road.

3. Turn right and continue along the road for a short distance. Then turn left to cross over a stile which is set back a bit into some woodland and continue along a footpath going uphill. After some distance pass through a gap in a stone wall. Ignore the path on your right named Kings Lot path going steep uphill and continue straight ahead for a short distance to cross over a stile.

4. Continue along the path staying close to the edge of the woodland and keeping a dry stone wall on your left. After some distance cross over another stile and stay close to edge of the woodland with a dry stone wall on your left. Continue for some distance until coming out of the woodland, passing through a large wooden gate and onto a lane. 5. Turn right along the lane heading uphill. Continue for some distance until passing ‘Yew Tree Cottage’ on your right. Shortly after, the lane splits into two. Take the right fork and then after a very short distance bear right again to pass to the right of a stone carved with the name ‘Watfield Farm’.

6. Continue steep uphill, pass over a stile and then through a metal gate. Shortly after pass over a third stile and into some woodland.

7. Continue straight ahead with a wall on your right and eventually pass through a gap. Continue straight ahead for a short distance and then begin to descend sharply. On the way down the hill pass through two more gaps and then into an open field. 8. Cross the open field, pass through a gap and onto a road. Cross straight over the road and continue straight along a lane sign posted ‘Bridleway’. Continue along the lane for some distance and then pass through a metal gate. Continue straight ahead for some distance and pass through a second metal gate. 9. Continue straight ahead until reaching a T junction. Turn right and immediately pass through a metal gate. Continue for a short distance and then follow the path around to the left. Continue for some distance until reaching a finger board sign. Bear left and uphill following the sign for ‘High Peak Trail’.

10. After a short distance ignore the path bearing left and steep uphill and bear slightly right passing by a wooden bench on your right. After a very short distance turn sharp right onto a trail sign posted for ‘High Peak Junction’. Continue for some distance going downhill until passing through a tunnel underneath a road.

11. After a short distance pass a railway carriage on your right and then continue with a canal on your left. Continue straight ahead until passing ‘The Wharf Shed’ on your left and then after a short distance turn left onto a footpath sign posted for ‘Ambergate’. 12. Continue straight along a footpath with a canal on your left. Eventually pass over a railway bridge and then continue with the canal on your left for some distance until reaching a tunnel. Just prior to reaching the tunnel turn right onto a footpath sign posted for ‘Homestead Cottage A6’. 13. Continue through some trees for some distance and then turn right to cross over a river bridge. Continue to pass through a tunnel underneath a railway line and then continue to follow a tarmac lane back to a main road.

14. Turn right along the main road back to the tea rooms.

This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.

Homesford Tea Rooms

High Peak Junction Cromford Canal

Whatstandwell