It’s endless fun having rabbits. Every time they try some thing new to the point of being either an obsession or a health issue. This time Buttons started grooming and chewing on Nova’s eyes.
People, including vet nurses say “It’s normal, they do that because the other bunny may have something in their eye that they cannot get rid of”, or “the bunny may have weepy eyes” or “the grooming bunny may sense that there is something wrong with the other bunny…”
That’s a load of crap. Let me explain. Animals only care about themselves. Rabbits groom each other because, yes it is comforting, but it is also to consume minerals and salts from the other rabbits body. Think about it – don’t dismiss that as fact.
Buttons was low on salt, so he started licking Nova’s eyes to the point of her getting conjunctivitis. There was nothing wrong with her, she didn’t have something stuck in her eye, she didn’t have weepy eyes, and she definitely didn’t have myxo – yes that was suggested by someone.
Her eyes were swollen, sore and red because Buttons was trying to get salt. Not because she had a problem.
I contacted the vet nurse again and mentioned it to her, explaining that it’s Buttons issue not Nova’s, although it is turning into Nova’s problem because he is making her yes red and swollen.
The vet nurse said “It will be because of something that Nova has in her eyes.” No. It wasn’t. I’m sick of people giving the wrong information, even if they are trained in that area. They cannot think out of the box, or even listen. It must be the way they have been taught. I’m sick of it, use your logical brain people.
After doing research about it, I found that some rabbits have a salt imbalance in their diet (and vets and vet nurses dismiss that fact every time) because they have a digestion issue. BINGO! So I read more, and found that they get a mineral block and crush it up into a powder, roll some of the powder onto the squished banana. Then give that to the rabbit.
Luckily, I had purchased a mineral block ages ago. So I scrabbled around and pulled it out of my first aid kit. I broke a tiny bit off and rolled the banana on it. I then smooshed the banana around it and through it to mix it up a bit.
I gave a bit of mineral banana to both Buttons and Nova (Nova’s one had less mineral powder). It was probably the size of the tip of your pointer-finger. They both scoffed it down without thinking. I gave it to him on Wednesday and Friday, giving a day off in the middle. I didn’t want to overdose him, and I ended up giving Nova plain banana. But I knew if he had too much, he would wee it out.
And guess what? Buttons hasn’t licked her eyes again. He grooms her head and ears to a normal level, but he leaves her eyes alone.
That just proves to me that rabbits diets are not balanced. So if you’re reading this, and your rabbits are grooming each other too much, think about this information. But remember, I’m not a professional and it’s up to you to discern whether the information here is suitable for your rabbit. I take no responsibility for you applying any of this information on this website.
The potassium in the banana will also be boosted by adding the minerals in the block.