Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 10/21/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ms. Connell,
I am an the grader at Valley New School, in Appleton, WI.  I am researching rabbit health, specifically on elderly rabbits.
You mentioned that you know a bit about small animals, and I was wondering if you could contribute to my research.
I would like to know, what illnesses are found/developed in aging rabbits?
How should I respond to these illnesses?
What changes in my rabbit's diet should I make to promote a healthy life?
If you could recommend any other sources, including other experts, I would really appreciate it.
Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Belle
Valley New School
http://valleynewschool.com/

ANSWER: Hi Belle,
I would love to help you but we are not allowed to answer homework questions.
I will give you the link to the rabbit group in here and they can answer your questions.

Just ask them like a regular questioner, and not like you are doing research.

There link is here:
http://www.allexperts.com/el/Rabbits/

There is someone in there that is available.
Just post these questions like this:

I would like to know, what illnesses are found/developed in aging rabbits?
How should I respond to these illnesses?
What changes in my rabbit's diet should I make to promote a healthy life?
If you could recommend any other sources, including other experts, I would really appreciate it.


Good luck on your paper!!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Ms. Connell,
Please know, this is not a "homework assignment"; I attend Valley New School, a project-based charter school in Appleton, Wisconsin, where students work independently on research studies of their choice.  The average study lasts about 100 hours.  Valley New School teaches students how to direct their own education, and we are required to utilize live sources to enhance and clarify our other book/internet/media research.  Therefore, I am doing this project for my own growth, and would really appreciate your response as it will not simply be used to fill in blanks on a teacher-designed worksheet.
For more information:
This URL describes VNS:  http://valleynewschool.com/projects/
This URL has information about the research process, and how we are encouraged to utilize a live source:  http://valleynewschool.com/projects/anatomy1.php

Thank you for your time and help!
Sincerely,
Belle

Answer
Well I am pretty impressed with your school. What grade level are you?
Since this school encourages that you do your own research, and I still can't really answer these for you because I am not very knowledgeable about rabbits, I will encourage you to go to these websites and look up the information about them.

Very good article on rabbit health and diets:
http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/rabbits/rabtcare.txt
I do know that you should never feed your rabbits lettuce. Older rabbits tend to get abscesses and have problems with their teeth if they aren't trimmed regularly. These both need to be addressed by taking your bunny to the vets.

And another one from a vet:
http://www.petpages.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129%3Arabbi

We haven't had a lot of rabbits are patients over the years and I have never raised one, so I am not that "in the know" with bunnies except for the occasional nail and tooth trimming. That is why I encouraged you to contact the rabbit experts in here.

I hope this helps a little Belle. I think you will do a great report. Send me a link to it if you get it online. I would like to read it.
Good luck and "hoppy" researching!