Tips on Caring For Your Pet Rabbit

Rabbits make great pets thanks to their friendly and inquisitive nature. They are really happy to be petted or stroked and over time a human can develop a great, interactive relationship with a rabbit. By looking after your rabbit you are doing your bit to ensure it leads a long and happy life. Looking after a rabbit is fairly simple, but before buying a pet rabbit please read these quick tips and guides to see if you are making the right choice.



Hutch

Every rabbit needs a hutch, a place of its own to snuggle down to sleep and run around and play. You don't need to spend a vast amount of money on your hutch, but you do need to buy one big enough for a full size rabbit to be able to stand up in (on its back legs). It should also be wide enough to allow the rabbit to hop at least four full hops in any direction. Just like us, a rabbit likes to have a distinct area for certain activities, so make sure you allocate a space for sleep, a space for the toilet and a space in which to play. If you have more than one rabbit in the same hutch you will need to increase this space.


Rabbits love to snuggle down at night and in the UK climate good bedding is very important. Line the hutch with newspaper and cover with dust free chippings and straw. All the bedding should be changed regularly (a great job for the kid's pocket money!). Think carefully about where you position your hutch. Do not allow it to stand in direct sunlight for long periods of time and make sure it is in a well ventilated spot. Cover the hutch at night with a breathable fabric so the rabbit is not confronted with any night time predators such as foxes and cats. In addition to your hutch consider buying a run. Rabbits enjoy being allowed to hop around and a run provides them with a protective area in which to do this.


Feeding

Rabbits have a simple but quite nutritionally specific diet. They need two types of fibre - digestible and indigestible. This is because the food they consume actually goes through their digestive system twice. Do try and avoid the mass market muesli type foods available as these can be high in sugar and starch which can lead to increased weight gain, obesity and even diabetes. Search out a specialist rabbit food which contains the two essential fibres and you are giving your rabbit the best chance of a long and happy life. These specialist products are affordable and generally available from a specialist pet centre, vet or online specialist retail outlet. In addition to specialist food try and give your rabbit treats such as apple, banana, broccoli, celery, tomato, turnip and cabbage.


Vaccination

As with all pets you really need to consider the cost of annual vaccination and routine health treatment before you commit to buying. Rabbits require annual vaccinations and occasionally may need treating for illness, fleas etc. Pet insurance is becoming popular with many pet owners because the high cost of treating a sick or injured animal can be substantial. At the same time as the vaccinations your vet will probably have a look at your rabbit's teeth. Rabbits can be frequent sufferers of overgrown teeth if they don't eat a sufficient amount of hay (which helps to grind the teeth down). Bear the cost of vaccinations / check ups / dental checks and insurance BEFORE you buy any pet.

Caring for a rabbit really isn't difficult, but caring responsibly is sure to lead to a healthier and happier life for your pet, so by providing it with a good sized hutch, quality pet food and a health care plan you are doing your very best to be a responsible pet owner.

Author Mark Woodcock is a Webmaster of a wide variety of online specialty shops including a very popular site on Rabbit Care and Rabbit Food. Visit http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk today.