General Care For A Rabbit
This page is under construction
This page was written to help teach people about the general care for a rabbit. These are some pointers that I have learned and applied over many years of rabbit husbandry and other professional rabbit owners. I hope you will find this page helpful.
How to hold a rabbit
When approaching a rabbit, move very slowly. If you move quickly, the rabbit will think that you are a predator and you are hunting them. Use two hand to pick up your rabbit. You should always support your rabbit's back legs and hold your rabbit against your chest. I alway hold the 2 back legs in my hand at all times. All rabbits have very strong back legs and they can scratch you very deeply.
If ever a young child wants to hold your rabbits, I would suggest having the child sit on chair or the floor, with the bunny on the child's lap. Most rabbit have no perception of falling, which is a major cause of injury.
Rabbit housing:
Inside housing is best for all rabbits, as they are happier and live a much longer life. Rabbits are highly social animals and if they are your only pet, they like the interaction with humans. A rabbit should not be housed in a kitchen, but in a den or a living room. Most kitchens have way too many fumes, some of which can cause health problems, as is true with a variety of household cleaning solutions.
Outside housing
How to pick out a healthy rabbit out:
When picking out a rabbit, I first look at it's surounding enviroment. Is it clean ? Is there a supply of fresh water ? Is there a supply of fresh food in a bowl ? Does the enviroment smell ? Does the rabbit have pently or room ? Do you see any signs of a sick bunny in with the rabbit you are looking at ?
Second- Check out their teeth. They should look like a human's bite. Top teeth over the bottom.
Third- Check the eyes. They should look clear and glossy. There should be no redness to their eye lids or a runny eye, that has gunk in the coner of their eye.
Forth: I check if they are hydrated, by pulling on their skin. If the skin falls down back into place they a fine. If the skin goes down slowly and does not fall back into place, then the rabbit is dehydrated.
Fifth- Check their vent. Is there diarrhea on it's vent or on it's fur? When doing this check, this is also the time to determine of confirm the sex of the rabbit.
Sixth- Is the rabbit friendly or scared? Does it like to be handled? The rabbit should be used to being handled and calm.
Senventh- Are there bucks and does living together in the same cage? More than likely, the doe is pregnant.
Eighth- Are there bald spots on the rabbit. This could be a sign of fur mites, a condition that is very difficult to get rid of and can possibly spread to the other pets in your household.
Where is the best place to buy a rabbit:
The best place to buy a healthy bunny is either from a rabbit show or from a private breeder that specializes in that breed you are looking for. The breeder should know a lot of information about his breed of rabbit. The breeder should have his rabbitry registered with The American Rabbit Breeders Association. Always ask the breeder a lot of questions and make sure that your are satisfied with the answer. Most rabbit show people are very knowlegeable about rabbits in general and even more so to the breed they specialize in. Always, ask a breeder how long they have been into thier breed of rabbit. A reputable rabbit breeder should give you small bag of food when buying a bunny.
I would suggest staying away form all pet store rabbits. You don't where that rabbit has come from and whether the rabbit has been maintaned in a clean environment with proper food and water. The rabbit is more than likely unsocialized with humans You don't know the background of the rabbit you are purchasing and there is a good possibility that the rabbit has been in-bred. More than likely, the rabbit is not the pure bred bunny you had entended on purchasing. Often pet store rabbits will carry fur mites, fleas, bad teeth and there is alway a chance of bringing home a pregnant rabbit.
Spend the time looking for a rabbit that best suits you and you family. Investigate the different breeds and their characteristics. They are a big commitment, but well worth the time invested, when you end up purchasing a healthy, quality pet.
Do rabbits come with a pedigree:
Yes, rabbits do have pedigrees, just like a dog or a cat. A good rabbit breeder should give you a pedigree when buying a bunny. Also, it is nice to see the show wins the ancestors have on the pedigree. The pedigree simply proves that the animal you are puchasing is a pure bred animal.
I personaly would never buy a rabbit that does not have a full pedigree.
Rabbit pellets:
Their are many brands of feed pellets to buy. The best place to buy pellets is at your local feed stores. They have the highest turn over feed rates and the freshest feeds than regular pets stores.
Do I Spay & Neuter my rabbit:
Low Cost Spay & Neuter Animal Hospitals
Brookhaven Pet Hospital
10092 Chapman Ave.
Garden Grove, CA. 92840
(714) 530-2200
Animal Medical Center Fountain Valley
16540 Harbor Blvd.
Fountain Valley, CA. 92708
(714) 531-1155
Animal Birth Control
1950 Pacific Coast Highway
Lomita, CA. 90717
(310) 539-3112
Rabbit teeth care:
What plants and foods are poisonous to rabbits:
- All Chocolate products
- All dairy products
- Avocads
- Onions
- Cedar
Can I take a rabbit to my regular Vet:
Arbor Animal Hospital
14775 Jeffrey Rd.
Irvine, CA. 92620
(949) 551-2727
Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital
4871 W. Rosecrans Ave.
Hawthorne, CA. 90250
(310) 679-0693
Arden Animal Hospital
407 W. Arden Ave
Glendale, CA. 91203
(818) 246-2478
Cat & Exotic Care Of The Cntral Coast
565 Five Cities Drive
Pismo Beach, CA. 93449
(805) 77-0228
All Creaturea Animal Hospital
5405 Arrow Hwy
Montclair, CA. 91737
(909) 946-3211
Loma Linda Animal Hospital
2665 S. Watermen Ave
San Bernardino, CA. 92408
(909) 825-3144
Natural health home remeidies:
Mint: Is a favorite treat of rabbits. It aids in sore stomach and helps cure diarrhea.
Oat meal: Helps to get a rabbits digestive system back on track after diarrhea.
Rose hips: Is favorite treat for rabbits. It is great for does during their pregnancy and after litters. Rosehips are high in vitmin C.
Cranberry Juice or Craisins: Is a great treat and a good way to treat urinary tract infections.
Blackberry leaves: Is a remedy for diarrhea & upset stomachs.
Weeping willows: Are so great for rabbits. They can eat everthing on a weeping willow, the bark, the braches & the leafs. It is very high in iron, and it is a naturnal form of analgesic. This also will help rabbits get back on track after having diarrhea.
Raspberry leaves: Will help a mother rabbit produce more milk for her litter.
Parsley / Cilantro: Will help clean out their digestive track.
Pineapple/ Papaya: Is a great treat and aids in supplying enzymes that break down furballs that collect in their stomachs. This a great preventative for wool block.
Did you know:
- A girl rabbit is called a doe.
- A boy rabbit is called a buck.
- A baby rabbit is called a kit.
- The leading causes of death is not old age but: heat strokes, hair balls, broken backs and diarrhea.
- Rabbits can live to be 7-12 years old.
- Rabbits are born naked, deaf and blind.
- A mother rabbit only nurses their kits once a day.
- Rabbit have a very keen sense of smell.
- Rabbits are mad when they slap their back legs on the ground.
- A binky is when a rabbit jumps in the air, showing that it is really happy.
- Rabbits like to listen to classical music.
- Rabbits are very socialble animals.
- Rabbits need exercise.
- Rabbits hate the heat.
- Rabbit's ears are thier cooling system.
- Rabbits have no sweat glads.