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Your New Pet Rabbit
Here are some questions you need to answer for yourself. *Which adults in the family will be the primary caretakers? *Are you prepared for a possible 10-year commitment to this rabbit? *Does everyone in your family want a rabbit? *Are you prepared to provide proper veterinary care including the spay or neuter of your rabbit and any necessary vet visits? *Do you have an appropriate cage and supplies? *Is your home and/or yard "bunny-proofed"? *Do you have animals that could endanger the rabbit? (Rabbits can die even when only frightened by a predator.) *Have you had a rabbit before? Where is it now? *Will you be able to supervise any children around this rabbit? *Are you allowed to have rabbits in your house/apartment? *If you move, get married, have a baby, or if the kids lose interest, are you prepared to keep your rabbit? Please make a list of questions you have regarding care and handling of rabbits. Make sure all your questions are answered by knowledgeable people prior to adopting your rabbit.
There are many different breeds of rabbits; some with lop-ears and some with up-ears, some that weigh 2 - 3 pounds and some that weigh 15 - 20 pounds. To get a complete list and learn specifics about each breed, visit www.arba.net/photo.htm. No matter what breed you decide to buy, a rabbit's average lifespan is 6 - 10 years depending on the quality of care its owner provides to it. Are you ready to care for your new friend for this long?
If you have children in the house, they need to learn how to properly take care of the new pet. However, a rabbit should never by solely a child's responsibility. Rabbits are tricky pets for children because children often want a pet to hold and cuddle. Many rabbits will not stand for this. Being an animal of prey, they are most comfortable with all fours on solid ground. Your children need to be aware of this. If a rabbit is uncomfortable being held it will scratch to get down. Being frightened by this behavior, a child may drop the rabbit causing it to break its legs or even its back. If the back is broken, the new pet needs to be euthanized. This will be very hard on the child but needs to be done for the rabbit's sake.
Caring For Your New Rabbit
Your rabbit needs to have a very specific diet. Rabbits have VERY sensitive digestive systems and even switching between brands of pellets can cause them to get sick with diarrhea. A rabbit's diet should always include alfalfa-based pellets (with preferably no more than 16% protein and definitely no extra sugary treats), unlimited Timothy Hay, and plenty of water. A rabbit without water won't eat. The Timothy Hay is a very important part of a rabbit's diet because it contains lots of fiber--necessary to keep a rabbit's digestive tract moving. Certain fruits and vegetable can be slowly introduced (one at a time) after the age of 6 months, however they are not necessary. If you notice any change in your rabbit's droppings, discontinue this food.
The most important thing for your bunny is its home or cage. A rabbit's cage should be no smaller than six times the size of your rabbit when full-grown. However, the bigger the better! Rabbits are naturally curious animals and love room to run, play, and explore! Nice but cheap cages can be found at this store, or online at bassequipment.com & kwcages.com. Your bunny's cage needs to be kept clean. Walking in its own feces can also make your bunny sick with something called Coccidiosis. Cages with a pull-out drop pan are best and easiest to clean. However, rabbits can be litter trained. Rabbit/small animal size litter boxes can be found at various pet stores. They should be filled with an absorbent, non-clumping, non-clay litter. Good ones include recycled paper litters such as Yesterdays News and Fibrecycle, pelleted litter such as Feline Pine, or wood shavings such as Aspen or Pine. Though still controversial, I prefer to stay away from Pine and Cedar shavings because they could lead to respiratory problems if the cage is not cleaned often enough or if it isn't well-ventilated. The bedding of the cage should be changed daily including the litter box if you choose to have one. Once a week, the cage should be completely cleaned using vinegar or a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Make sure to rinse thoroughly so as not to bother your rabbit's lungs.
Something you should always offer to your rabbits is PLENTY OF TOYS! Rabbits love to play and explore. To keep your rabbit from being especially bored in its cage, add inexpensive toys. My rabbit's favorite toy is an old toilet paper roll. (I cut it in half because he's a smaller sized bun) Other toys include cardboard houses, an infant's plastic key set, untreated whicker baskets, and even a paper bag!
Rabbit's can also be born with teeth problems called Malocclusion (when a bunny's top teeth do not overlap its bottom teeth). If this is the case, your rabbit needs to be taken to the vet monthly to have its teeth properly trimmed. If you fail to do this, the teeth will continue to grow and can damage your rabbits jaw. It will leave your pet uncomfortable and unable to eat.
Another monthly duty you have as a rabbit-owner is nail trimming. Nail trimming can be done with cat nail trimmers or human nail trimmers. It is important not to cut the nails past the quick (the darker part of your rabbits nails) or it will bleed. The bleeding can be stopped by using Styptic Powder found at pet stores.
If this rabbit is a companion for a rabbit already at home, you need to slowly introduce your buns in neutral territory. It is suggested that you bond a neutered male to a spayed female because this is the easiest introduction. However, it is possible with lots of time and lots of patience to introduce two spayed females to two neutered males. (You should NEVER place unneutered males together for they will fight until the death of one or both!) Many articles can be found
Before you buy a bunny, you should know what to expect, how to care for it and what to do if it gets sick. You'll find much of this information within this pamphlet which I suggest you hold onto throughout your rabbit's life.
Rabbits are not the easiest animals to take care of; they are not meant to be kept in a cage all the time. It is recommended that your rabbit get time out of its cage, often referred to as "exercise time." This time allows rabbits to be who they really are; curious little explorers who love to get into mischief! During this time, it is your job to make sure they can not chew any electrical cords or you'll have a very fried bunny. Because they love to chew and dig, you'll also have to watch your furniture and carpets.
See the PLEASE CONTINUE TO THE INSIDE OF THE PAMPHLET
Back to the GRAPHICAL PAMPHLET
Finished (but continually being added to) Sites: Gizmo - my Netherland Dwarf! and Trinity - my Holland Lop!
Currently in progress:
Breeds of Rabbits
Where to Find Your Perfect Pet
Finding a Rabit-Savvy Vet
This page was last updated March 20th, 2003. Thank you for visiting! Come again!
