Companion Life - Spring 2023

companionlife.co.uk

In this issue

> A guide to spring hazards for pets

> Top tips for maintaining healthy digestive function in pets

> Understanding your dog’s poop

> Q&A with PDSA Vet Nina Downing

> Expert advice: Why rabbits fight

EDITOR’S COMMENT

I’m delighted to present the Spring 2023 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 share some spring hazards for pets and top tips to maintain healthy digestive function in pets. As well as the latest news, we also look at what your dog’s poop says about their health. Feel free to get in touch with any features, news, pet products or even pictures of your own pets.

Laura Jackson Editor

Companion Life Companion Life is a Free Magazine providing news, information, tips and advice for pet owners across the UK.

Circulation: 30,000 copies of Companion Life are distributed across the UK.

Contact details: Companion Life, Barn 1, Somerford Business Court, Holmes Chapel Road, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12 4SN www.companionlife.co.uk

Editor: Laura Jackson

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.

Naturaw has been honoured with the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise

A Yorkshire based fresh dog food manufacturer has been awarded the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise for its excellence in Sustainable Development. Naturaw is one of just 148 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Originally set up in 2014 primarily to provide founder Jess’ dog Louis with a natural diet of unprocessed food that didn’t produce mountains of plastic waste, Naturaw now employs a team of 16 people in a state of the art facility near Wetherby in Yorkshire.

The company produces a range of frozen raw dog food with an emphasis on high quality fresh ingredients more akin to what dogs ate before the advent of highly processed convenience pet food, including high welfare meat from British farms. There are no fillers, grain, preservatives or anything artificial. Naturaw makes a point to use entirely plastic-free packaging on every product they manufacture.

Chris Broadbent, Director said: “To receive the Kings Award for Enterprise is a huge honour for us, and a testament to our team’s hard work and resilience over the last few years in an incredibly challenging and unprecedented climate”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise was previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the new name reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses.

Nutravet re-brands skin health product

six-step manufacturing process to extract specific high levels of beneficial Omega3s EPA and DHA from the oil. Refining the oil removes heavy metals and other undesirable pollutants to ensure maximum purity.

The benefits Nutracoat include:

• Calms sensitive skin

• Soothes dry, flaky skin

• Reduces itching and scratching

• Strengthens brittle nails

Nutravet’s highly successful skin and coat supplement Nutramega has been re-branded to Nutracoat in the UK and Ireland.

Nutracoat has already been available internationally for a number of years and has an established customer base and part of the reason for the name change was to create a simpler more consistent brand message that communicates the product’s main area of use which is for maintaining skin and coat health in cats and dogs. Nutracoat has the same great formula used in Nutramega so the transition is simple. The highly refined Omega-3 fish oil from ocean sardine contained within Nutracoat is put through an exclusive

• Aids comfort

• Aids the body’s own anti-inflammatory processes

• Contains sustainably sourced marine ingredients

Chris Jones, Managing Director at Nutravet comments: “We’re continually looking at ways to improve our product offering, which includes ensuring our product range can be discussed with ease between veterinary professionals and pet owners. Nutramega has been hugely successful in the UK since it launched in 2013 and we hope to make the transition process to Nutracoat as smooth as possible”. Nutracoat is now available to purchase online at www.nutravet.co.uk.

Burgess Pet Care donates £8000 of dog food to Greyhound & Lurcher Rescues

Burgess’ latest digital campaign reached thousands of people and included a two-week takeover of its social media channels to share information about greyhounds and lurchers. The campaign also shone a light on some of the fantastic work being carried out by UK rescue centres, including some of the animals in need of homes.

NEWS SNIPPETS

New research from Co-op Insurance has found that almost a fifth (19%) of dog and cat owners are foregoing trips to the vet for their beloved pet as a result of not being able to afford it.

Burgess Pet Care is celebrating the success of its recent Greyhound & Lurcher Two-week Takeover campaign, which saw it donate over £8,000 worth of dog food to six greyhound and lurcher rescue centres across the UK.

Charlotte Varley, Communications Manager at Burgess Pet Care, said: “The pressure on rescue centres has never been greater as the cost of living crisis has resulted in even more greyhounds and lurchers needing homes. There are so many wonderful centres and volunteers who never give up on them and work year-round to re-home and support the health and happiness of these wonderful creatures.”

Dream job alert! Your dog could score you free UK holidays for a year

Applications are now open for the dog job of a lifetime: to be the Canine Critic for 2023, travelling the UK reviewing dog-friendly holidays.

Now in its sixth year, the annual Canine Critics competition returns for 2023 and it’s only getting tougher, with tens of thousands of entries vying to be top dog. This year, there is a whopping £11,000 worth of cottage breaks up for grabs.

Head of Customer Marketing for Canine Cottages, Emma Crowe, says: “We’re excited to announce the launch of Canine Critics for its sixth year! We always look

forward to digging our paws into all the fabulous entries showcasing amazing dogs around the UK.

“Choosing the winner from thousands of entries is a tough job. That’s why we have a pack of experts on our judging panel, each looking for something different in our applicants.”

Full details can be found on the Canine Cottages website and you do not need to have travelled with Canine Cottages previously to apply. For more information visit www.caninecottages.co.uk.

The Kennel Club announce the future of Discover Dogs event

The Kennel Club has announced that the London Discover Dogs event will not be taking place in 2023.

It will take a break for a year, with the aim of bringing it back with a refreshed and reinvigorated new look in 2024.

Discover Dogs has been a feature at Crufts since 1991 and will continue to be so. In 1996 it was brought to London as an additional event in its own right. The event grew in numbers and popularity and moved location from Earls Court to London ExCel in 2015. In more recent times however, numbers attending the event have declined and

regrettably it sustained a significant financial shortfall in 2022.

Both at Crufts and in its stand-alone format Discover Dogs is very much seen as an important information tool for The Kennel Club – helping to educate prospective dog owners to find the right breed for them and also promoting responsible dog ownership and dog health.

Further announcements on The Kennel Club Junior Warrant semi final, National Junior Handler final and Scruffts heat that normally take place at Discover Dogs will be made in due course and news about Discover Dogs 2024 will be released later this year.

The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Co-op, shines a light on the heart-breaking decisions facing the nation’s pet owners, as they navigate through a tough financial landscape of rising costs. Even more distressing for those individuals struggling to afford their vet bills, one fifth (20%) say a further unexpected vet bill would mean they could no longer afford their pet.

As a nation of animal lovers, we know that these decisions are all the more tough, with almost a third (29%) of dog and cat owners saying they would feel guilty if they couldn’t take their pet to the vet, whilst over a fifth (21%) said they would feel worried.

Cashback and payments app, Cheddar, announces a new partnership with Pooch & Mutt.

The latest partnership will see Cheddar app users earning up to 20% cashback on purchases made through Pooch & Mutt, joining a growing list of online retailers on the app, including BooHoo, All Plants and Green Man Gaming.

The cashback will be available in the app’s balance within 14 days. App users can redeem their cashback at any time, depositing it directly into their linked bank account instantly.

Cheddar users can earn up to 20% retail cashback on the app, online and instore at some of the UK’s favourite retailers.

A guide to... SPRING HAZARDS FOR PETS

Spring is a lovely time of year where many families take advantage of warmer weather and longer days to enjoy more time outdoors. Many homes across the country will be filled with delicious treats and colourful blooms that are often seen at this time of year.

It’s important to look out for any dangers or hazards for pets at this time of year and be aware of any risks to ensure you and your pets can enjoy the new season safely. We share some hazards to look out for:

Dogs & cats

Spring cleaning

During springtime, cleaning products which are used for a spring clean can be dangerous to pets if ingested. Even a small amount of any cleaning product, if ingested can cause serious harm. It’s important that if you think your pet has ingested any cleaning products that you contact your vet right away.

Parasites

During spring, fleas, ticks, and worms all start to grow in numbers as the weather warms up. This increases the chances of your pet encountering them. Be sure to treat both indoor and outdoor pets for fleas and worms. And, treat any areas in the home where your pet regularly sleeps for fleas.

Seasonal allergies

Dogs and in some rare cases, cats, can develop seasonal allergies to pollens. These can often manifest as something called atopic dermatitis but can occur in isolation. Pets with seasonal allergies often itch and scratch, which can damage the skin, leading to sores and infections.

Adder bites

Adders are the only venomous snake native to the UK. They come out of hibernation in spring and if disturbed can bite. These injuries are most prevalent between April and July. It is common for dogs to experience swelling and pain at the site of a bite and approximately 5% of dogs will get extremely ill.

Wasp and bee stings

Like us, pets can have reactions to stings from wasps and bees. At the least these are merely a painful inconvenience but at their worst they can cause extreme immune reactions and serious swelling. If this is around the head and neck it can constrict the airway and restriction of breathing can be a major concern.

Heatstroke

While heatstroke in cats is rare, it’s more likely to occur in dogs. Though you are more than likely to find that your cat is happy to sunbath, if you do believe your cat is suffering from heatstroke then contact your vet immediately. Heatstroke occurs when animals cannot lose excess heat. A rise in body temperature by 4 degrees is enough to be fatal for your dog. There are preventative measures

that you can take, but you should speak to your vet immediately if your dog is suffering from heatstroke.

Picnic food

As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will take their lunches out onto the sun and embark on picnics with friends. Picnics themselves will not harm you pets, it’s the litter and waste that can be left over that may be a danger to them. Smaller foods dropped on the floor, such as raisins can also be a choking hazard

Rabbits

Fly-strike

Lots of flying insects appear as the weather warms up. Although most are harmless, some such as the bottle fly, lay their eggs inside rabbit fur. The flies are attracted to dirt and

dampness found on the back end of rabbits. The eggs hatch into maggots, which burrows into the skin, causing shock and rapid death.

Diet change

Rabbits are reintroduced to the garden in spring. Whilst grass is great for digestive health and exercise is important, a sudden change in diet can cause any pet tummy troubles. To prevent and upset tummies, you could introduce your rabbit to the new fresh grass gradually.

Garden dangers

Garden cleaning can involve the use of slug pellets, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilisers. Although these products can help gardens look great, many of them contain substances that are toxic to rabbits.

Slug pellets

Many contain an ingredient called metaldehyde. This is extremely poisonous to pets and causes drooling, twitching, fever, seizures (fits) and even death.

Glyphosphate is another common ingredient seen in weed killers and can be an irritant to the skin and tummy if consumed.

Poisonous plants

Rabbits are big eaters and are often on the lookout for food. Rabbits determine how edible something is by chewing it, which means that they are exposed to plenty of hazards typically garden plants. If possible keep any dangerous plants out of reach of your small furries.

If you are worried about your pet’s health at this time of year, you should speak to your vet who will be able to offer the best advice dependant on your pet’s age and breed.

ADVICE

TOP TIPS TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY DIGESTIVE FUNCTION IN PETS

As a pet owner it is important to understand how to support and maintain healthy digestive function for your cat or dog to prevent unwanted trips to the vet. Dogs are especially curious and can pick up objects they shouldn’t. Maintaining healthy digestive function helps your pet to live a healthy and happy life, however there are a number of causes that can affect your dog’s digestion, which include: eating spoiled food, scavenging, food intolerance, bacteria imbalance, change of diet, stress of parasites.

Typical signs of a sensitive tummy can be characterised by a frequent runny nose, loose stools, loss of appetite, excessive flatulence and marked lethargy. Here are some tips to help keep your pet’s gut healthy:

Water

Encourage your pet to consume plenty of fresh water, presented in a way that they prefer. This helps to reduce the chances of dehydration.

Avoid table scraps

The food we eat may not be suitable for your dog or cat. To maintain your pet’s digestive health, try to prevent family members from feeding them human food. Try not to give your pet table scraps or snacks, which could lead to a poorly tummy.

Prevent scavenging

When out on walks keep an eye on your dog to prevent them from scavenging and picking up any foreign objects or discarded food. Also, prevent them from drinking from puddles and eating plant material, which could cause tummy upsets.

Diet

Your vet will be able to offer the best advice on your pet’s dietary requirements. A bland diet that is easily digestible, such as boneless cooked chicken breast and white rice can be advisable. A specialised diet for gastrointestinal imbalance may be beneficial with small amounts of food given several times a day. Try to keep treats to a minimum as too many could cause your pet to have a sensitive tummy.

Minimise stress

Try to reduce any stress within your pet’s home and outdoor environment. You could do this by keeping to your pet’s routine as much as possible, including sleeping, food and walking.

De-worm & vaccinations

Be sure to keep on track with de-worming and disease vaccinations. Speak

to your vet who will be able to advise a suitable course of action for your pet, dependent on their age and size.

Foreign bodies

Be careful when giving pets small toys to play with. These can get chewed and swallowed, as well as causing discomfort for your pet, they can also cause choking. Keep an eye on your dog when playing with chews toys.

Outside access

To avoid accidents within the home it is better to give your pet easy access to go outside or take them out frequently. However, it is important to monitor your pet’s toilet activities and general demeanour. Be sure to keep a close watch on them and don’t let them stray too far.

Consider using Probiotics

To help maintain long-term

gut health and a healthy digestive balance, probiotics for dogs can help with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, chronic or infectious diarrhoea. Probiotics can also help to optimise the efficiency of the immune response to help fight infection and boost the immune system, whilst helping to repopulate the balance of good bacteria that antibiotics can wipe out. Vets often have access to veterinary strength probiotics such as Nutrabio, Vetpro and Nutraflora which they often recommend, and others are available online such as Pro-Kaolin and Fortiflora.

Follow vet advice

Be sure to take on board and follow any advice from your vet. They will be best placed to help with your pet’s gut and digestive health.

If

Nutrabio - for tummy upsets & diarrhoea

Prices from £19.99

Maintaining optimum digestive health for your pet is vital to ensure they lead a happy and healthy life.

Nutrabio is a naturally formulated probiotic paste for dogs and cats, developed with a high strength composition of Probiotic bacteria, Prebiotics, Sweet Basil and Kaolin, which combine to help normalise digestive function when your pet is suffering from diarrhoea.

Nutrabio’s proven natural ingredients aid natural digestive balance, promote friendly bacteria and replenish the natural balance of gut bacteria

www.nutravet.co.uk

Gus & Bella - Cat subscription box

Prices from £30.66

With adorable monthly themes and 7+ products for both cats and their humans to enjoy together, it’s the most exciting treat each month. Discover and save on innovative cat toys, pioneering health products, delicious natural cat treats, plus on-trend gifts for cat lovers.

Monthly subscription boxes are £31.90 or £30.66 bi-monthly. Or you can purchase a one-off Gift box for £34.90, all prices include delivery.

www.gusandbella.com

ProDen PlaqueOff® – banish that bad breath

Prices from £15.99

ProDen PlaqueOff® helps cats & dogs oral hygiene problems such as bad breath, plaque & tartar –naturally. ProDen PlaqueOff®

Powder is a seaweed supplement that is sprinkled onto food daily. By working systemically, it helps prevent oral hygiene problems, as well as softening existing build up. The #1 Best-Selling product in its category carries the Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance, and in 2021 over 73 million doses were sold in the UK. Products are available in vet practices, pet shops and online.

www.sweedencare.com

In this edition, we highlight some pet products that we think our readers will love...

you would like your product featured in a future edition please get in touch editor@companionlife.co.uk

Understanding your dog’s poop

Your dog’s poo can reveal a lot about their health and as a pet owner it’s important to know what to look out for and how to identify any potential issues. Diet and lifestyle are the biggest factors when it comes to keeping your dog’s insides happy and healthy.

Dog poop should be compact, moist, and easy to pick-up, it should feel a bit like play doh when squished. Runny or watery faeces is an indicator of intestinal upset or can be a sign that something is not right with your dog’s tummy. And if your dog’s poop is hard or dry, it could be a sign of dog constipation.

What should your dog’s poo look like?

Dealing with dog poop can be one of the more unpleasant parts of being a dog parent. However, getting to know your dog’s poop and what is normal for them, can make it easier when spotting changes in consistency, colour, and frequency. Healthy poop generally means a healthy pooch!

Colour

During normal digestion, the gallbladder releases bile to aid the breakdown of food. Bilirubin is a pigment in bile that affects stool colour. Your dog’s stool may have some minor changes in colour due to diet, hydration, or dyes, but you shouldn’t see any substantial changes.

Abnormal colour patterns that should catch your eye include:

Black stools

Bleeding high up in the digestive tract may result in a tar-coloured stool.

Red streaks

This could indicate bleeding in the lower digestive tract.

Grey or yellow stools

This may reveal issues with the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder.

Green

This could be a sign of a gallbladder issue or that your dog has been over-eating grass which could indicate stress or gut health problems.

White/chalky

This is usually due to an excess of calcium and other materials and is typically observed in dogs with a raw diet.

Consistency

This can be closely connected to your dog’s diet and can tell you a lot about their overall health. When it comes to evaluating consistency, some vets use a numerical system to score a pet’s stool. The scoring system assigns a value to the stool, from 1 to 7, with 1 representing very hard pellets and 7 being a puddle.

An ideal stool would be a 2 on the scale, which is a firm segmented stool shaped like a caterpillar and feels like play doh when pressed and holds its form.

Content

It’s also important to look at the actual content of your dog’s poop. The inside of the stool shouldn’t look any different from the rest of it, so if you find any of the following in your dog’s poop, there could be an issue.

Worms

These could be either long and skinny roundworms or little rice-shaped tapeworm segments. It’s important to remember to check a fresh stool as one that has been outside for a few hours may have little creatures in it that weren’t there at the time of passing the stool.

Foreign materials

These could include, grass, sock bits, plastic, rocks, or anything not meant for your dog, including human food. This is not uncommon in dogs and sometimes you don’t even realise that your dog is digging into the rubbish until you find something in their stool.

Fur

Big clumps of fur in the stool indicates over grooming, which can happen secondary to stress, allergies, skin disease or even boredom.

Coating

Your dog’s poop should not have a coating or film over it. If you’re picking up a stool from grass, there shouldn’t be any sort of trail left behind. A coating of mucus always accompanies large bowel inflammation and can occur alongside diarrhoea. Small streaks of bright red blood may also show up occasionally, usually due to straining to poo. A single red streak isn’t a cause for concern, but if you see repeated red streaks, you should speak to your vet.

How often should your dog poop?

The number of times that your dog poops each day should be consistent –whether that be once a day or three times. If it is the same every day, there is no need to worry. Typically,

most dogs will poop once or twice a day, although some go many more times than that.

Paying attention to how many poops you’re scooping each day will help you to understand how your pooch is doing. If they go from being a regular once a day-er to needing to go four times a day, then they may be having some tummy troubles.

Regular exercise and a low-stress environment should help with some common stoll-related problems, as can switching to a diet designed for dog’s with sensitive tummies.

Most issues relating to dog poop resolve on their own within 24 hours. If your dog is eating, drinking, and behaving normally, giving them a day to sort itself out wouldn’t be a problem. However, if they are not eating as normal or seems depressed then you should contact your vet immediately.

Q&A With Nina Downing

PDSA Vet Nurse

The law around microchipping cats is changing meaning if your feline family member isn’t microchipped by summer 2024, you could face a fine of up to £500.

The 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report found that 76% of cats were already microchipped. Out of those who were not, 27% of owners said their cat wasn’t microchipped because they were unlikely to stray, while 19% thought it was not necessary.

The new microchipping rules mean all cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks.

The law changes on 10 June 2024 so any owners found not to have microchipped their cat by then could face a fine of up to £500.

Nina explains everything you need to know:

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a very small device - about the size of a grain of rice, that contains a unique number linking a pet to their owner. The microchip is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades using a needle. It takes just a few seconds.

Once microchipped, owner contact details and the pet’s unique identification chip number are stored in a pet microchipping database to help reunite lost, stolen or injured pets with their owners as quickly as possible. It is important that owners should keep these details updated if they move house or change their contact details.

Here at PDSA, we have always recommended that where possible pets are microchipped. It has been a legal requirement for dogs since 2016 and we’re happy to see the laws changing for more of our furry family members.

Does microchipping hurt?

Many pets barely react to being microchipped as the area of skin where implantation is done is near the ‘scruff’ of the neck, between the shoulder blades, where the skin tends to be looser; this is despite the needle looking larger than a vaccination needle, for example.

Like any injection, microchipping can cause a small amount of discomfort, but fortunately it’s a very quick procedure that takes just a few seconds and a tasty treat afterwards is likely to quickly distract them if they do become upset.

Microchips are made out of non-reactive materials, so once it’s in place it shouldn’t hurt or cause them any problems throughout their life.

Where can I get my pet microchipped?

Microchips can only be implanted by vets, veterinary nurses, and people who have been specially trained. Most owners get their pets microchipped at the vets, but if you go elsewhere (such as a rescue centre or grooming parlour), it’s important to make sure the person chipping your pet is qualified to do it and can provide evidence that they’ve completed a DEFRA approved training course and received their certificate of competence.

How do I register my pet’s microchip?

The professional that microchips your pet may pass your details to your microchip database company and register your details, or they may provide you with the documentation, so that you can register your pet yourself. To register your details they will need your name, address, phone number, pet’s details, email address and alternative emergency contact telephone numbers.

How long do microchips last?

Microchips are hard wearing and should last for your pet’s lifetime. It’s incredibly unusual for them to break or become faulty, but in the very rare case that one fails (meaning it can’t be read by a scanner anymore) you can get a replacement fitted. There is no need to remove the old faulty chip, your vet can simply place the new

chip in alongside it. More commonly, microchips can move a small distance away from where they are implanted but this doesn’t hurt, it very rarely causes problems and the chip will still be picked up if it’s scanned.

What should I do if I re-home or sell my pet?

If you re home or sell a pet, you need to contact their microchip database company to let them know. They will give you a form or code to pass on to your pet’s new owner enabling them to change the details on the microchip. This process is designed to prevent people from changing a pet’s microchip details without the owner’s permission (i.e. if they were stolen).

For more information visit pdsa.org.uk/cats

Why rabbits fight

By Emma Purnell, RVN Cert.Nut.

Rabbits are highly social animals who, in the wild, depend on company to survive. Without companions, they have increased levels of stress and anxiety as well as being unable to display normal behaviours. It is recommended that all rabbits are kept with a bonded companion, but it isn’t always that easy! Sometimes rabbit bonds break down and fights can occur – but why does this happen and what can we do to avoid it?

Hormones are a key reason for tensions and bonds breaking down. In a warren, rabbits must compete to breed and try to breed as much as possible. In a home environment, unneutered males or females will have that same urge and therefore treat any unneutered rabbit of the same sex as a rival and any of a different sex as a mate. This will lead to chasing, nipping, humping and in severe circumstances full fights – not to mention unwanted litters. Males are well known to attempt to castrate rival males. There is an easy answer to hormonal aggression and that is early neutering of both sexes. Providing both behavioural as well as numerous health benefits including prevention of common cancers, all rabbits should ideally be neutered from 4-5 months of age. Initial bonding of any rabbits should always take place in neutral territory. Rabbits can be very possessive of their environments as it is their safe space, adding in any potential threat – including new rabbits – will lead to an aggressive response. Neutral territory can include any space that neither rabbit has been in before. Small spaces can be

recommended in some bonding techniques, with top access to remove any individuals as needed, as this can help prevent fights while they get used to each other. Some techniques also place them under stress to try to force a bond due to a need for comfort and support, but these should be carried out with care. There are calming products on the market that are safe for use in rabbits, including Nutracalm.

Once rabbits are bonded, separation can potentially damage or destroy any bond, especially if their smell changes. This is particularly of note if one of them becomes ill and must go to the vet. Illness itself can be a reason for bonds to break down and sudden behaviour changes or aggression that is unexpected should lead to a vet check to rule out any health causes. Ideally, any vet visit should include all rabbits in a bonded group and if hospitalisation for treatment or surgery is needed then all rabbits should be kept together as much as possible. Rabbit savvy vets should encourage bonded rabbits to be kept together, if your vet insists on them being separated it is worth checking the RWAF rabbit vet list to make sure they are included. Similarly, while post-operative care may include the healing of wounds and care must be taken to ensure there is no interference from companions, separating them can cause major problems to their bond.

Spring fever is a term used for a surge in behaviours, normally hormonal, which can occur throughout spring – the usual time for mating and reproducing. It normally

involves chasing and humping behaviours and can occur in both male and females, even those that are neutered. It doesn’t occur in all rabbits but can lead to squabbles and even fights if the chasing is persistent. Most of the time this settles after a few months but must be monitored.

Making the decision to separate rabbits can be hard, especially if they have bonded, but each individual’s safety must be taken into account. If after a long period they are constantly stressed or tense, this can have severe long-term effects on their health and separation should be considered. Equally, if any fight occurs that leads to breaking of the skin, separation is advised to allow for them to recover, before carefully attempting rebonding.

Rebonding rabbits can be difficult and each pair must be assessed to decide if it’s the best option. If fighting has occurred, care must be taken to ensure they are not placed in a situation where they can immediately fight again, considering housing them alongside each other for a period ensuring they

cannot injure each other to judge their response. If aggression is shown it must be considered if this bond is the best thing for the rabbits. Bonding can take time, and rebonding even longer. Although it may feel like it, giving up on a bond between two rabbits is not a failure – some individuals will never get on in the same way that two people might not – trying to find another individual to bond them with could allow them a much less stressful and happier life.

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).