After almost losing my beloved Tyson (pictured left) back in March (and nursing him back to health), I began to think of all the special needs which older Hollands require. Many of us have those special “aged” Hollands who once were seasoned show bunnies, but have now been retired. I still have three Bryce sons left, and one is over seven years old! (For those of you who have been in Holland circles for several years, you probably remember my “FRR Bryce.” He would be almost 10 years old!). I firmly believe that stress (lots of shows, wild temperature fluctuations, etc.) significantly reduces a Holland Lop’s life. Some of my longest living rabbits were ones that only went to a handful of shows in their lifetime and never left the barn after that (usually meaning they were the “mediocre” ones). So the cruel reality is, more often than not, the awesome Hollands who have a consistent win record on the show table usually succumb before that “normal” doe that was kept around because she was a good mother. A Holland Lop “peaks” at about 2 years of age (on the average) and regresses after that, depending upon how much showing and stress they are exposed to.
So, for that “over the hill” Holland, there are several ways to help keep them happy and comfortable during their golden years: * Keep the bunny’s cage clean; provide fresh feed, water and hay on a daily basis; also offer plenty of healthy treats, too. * Keep the bunny groomed; often times, older rabbits tend to molt more often and fail to groom themselves properly as they did when they were younger. * Give the bunny a “time out.” Turn the bunny loose and let run on show table or in a rabbit play yard in a safe, secure area. * If weather gets really warm, bring special rabbit into a climate controlled area to live permanently. Tyson currently resides in my laundry room and it helps me keep a closer eye on him when my life gets hectic and busy. As always.....Hollands Rule! Christine ;-)
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