Savingdogs-Saving the chickens

[Farmfresh]

She might need a diet change. Sometimes an older bunny will become fat and the fat deposits can be weird places inside and mess up her reproductive system. It is also possible that she has a mild infection of some kind. Yeast infections for example can cause fertility issues.

If you are serious about breeding her I would put her someplace with lots of space to move about and switch the diet to some good alfalfa mix (or clover mix) hay only and a mineral salt lick for a few weeks. You might also have her vetted to check for any odd tumors, infections etc. Then I would feed her some grain soaked with some good yogurt a couple of times as well.

If that fails ... I have a GREAT recipe for Bunny and Noodles.

 

[savingdogs]

Thank you Farmfresh, this bunny, has, if anything,been underweight. The breeder noted she was a little underweight when I bought her and I've never been able to put more weight on her. She doesn't have a huge appetite like the other rabbits. The breeder said she has always been like that, she was raised eating grass only from the person the breeder bought her from. She always likes to leave a little spare food in her cage, like a little bunny hoarder.

I have fed my rabbits plenty of grass hay or timothy the entire time they have been here, and Nana in particular seems to enjoy it. She has always had free choice rabbit pellet as well and a mineral block, I was wanting her to eat MORE. I had thought I got her to gain just a little prior to the three breedings. But I can feel her spine whereas the other two have a more rounded shape.

Because of being raised on just grass originally, I have tried to always offer her some fresh greens, the same ones I have offered the other four.

The breeder was a "show" rabbit person who knew she was selling to a meat breeder, she cried when parted with them and I promised her that the original four (which includes Nana) would never become dinner. So I would try to sell her as a pet before making bunny-and-noodles, despite the fact that I'm dying to try some homegrown bunny dinner. That will have to wait until I have more of Sister's offspring I guess. But if I continue to sell them at 9 weeks for 30 dollars I won't be eating those ones either. I can buy a lot of hamburger for 30 dollars.

I doubt I could sell Nana for that much though, being older.....and being so shy....but perhaps a 4H child could want a show bunny? I'd have to see.

On a different note, our weather person this morning said our "spring" was one of the wettest and coldest on record in the last 50 years.

 

[AL]

I actually stalked you over at BYH and joined in ... thanks for thinking of me with the link though!

I thought I would mention to you that I am seriously considering applying to foster Great Danes here locally. The rescue is overrun and more waiting to be surrendered. I have always loved giant dogs and I am at a place where I want another dog around, but I don't want another dog of my own. does that make sense? I am not ready to find a 2nd dog, I am content with Rio, but I would love to be a part of a Dane's life!
It is on the back burner until Rio has his TPLO surgery next week though... ACL tear causing $$ surgery and 4-6 weeks strict rest does not lend itself to being an Ace foster!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

WOW, SD! Selling rabbits for $30 each is awesome! You go girl!!

 

[savingdogs]

That is what I thought, Katie, at that price they will not become dinner. I'm really glad I chose a rare heritage breed and such a pretty one.

AL, I would highly recommend waiting until after that surgery to start fostering. I've been through that surgery twice with a dog and it will take up all your spare time for about three months. It was well worth it though, we would do it 10 times over again to save that dog, but you wouldn't want anything bumping him.

When the time is right, however, I highly recommend fostering to folks so inclined. I've fostered a dane, she was a sweetie, Hubby wanted to keep her. I'll have to tell her story at some point, she has an interesting one.

 

[savingdogs]

The Story of Minnie

We fostered Minnie while we were volunteering for the all-breed dog group and I was working at my last job. I met her when she showed up in an unmarked kennel and I was thinking, what a pretty Great Dane! Next thing I knew, I heard my husband had already said we would take her home and I was putting this giant black and white dog in my car to take home.

We had a wonderful vet I was working with at the time and she took an immediate interest in the dog, who was originally called Stella. Danes are subject to a particular health issue in that they are prone to "bloat" or have their stomach twist, which can quickly be fatal. There is a corrective surgery which dogs can have which attaches the stomach so that it cannot twist and prevents death in dogs that would be prone to this. It was decided that this dog would have the procedure when she was spayed.

Well we changed her name to Minnie, because she was a big GOOF and Stella sounded way too dignified. She had no idea she was large and had a very outgoing and demanding personality. Hubby had always been interested in having a great dane and kind of wanted to keep her, but she was really too much for me. Always active, always getting into things. Ridgebacks are large dogs too but they are not QUITE so huge or live so large, they tend to curl up in a ball to sleep much of the time. And Minnie was a pup of 10 months when we had her, just a busy bee still. She only weighed about 95 pounds because she was so thin, she was not fond of her food and just played in it and made a mess more than ate it, and the other dogs would come around and clean up her mess. She liked to shred blankets and scratch doors.

In any event, she came through her special surgery with flying colors and the vet was very pleased. She had never performed the surgery before and this was a way for her to practice on a dog that needed it, but she did not charge the rescue since she had no prior experience. I knew her to be an excellent surgeon from a prior experience when she sewed my cat back together after a horrible dog attack and my cat lived despite being warned by her that she probably would not. So I had lots of faith in her. But Minnie was hard to keep quiet after the surgery and needed sedation was the only issue.

She did finally find the perfect home, there was a person who really really loved the big goofy danes and had had one die of bloat prior and the idea that Minnie had this surgery to prevent it really made her long to have the dog. By the time the new owner came, I was READY for the giantess to leave, she was just so strong and busy and chewed stuff and one big swipe with her paw was pulling off my door jams, and she had found a new game of body-slamming my older golden retriever and older border collie for fun, sometimes ME, too! My house was not as tough as the dog. Hubby was sad when she leaped in their car to leave (always a good sign when the dog approves of your choice of home) and I heaved a big sigh of relief.

But of course, the family LOVED her and I recieved letter after letter thanking me for choosing them to adopt Minnie.

A few months later we recieved a call because of her microchip that she was running loose in a town, she had gotten out of an open gate and took herself for a couple mile run, scaring the crap out of the new owner and embarassing her that we got called to reconnect them. I had to laugh and be glad that Minnie had found herself the person to love her, and it WASN'T my husband.

 

[BarredBuff]

Hey SD! Just stoppin by to say hello............

 

[savingdogs]

Heh, BB!

We have clear skies this morning. But I think I'm going back to bed. I couldn't sleep last night and only got a couple hours. I milked the goats, threw some food at them, let the dogs out into the yard and I'm just gonna check my e-mail and .......*yawn* go back to sleep.

 

[framing fowl]

sweet dreams!

 

[Farmfresh]

Another charming story.

I was mighty assured the way our dear Sirius dog went happily off with his new owner as well. They looked like they were made for each other.

I usually have a dog for life. Placing him in a new home was a heart rending experience for us. I am thankful for folks out there like you and your hubby.