VIDEO: Meet the giant swimming bunny (From Thisisdorset)
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VIDEO: Meet the giant swimming bunny
8:48am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Latest By Emma Joseph
VIDEO: Meet the giant swimming bunny
SHE’S taken to swimming like a duck – or should that be rabbit – to water.
Four-year-old continental giant rabbit Heidi is making a real splash at a local hydrotherapy pool with her twice weekly sessions for arthritis.
The bunny was diagnosed with the condition in her hips and knees, as well as spondylosis in her neck, after visiting a specialist when she stopped moving and eating around Christmas last year.
Owner Amanda Williams, from Highcliffe, said: “The specialist said I should try hydrotherapy and I was looking at him laughing. I saw my local vet and mentioned it and he laughed as well.
“She was officially referred to Paddy’s Pool in Milford on Sea and when I phoned them up they thought it was a wind-up – there was just silence on the end of the phone.”
Heidi was booked in for a session, supervised by a veterinary nurse, and loved her first brief stint in the pool, staying completely calm throughout, and even managing 90 seconds of doggy paddle.
Mature student Amanda, 44, said: “We took it very slowly, just getting her used to wearing a life jacket and sitting on the shelf in water up to her chest.
“Rabbits are quite gassy and quite naturally buoyant. The minute she went into the water she immediately started doing doggy paddle.”
Heidi now has 30 minute sessions in the 4ft pool, including seven minutes swimming, wearing a fetching red hair scrunchie to keep her ears dry.
Amanda, who owns two other continental giants, Herman and Greta, said she has become a different rabbit since she started swimming in January.
“I’ve noticed a huge difference. She’s much more lively, she’s been jumping in the air and she hasn’t done that for about a year. She’s certainly more cocky and nosey.
“I never, ever would have thought that hydrotherapy for bunnies would have worked, but it’s brilliant. She’s just a much happier bunny.”
Please note: We have been asked to make it clear that under normal circumstances, rabbits should not be put into water as they are not natural swimmers and it can be dangerous for them. Thanks.
Comments(9)
PooleParky
says...
10:02am Thu 21 Mar 13
Just wanted to add a teeny note here.... It may just be worth pointing out to any owners or potential owners reading this article that although buns CAN swim, ordinarily you should never put them in water, or even bath them unless they're covered in something that they are unable to wash off themselves.
Buns naturally start swimming when you put them in water as a life saving mechanism but it's dangerous as it puts them under a huge amount of stress and there's a risk of water getting in their nose or ears (as you can see they've secured Heidi's ears and she's raising her nose high out of the water) which is very dangerous for buns. They sometimes give the false appearance of being calm in water, even floating still sometimes. This is because if they kicked and wiggled they would drown; it does not mean they are not terrified!
Obviously, in this case a vet has decided it's medically the best option for this bunny, but in general putting your rabbits in water is a big NO! :)
....no matter how many idiots post Youtube videos them chucking their bunnies in swimming pools :(
PooleParky
says...
10:12am Thu 21 Mar 13
Pablo23
says...
1:11pm Thu 21 Mar 13
PooleParky wrote:So, what are you saying?
Hello!
Just wanted to add a teeny note here.... It may just be worth pointing out to any owners or potential owners reading this article that although buns CAN swim, ordinarily you should never put them in water, or even bath them unless they're covered in something that they are unable to wash off themselves.
Buns naturally start swimming when you put them in water as a life saving mechanism but it's dangerous as it puts them under a huge amount of stress and there's a risk of water getting in their nose or ears (as you can see they've secured Heidi's ears and she's raising her nose high out of the water) which is very dangerous for buns. They sometimes give the false appearance of being calm in water, even floating still sometimes. This is because if they kicked and wiggled they would drown; it does not mean they are not terrified!
Obviously, in this case a vet has decided it's medically the best option for this bunny, but in general putting your rabbits in water is a big NO! :)
....no matter how many idiots post Youtube videos them chucking their bunnies in swimming pools :(
Controversial But True
says...
7:01pm Thu 21 Mar 13
bourne free wrote:What's up Doc?
A rabbit getting better treatment than we get on the NHS ???
Desperado
says...
7:45pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Pablo23 wrote:What he or she is saying is, there are some right dic*heads out there , who will be trying to teach bunny to swim .
PooleParky wrote: Hello! Just wanted to add a teeny note here.... It may just be worth pointing out to any owners or potential owners reading this article that although buns CAN swim, ordinarily you should never put them in water, or even bath them unless they're covered in something that they are unable to wash off themselves. Buns naturally start swimming when you put them in water as a life saving mechanism but it's dangerous as it puts them under a huge amount of stress and there's a risk of water getting in their nose or ears (as you can see they've secured Heidi's ears and she's raising her nose high out of the water) which is very dangerous for buns. They sometimes give the false appearance of being calm in water, even floating still sometimes. This is because if they kicked and wiggled they would drown; it does not mean they are not terrified! Obviously, in this case a vet has decided it's medically the best option for this bunny, but in general putting your rabbits in water is a big NO! :) ....no matter how many idiots post Youtube videos them chucking their bunnies in swimming pools :(So, what are you saying?
Pablo23
says...
8:51pm Thu 21 Mar 13
Desperado wrote:So DONT put a rabbit in the water?
Pablo23 wrote:What he or she is saying is, there are some right dic*heads out there , who will be trying to teach bunny to swim .
PooleParky wrote: Hello! Just wanted to add a teeny note here.... It may just be worth pointing out to any owners or potential owners reading this article that although buns CAN swim, ordinarily you should never put them in water, or even bath them unless they're covered in something that they are unable to wash off themselves. Buns naturally start swimming when you put them in water as a life saving mechanism but it's dangerous as it puts them under a huge amount of stress and there's a risk of water getting in their nose or ears (as you can see they've secured Heidi's ears and she's raising her nose high out of the water) which is very dangerous for buns. They sometimes give the false appearance of being calm in water, even floating still sometimes. This is because if they kicked and wiggled they would drown; it does not mean they are not terrified! Obviously, in this case a vet has decided it's medically the best option for this bunny, but in general putting your rabbits in water is a big NO! :) ....no matter how many idiots post Youtube videos them chucking their bunnies in swimming pools :(So, what are you saying?
Fair enough.
I'll change my plans for this weekend.
l'anglais
says...
7:50am Fri 22 Mar 13
Best and leanest meat around.
Ps. The freezer's full if anyone is interested in buying some from us.
moorsman70
says...
11:03am Fri 22 Mar 13
bourne free says...
9:39am Thu 21 Mar 13