Rabbits

         Rabbits are gentle, quiet animals that make excellent pets. They have dynamic personalities and appreciate human interaction. The more time you spend with your rabbit, the more will become tame, friendly, and bonded to you.
Rabbits like to explore, but also like to chew, so it is important to guard your home (furniture, electrical cords, wood) against their inquisitive nibbling when they are allowed to roam around the house. It is important to provide a stimulating environment for rabbits, such as the availability of toys. Toys may be as simple as cardboard mailers, paper towel centers, safe wooden toys made for birds, or PVC tubing.
A rabbits should be handled carefully, especially when removing it from its cage. Always support its hindquarters when picking it up, as its powerful rear legs can  cause serious spinal injuries if it kicks being held.
 

Gender

        Your veterinarian can determine its gender because it is often difficult to properly sex a rabbit, especially t a young one. It is a good idea to neuter or spay your rabbit before puberty(4-6 month of age). This will guard against health problems involving the reproductive organs, especially in females.

 

 

 

  

Medical conditions that require Veterinary care:

  •  Poor appetite
  • Abnormal droppings (decreased production, diarrhea)
  • Indication of pain (hunched posture, loud tooth grinding)
  • Abnormal intestinal sounds
  • Difficulty eating, slobbering
  • Bald areas on fur
  • Dandruff or flaky skin
  • Lumps and bumps under the skin
  • Matted fur around the nose, eyes or inside of front paws
  • Crusts or wax in the ears
  • Noisy breeding, sneezing
  • Overgrown teeth
  • Sores on the bottom of the feet
  • Listlessness
  • Head tilt
  • Swollen or tender abdomen.

 Veterinary physical examination is recommended after purchase, then once a year.

Housing


You should always keep your rabbit in a hutch, cage, or bunny -proofed room when you are not home. The larger the area, the better, as rabbits do like to scamper about in bursts of energy. If you keep your rabbit outdoors, be sure it is sheltered from excessive sun and predators. Never let the ambient temperatures around your rabbit's hutch exceeded 90°F. If the hutch has slatted or mesh bottom, provide at least a section of solid flooring, and do provide bedding in the form of soft wood shavings (not cedar) or recycled paper product. Your rabbit will appreciate a box for hiding and sleeping. You will want to clean your rabbit's cage often  (at least once a week), both for your rabbits health as well as to control urine odor. If you have more than one rabbit, keep your males separated from each other and from females. Be aware that non-neutered males will fight with each other whether there are females around or not.
 

Avoid

  • Electrical cords

  • blankets or carpets that can be ingested

  • leaded paint or wood varnish

  • unsupervised dogs or cats and other pets

  • toxic houseplants

  • pesticides or other lawn chemicals

  • cedar shavings

  • Tobacco or cigarette smoke

  • "gourmet" pellets that include peanuts and other additives.


Tips to keep you rabbit  Healthy, Happy & Safe:

  • Ask you veterinarian to evaluate your rabbit's teeth so that they won't become overgrown and cause soft tissue injuries.
  • Administer medication to your rabbit only as directed by your veterinarian
  • Keep your rabbit's toenails trimmed, and its fur free of mats and feces.
  • Have your female rabbit spayed at an early age to prevent uterine cancer.
  • Prevent the formation of hairballs by brushing your rabbit frequently and by providing sufficient roughage in the diet via a good timothy hay.
  • Check sipper bottle frequently as rabbits drink a lot of water.
  • Provide housing with a box for hiding, toys as untreated wood, cardboard or safe bird toys.
  • Change bedding at least once a week to keep it dry.
 
 

 

 

Are Rabbits tame?

While it is usually gentle with its owner, a rabbit may kick, scratch or bite if it becomes anxious; therefore, play with young children must be supervised. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box.

Diet

Rabbits should be fed fresh commercial pellets (without additives) and hay. Rabbits younger than 6 months can have unlimited access to pellets and alfalfa hay. Adult rabbits should receive no more than 2-3 tablespoons pellets per 5 pounds body weight per day. Alfalfa hay is too rich for adults, but they may have unlimited access to timothy or grass hay. Breeding or lactating adults may eat alfalfa hay. Limited quantities(4TBS/5lbs body weight) dark green vegetables can be given as supplements. Vegetables such as lettuce and celery are not good snacks, as they are not particularly nutritious. Fresh drinking water should be provided at all times in a sipper bottle.

 

 

 

Vital statistics

Body length: 6-12 inches

Body weight: 2-20 lbs. (depends on breed)

Sexual maturity: Male 4-7* mo., Female: 4-9 mo.*

Average Life span: 5 years (max. 15)

* dwarf breeds mature at a younger age.

General considerations

   Rabbits belong to a group of animals called lagomorphs, which includes both domesticated and wild rabbits. They are not rodents. Free-ranging rabbits are abundant in Western Europe, North America, South America, Australia and New Zealand, where they live in underground burrows.

   Rabbits are not trapped in the wild for the pet trade because free-ranging rabbits do not adapt well to captivity. Most people purchase their rabbits from pet stores. These rabbits are usually bred by hobbyist. Some breeders produce purebred rabbits for the pet and show industries.

   There are about 45 different breeds of rabbits. The most popular pet breeds are New Zealand White, the Angora, the Netherland Dwarf, the Dutch, the Lop (Holland, Mini) and the Mini Rex.

   Rabbits are naturally coprophagous: they ingest the softer, sticky cecal droppings they produce approximately 4 hours after eating. By this process, they get maximal vitamins and nutrition for their food.