Paws & Hops Pet Services

19/01/2025

01/01/2025

Happy New Year 🎊

29/12/2024

LETHAL RABBIT DISEASE CONTINUES ADVANCE IN CANADA AND US - Dec 26, 24

In the nearly five years since a highly contagious viral disease that causes sudden death in rabbits was first identified in wild jackrabbits and cottontails on the continent of North America, the virus has expanded its footprint. Since March 2020, rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2) has been confirmed in 29 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.
RHDV2 causes lesions throughout a rabbit’s internal organs and tissues, particularly the liver, lungs and heart, resulting in bleeding. It is often fatal. The virus does not make humans sick.
The pathogen is now considered endemic in much of the western U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, showing up in domestic and wild or feral species in 14 states. In the Midwest and on the East Coast, cases have been limited to domestic rabbits.
The number of affected provinces in Canada doubled in the past two years, with confirmed cases in feral rabbits in British Columbia in 2023 and a domestic rabbit in Quebec in 2024.
In the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta, RHDV2 reportedly wiped out the feral rabbit population.
As of December 2020, Mexico had identified RHDV2 in 19 states. Authorities in the country could not provide updated information by press time.

PLEASE! Remember to Vaccinate Your Rabbit! RHDV2 causes a horrible death.
Source: news.vin.com/doc/?id=12428043
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While we try to ensure information we share is accurate, we do not guarantee it. We are not vets. You should always contact your rabbit savvy vet.

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas to all of my fury friends and their families ❤️❤️❤️

25/11/2024

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY OR SENIOR RABBIT – 4

▶️ACCEPT, ASSESS, AND ADAPT
It is very important that you take your elderly rabbit to a rabbit savvy vet at least twice a year if healthy. If they are having any issues, they must go more often!
To see your rabbit suffer at an old age is difficult as a pet parent, but aging is inevitable, you cannot stop it. What you can do is care for your elderly bunny and make his/her old age as comfortable as possible. Other than the tips previously mentioned, also keep an eye on whether your aging bunny is lonely and getting depressed. Try to spend more time with him if you notice a change in his mood. If after spending more time with your rabbit, you think s/he would prefer another rabbit, consider getting a younger companion rabbit for your senior bunny. Be slow and patient with the introduction. Remember, rabbits are territorial creatures and they might take time to accept someone new in their space, especially at an old age.

Sources Parts 1-4: Lefeber Company, Rabbit Welfare Association, Wikihow.Pet
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While we try to ensure information we share is accurate, we do not guarantee it. We are not vets. You should always contact your rabbit savvy vet.

31/10/2024

People often prefer Holland Lop, Mini Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, English Lop, or French Lop bunnies.

Whenever a new lop eared bunny enters our program, applications flood in and inquiries pop up when they’re not in our program.

People are attracted to their ears and looks. We consider them the pugs or goldendoodles of bunnies.

They are NOT bred to be healthy.

They have brachycephaly which means their skulls and snouts are shorter than normal for rabbits. This is adorable, but can make it difficult for them to breathe and they often wind up with dental issues.

These dental issues can manifest in molar spurs, overgrown incisors, retrotubular abscesses, and more since their faces are too small for all 28 teeth to reside comfortably.

Not only this, but the lopped ear canals can narrow, causing a buildup of wax and deafness. In fact, about 50% of senior lops we’ve intaken into our program are at least partially deaf.

They often lack as many ligaments as other rabbits around their livers, leaving them very prone to liver lobe torsion too.

Lop eared bunnies are adorable and so sweet, but adopting one means you need to be prepared for health issues down the road.

P.S. Facebook gives us a “performance bonus” if posts do well each month. It’s enough to cover most of a bunnies vetting, which is a huge deal to us. Every time you like/comment more than 4 words/share a post, you’re helping our bunnies! It really does matter. Please go give some love to our most recent posts. Thank you!

19/10/2024

Ok, we’ll say it. Infant gas drops don’t actually help bunnies experiencing G.I. Stasis.

For years, vets and reputable rescues have been saying the same thing…they don’t actually help.

There’s no scientific evidence that gas drops (simethicone) breaks down gas bubbles or stops pain within a bunny’s G.I. system. Humans, yes. But the gas bunnies create, no.

If you want to help them break up their gas bubbles, encourage them to move around.

In fact, when stasis occurs, it's usually due to dehydration, stress, or improper diet. Not gas buildup. Simethicone doesn’t target the root causes.

They’re harmless if you choose to give them, but the truth is they’re more of a placebo for us as worried bunny parents.

The real treatment for stasis involves hydration, pain management, critical care, oftentimes a heating pad, and occasional veterinary intervention. Studies show that 80-90% of stasis cases can be resolved with supportive care like fluids and gut motility drugs when advised by a veterinarian.

So, while gas drops won’t hurt your bunny, they’re not the miracle fix people make them out to be. If you feel better giving them for peace of mind, that’s fine, but it’s not a solution for stasis. The antiquated idea that gas drops are a main solution for stasis is harmful for your bunny.

That’s why we don’t stock infant gas drops at Dolly’s Dream Store. We consulted with veterinarians, rescues, and other experts before deciding they aren’t a necessary part of a bunny parent’s emergency kit.

Instead, consult your veterinarian at the first sign of stasis so that your bunny can receive proven methods of treatment.

Here is one of the many, many scientific studies done on this topic: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/255/7/javma.255.7.837.xml

18/10/2024

Rabbit owners, please read the updated information regarding the RHDV vaccine.

Amendment to Our Recent Post on RHD Vaccination Recommendations 🐰💉

We’d like to provide clarification on our recent post regarding the US Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) vaccine by Medgene.

In our original post, we mentioned that Medgene updated the label to recommend vaccination every 6 months. This statement is not entirely accurate and has caused some confusion among veterinarians and rabbit owners. Here's what you need to know:
- Medgene’s label: The current label does not require a booster every 6 months. Instead, the label states that the vaccine has been shown to be effective for at least 6 months based on data from a duration of immunity (DOI) study.
- Booster schedule: Veterinarians are encouraged to use both Medgene's efficacy data and additional data, such as the serology response study conducted by Colorado State University, to make informed decisions about when to booster the vaccine. This study suggests that immunity lasts beyond 6 months, with sufficient levels seen up to a year post-vaccination.
- Clarification on label: There has not been an official label change on the vaccine. The label does not currently specify when booster vaccinations must occur after the initial series (two vaccines, 21 days apart), allowing veterinarians to use their discretion.

We sincerely apologize for any confusion caused and recommend rabbit owners consult with their veterinarians to determine the most appropriate vaccination schedule for their pets. 🐇

You can read more about the serology study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/v16040538

Thank you for your understanding!