Rabbits are companion animals and in the wild they live in large groups, enjoying plenty of social interaction (and love – you know the expression!)

As pets, they really should be kept in pairs (as a minimum) and mixed sex tends to work best – of course, neutering is recommended if you don’t want your pair to become a fluffle! Neutering can also have health benefits and can prevent tumours in females and aggression in males.

So, if your bunny didn’t come with their some-bunny (generally under 12 weeks of age, they pair up quickly) or has sadly lost them later in life, what do you do? It is not as simple as just buying a new rabbit – they have to bond and this can be a slow process. Many rescue centres have expertise in bonding bunnies so they are a good place to start. If you’re going to do it yourself, be patient . . .

Rabbits can be surprising vicious and so the best place to start is with separate enclosures where they can smell/see each other and this can gradually move closer as they get more accustomed.

Once they seem fairly friendly (and this could take weeks – don’t lose heart), you can try to introduce them – this should be in a neutral space and you must never leave them alone. Keep a thick towel handy in case you need to separate them quickly and intervene at the first sign of tension. Keep repeating this visit, gradually building up the time, until they are relaxed in each others company. Feeding them together can help.

Once they are happily grooming and snuggling together, you can move them in together and let the bunny love begin!

There’s lots of helpful advice on bunny bonding online:

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/ownership/bonding-rabbits

The animal charity Wood Green also runs free e-learning courses for bunny owners: https://woodgreen.org.uk/workshops/rabbit-elearning-course

Lungworm infection in dogs is something we often hear a lot about.  It used to be a rare condition – but is on the increase in certain areas of the country.  As we are now starting to travel about a bit more after lockdown it is important for you to understand the risks posed by this parasite.

Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is an infection caused by a roundworm parasite which is carried by slugs and snails.  Dogs become infected when they consume these animals or the trails of slime they leave behind on grass, in puddles, outdoor water bowls or toys that have been left outside in grass.  Unlike many diseases, Lungworm cannot be passed from dog to dog.  The worm needs slugs and snails to act as a host in order to grow and develop.

Incidents of Lungworm being diagnosed in dogs were originally more prevalent in the South East and in South Wales, but there have been an increasing number of cases in other parts of the country, including Scotland. However it is still a rare diagnosis.

Many dogs won’t initially show symptoms of Lungworm and it can go unnoticed for quite some time as the symptoms can easily be confused with other illnesses.

Dogs may show no signs of disease or may present with coughing or bleeding, which in severe cases can be fatal.  Luckily, Lungworm infections in South Oxfordshire are extremely rare – but if you are travelling to other parts of the country, it is important to check that your routine worming treatment prevents against this disease. If the condition is recognised promptly, treatment is effective.

Preventative treatment involves giving monthly prescription worming tablets, or spot-on treatments.  Not all worming treatments offer lungworm prevention. So, if you are unsure please contact us for advice.  It is also good practice to reduce the chances of your dog contracting lungworm by following simple methods of dog hygiene such as ensuring faeces are picked up promptly and disposed of correctly and not leaving toys or bowls outside for snails/slugs to climb over.

Many over the counter anti-parasitic treatments have poor efficacy so we would recommend a veterinary dispensed treatment. If you’re not already a member, consider joining our Lifetime Care Club to have all of these products included. Your vet can help you choose the best one for your pet based on their lifestyle and habits.

Membership of our Lifetime Care Club includes parasitic treatment – please see here for further details.