Petbunny Discussion List FAQ
Kent H Lundberg
The PETBUNNY DISCUSSION LIST
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Last revised: Feb. 20, 1995
1. OUTLINE
2. INTRODUCTION
3. PURPOSE
4. OWNER
5. JOINING / SUBSCRIBING
6. LEAVING / UNSUBSCRIBING
7. POSTING MESSAGES
8. MANAGING YOUR MAIL
8.1 NOMAIL/MAIL Option
8.2 REVIEW Command
8.3 NOACK Command
8.4 NOREPRO Command
8.5 DIGEST Option
8.6 QUERY Command
8.7 HELP Command
9. TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
10. RABBIT RELATED USENET GROUPS
11. OTHER RABBIT RELATED MAILING LISTS
12. ARCHIVES
13. COPIES OF PETBUNNY FAQ
14. AUTHORS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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2. INTRODUCTION
Petbunny is an open, unmoderated forum for people interested in rabbits as
pets. It was established in May of 1994. Typical items of discussion
include diet, behavior, medical problems, and general rabbit care.
Members of the list are owners, rescuers and breeders. All rabbit
related topics are acceptable for posting and discussion. Membership to
petbunny is open to anyone with e-mail service. It is not intended for
rabbit bashing. List volume varies from a few messages a day up to as
many as 50 during peak periods.
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3. PURPOSE
The purpose of PETBUNNY is to give rabbit companions a chance to discuss
the wonders, frustrations and exhilaration of living with bunnies.
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4. OWNER
The list owner is Bob Crovo, who does not read the list. To reach him
send an e-mail note to CR...@UKCC.UKY.EDU
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5. JOINING / SUBSCRIBING.
There is no cost for subscribing to the PETBUNNY discussion list.
HOWEVER, THERE MAYBE BE LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER CHARGES or CONNECT CHANGES
for the electronic mail messages that you will receive. Check with your
service provider or local computer support person, if this is an issue.
To subscribe to PETBUNNY send the following in the body of an e-mail
message to: LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU.
* SUBSCRIBE PETBUNNY firstname lastname
Once this message is processed you will receive a request for
confirmation note. To complete the subscription process you must return
the message to the LISTSERV address. After your request is received you
will be added to the PETBUNNY mailing list. You should begin to receive
mail in about a day.
Please do not send subscripton requests to the mailing list. None of us
have anyway of subscribing you.
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6. LEAVING / UNSUBSCRIBING
If you would like to be completely removed from the PETBUNNY list, send
the following in the body of an e-mail message to
LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU. You can resubscribe at any time by following the
Subscribing Instructions.
* SIGNOFF PETBUNNY
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7. POSTING MESSAGES
Messages to be posted to the discussion list should be sent to the
address PETB...@UKCC.UKY.EDU. These messages are then forwarded to the
membership of the list. It is considered good netiquette to read a list
for at least a week before posting.
When you are replying to messages most mail programs will give you the
opportunity to reply to the individual or to the list. Messages of
general interest should be posted to the list.
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8. MANAGING / CONTROLLING YOUR MESSAGES
These administrative messages should be sent to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU.
Please do not post administrative messages to PETBUNNY.
8.1 NOMAIL Option
If you are interested in staying a member of PETBUNNY but you don't want
to receive mail (i.e. going away and can't read mail, can't handle the
volume, etc.), send the following in the body of an e-mail message to:
LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY NOMAIL
When you are ready to again receive mail from PETBUNNY, send the
following message to: LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY MAIL
8.2 REVIEW Command
To see a list of subscribers send the following in the body of an e-mail
message to: LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* REVIEW PETBUNNY
8.3 ACK / NOACK Command
The listserv will send an acknowledgement that your messages have been
received and posted. To receive an acknowledgement send the following in
the body of an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY ACK
To no longer receive acknowledgements send the following in the body of
an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY NOACK
8.4 NOREPRO Command
The PETBUNNY list defaults are set so that you receive a copy of all
messages that you post. If you decide that you do not want to receive a
copy of those messages you post then send the following in the body of an
e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY NOREPRO
8.5 DIGEST Option
This option tells the listserv program that you want to receive all
PETBUNNY postings in one daily message. The message will contain a table
of contents and then the postings. To set this option send the following
in the body of an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY DIGEST
If you decide you do not want PETBUNNY postings as a digest send the
following in the body of an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* SET PETBUNNY NODIGEST
8.6 QUERY Command
To receive a listing of the status of your subscription options send the
following in the body of an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* QUERY PETBUNNY
8.7 HELP Command
To receive a complete listing of listserv commands send the following in
the body of an e-mail to LIST...@UKCC.UKY.EDU:
* HELP
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9. TOP 10 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following are answers to questions that are frequently asked of
PETBUNNY members. If you have other questions, or need clarification on
any of these feel free to ask the list, or e-mail me, my address is
located at the end of this file.
9.1 Can my rabbit be litterbox trained? What kind of litter should I use?
A rabbit can be litterbox trained fairly easily. Most rabbits will
chose a spot to use for eliminating, this is where a litterbox can be
placed. The litterbox should be big enough for the rabbit to sit in
comfortably and have sides low enough for your pet to jump in and out of
easily. Place some droppings in the box. Your pet should gradually
start to use the litterbox. Some rabbits, especially in the beginning,
require multiple litterboxes, but as they mature they will pick one or
two and the others can be removed. Never scold while your pet is in the
litterbox, you want your bunny to associate a pleasant experience with
the box.
The best kinds of litter to use for your rabbits litterbox is organic
litter or pelleted paper. Some examples are Care Fresh, Yesterdays News,
Gentle Touch, Critter Litter, Cat Country Litter, CelluDri, Wysong Litter
or Cat Works. If you cannot find these litters the next best filler is
shredded newspaper or straw. Cedar or pine shavings and clay kitty litter
are not recommended. Cedar and non-heat treated pine can alter liver
metabolism. Clay kitty litters (both clumping and non-clumping) can cause
fatal intestinal impactions.
9.2 My six month old rabbit, who has been perfectly litterbox trained in
the past, has started pooping and peeing everywhere, whats wrong?
Your rabbit has probably hit puberty. The best solution is to have
your bunny spayed/neutered. Spaying is highly recommended because
unspayed females have a high chance of contracting uterine cancer after
age 2. Neutering a male rabbit will help restore his toilet habits.
9.3 My rabbit uses the litterbox to pee in, but leaves pills everywhere,
what can I do?
Pill dropping is a form of territory marking. Spaying/neutering will
help decrease the incidence of marking. If your rabbit has been altered
then try decreasing the amount of space that your bunny has to run. Once
your bunny is trustworthy in the small space then you can try increasing
the space the rabbit has access to. If your rabbit drops pills in the
cage, you might try putting some hay in the litterbox to encourage use.
9.4 Why should I spay/neuter my rabbit? Won't it be traumatic for them?
Spaying a female rabbit removes the chance that she can develop
uterine cancer. Unspayed females run the risk of developing uterine cancer
which is nearly always malignant and can spread quickly. Spayed females
have the ability to live to 9 years and older. Spay surgery is somewhat
traumatic for a female, if only because the surgery is so invasive,
however, the transient discomfort is far outweighed by the health
benefits. Some vets will provide painkiller for your bun. The one time
injection seems to block the pain enough that she can get started on the
road to recovery. This is not always necessary, but has helped many
females at our shelter.
Neutering a male rabbit, when done by an experienced vet, is less of
a problem. Most males come home from the vet looking for something to
eat, and are ready to play within 24 hours. Neutering can decrease the
rabbits aggressiveness. Unneutered males typically have very strong
smelling urine which goes away following neutering.
9.5 What should I feed my rabbit? I heard that I shouldnt feed my rabbit
lettuce/veggies/oats etc?
The mature house rabbit should receive a diet composed of hay,
veggies and some pellets. The most important part of this diet is a good
grass hay like timothy or orchard grass (not alfalfa or other legume hay).
A house rabbit should have access to hay at all times, not only does this
keep the digestive system working, but it also helps prevent the formation
of hairballs. A rabbit will also benefit greatly from daily veggies, at
least 1 heaping cup per 5 pounds of body weight. Veggies should be
introduced to the rabbit one at a time. If the addition of any item leads
to diarrhea or unformed stools that persist for more than 72 hours, then
remove it from the diet. One of the major cause of health problems in a
house rabbit is the overfeeding of pellets. The mature house rabbit should
receive no more than 1/8 cup of pellets per 4 pounds of body weight.
The following is a list of foods you can feed your bunny: Carrots
and tops, beet tops, dandelion greens and flower (no pesticides) kale,
collard greens, escarole, arugla, romaine lettuce (no light colored or
iceberg lettuce) endive, parsley, clover, cabbage, broccoli (and leaves)
green peppers, pea pods, brussels sprouts, basil, peppermint leaves,
rasberry leaves, raddichio, bok choy, and spinach. Feed at least three
kinds of veggies a day, because feeding only one type a day may lead to
nutrient imbalances. The following can be given as treat foods (no more
than 1 tablespoon per 4 pounds of body weight) strawberries, papaya,
pineapple, apple, pear, melon, raspberries, blueberries, mango, cactus
fruit, persimmon, peach or tomato. If the fresh foods are not available,
then dried fruits may be used as an alternative.
A rabbits should not be given starchy foods like oats, crackers, nuts,
breakfast cereals. Also, sugary snacks, salty snacks and chocolate
should be avoided. Too many carbohydrates in a rabbit's system can lead
to digestive upset and possibly death.
9.6 My rabbit is losing its hair, is this normal?
A rabbit shed four times a year. Typically there is a heavy molt,
followed by a lighter molt three months later. Sometimes a rabbit will
have bald patches because their hair is falling out. However, if your
rabbit is losing hair in only one place (typically behind the ears or
around the tail) and the hair has dandruff around the roots when pulled,
you should see your veterinarian. These are symptoms of fur mites and
should be treated. You can use flea powders formulated for KITTENS but
only under the direction of your vet.
9.7 My rabbit has stopped eating and drinking, what can I do?
The best thing to do in this situation is to get your rabbit to its
veterinarian as soon as possible. However, if your rabbit is eating but
not drinking you may want to check and make sure the water bottle is
working. If your bunny is eating try offering water in a bowl, but if
this continues for any significant (one day) length of time call your
veterinarian. A rabbit eating a diet consisting of hay and greens will
have a lower water intake than a rabbit on a diet of primarily pellets.
9.8 Will papaya/pineapple/enzymes really digest hair?
The short answer is no, they do not digest hair. Believers claim
that it will digest the mucous and protein holding the hairball together.
However, there are people who diagree with this. The addition of fresh
papaya or pineapple to your bunnies diet will probably not hurt your
pet. Be advised that papaya tablets (also known as "bunny pez" in my
house) are high in sugar and may cause digestive upset in some bunnies.
9.9 How frequently should I bathe my rabbit?
The healthy rabbit should not have to be bathed. Sometimes, however,
a rabbit will experience diarrhea and need a spot bath, but not a whole
imersion.
9.10 What will getting a second rabbit do to my relationship with my
first rabbit?
A pair of rabbits will tend to entertain one another, and you may
find yourself spending less time with them. However, if you make the
effort then you can have a enriching relationship with both of them.
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10. RABBIT RELATED USENET GROUPS
There are two USENET groups that have rabbit related discussions. The
first is alt.pets.rabbits, and the second is rec.pets. There is a group
rec.pets.rabbits, but it was an improperly created group and is not
recognized by USENET.
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11. OTHER RABBIT RELATED MAILING LISTS
There is a related mailing list, SHOWBUNNY.
SHOWBUNNY is a group created in January of 1995. To subscribe send an
e-mail message to SHOW...@AOL.COM.
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12. ARCHIVES
There are no official archives for PETBUNNY. There is a partial archive
available by FTP from LEIBNIZ.MATH.FU-BERLIN.DE in the directory
pub/doc/petbunny.
Also at the Berlin site are pictures of some PETBUNNY members rabbits.
These are located in the pub/doc/petbunny/pictures directory.
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13. COPIES OF THE PETBUNNY FAQ
This FAQ file will be posted weekly (or so). There should be copies
available at the FTP site in Berlin, and on the PETBUNNY WWW HOME PAGE.
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14. RABBIT RELATED WORLD WIDE WEB SITES
The following are WWW sites where pictures and other bunny information
can be found.
PETBUNNY HOME PAGE:
"http://www.mit.edu:8001 /people/klund/bunny/bunny.html"
PETBUNNY FTP site:
"ftp://leibniz.math.fu-berlin.de/pub/doc/petbunny/"
HRS HOME PAGE:
"http://www.psg.lcs.mit.edu/~carl/paige/HRS-home.html"
THE CHICAGO HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY:
"http://www.webcom.com/~hrs/index.html"
RABBITS- MEDICAL INFO:
"gopher://netvet.wustl.edu/11n%3a/ssi/rabbits"
PET RABBITS:
"http://akebono.stanford.edu/yahoo/Entertainment/Animals__Insects__and_Pets
/Rabbits/"
YAHOO:
"http://akebono.stanford.edu/yahoo/bin/menu/Entertainment/Animals__and_Pets/
Rabbits"
PETS PAGES INDEX: "http://sashimi.wwa.com/~tenec/users/paulf/pets/pets.html"
PETS:
"http://ultb.rit.edu/~ebp4907/pets/pets.html"
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14. AUTHORS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This FAQ was written by Laura Tessmer, who is solely responsible for any
errors. I would like to acknowledge and thank 2bu...@cpcu.org for the
list of WWW sites. Diet and other health information located in the
answer files was taken from the Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital
file located on AOL. I would like to thank Dr. Susan Brown for taking
time out of her busy schedule to review the answers to the top 10
questions and make necessary corrections. I would also like to thank
Vicki Botner for correcting my formating and other errors.
Any errors or additions can be brought to my attention by e-mailing me at
69...@strauss.udel.edu.
Laura Tessmer * Understanding is a three-edged
Graduate Student * sword...knowledge, once received
Dept. of Animal Science * and understood, is permanent and
University of Delaware * changes you forever. JMS