Unseasonally Seasonal!

At the time of writing this, we are officially half way through Autumn. But with temperatures around 24 - 26 degrees centigrade in the south of the UK, it’s really hard to imagine!

Whilst it’s a lovely treat to have an extra few weeks of summer (particularly as most of summer 2023 was a bit of a washout!), we should  be mindful of the effect of this extra warm weather on our furry friends.

At this time of the season, our little ones are starting their natural preparations for the winter months ahead. Summer coats will have been shed and a thicker winter coat will be developing - especially if they mainly live outdoors.

The trouble with this unseasonably warm weather is that it can interfere with the normal summer/winter coat change, leading to having ‘the wrong coat’ when the weather changes, as well as the possibility of more frequent moulting.

Indoor rabbits do often moult more frequently than outdoor rabbits, and this unseasonal weather may exacerbate this. So if you’re finding more fur in more places than usual right now, this may be the reason!

Whilst this extra moulting is not a problem, unless the weather suddenly turns cold before coats have fully developed, moulting can put an additional strain on the tummy - with more fur being groomed out and ingested, potentially leading to a slower digestive function and even lead to a block - something to avoid at all costs.

Moulting is usually easy to spot - the fur can be uneven and patchy, there may be loose tufts of fur easily removed by gentle ‘teasing’ with your fingers, there may be coat colour variations, or a visible line of shorter and longer fur, for example. 

If your little one is eating lots of fur during grooming, the tell-tail sign of ingested fur is the normal hard poos often being ‘strung’ together (called stringy poo, of course!). 

And if you see stringy poos in your rabbits area, it’s a good time to step up the grooming regime and also to make sure your little ones are eating lots of hay, and drinking plenty of water to help them cope with the excess fur they may e taking in.

It may seem simple, but hay and water are the two key components to digestive health in rabbits - and a great way to minimise the risk of fur blocks.

And if you’re thinking of bringing your outdoor pets inside for the winter, now is a good time to do it - before heating is turned on and before the winter coat has grown!

So while you’re enjoying the last of the heat and sun before the chill of winter draws in, spare a thought for your little ones; top up their hay and water bowls and give them some extra pampering with a brush and a comb!