KEEPING RABBITS - Rabbit Care

Rabbit care is relatively inexpensive to keep when compared with larger animals such as dogs or horses. They make fantastic pets and can be easily cared for by adults and older children, even younger children can learn from keeping a pet rabbit provided an adult is there supervising them.
Rabbits have a long life span, so make sure your prepared to care for your pet through the long term. There unique creatures who form tight bonds with their families. They require vet care and are not by all means low maintenance.

For good rabbit care you must learn the following things :

Feeding your pet rabbit - Even the best quality rabbit pellets are not adequate on its own as a diet, they need plenty of fresh grass, hay is very important in their diet as are fres greens and vegetables. They need a well balanced and high fibre diet.
Look for greens which are dark, tough and thick leafed - dandelion greens and flowers, raspberry leaves, cabbage red and green, mint leaves, turnip / carrot tops, parsley. Look at feeding them at least 3 different types of greens a day for variety.Include some pea pods not the peas, carrots, apples, strawberries and mango.
When first introducing fruit and vegetables to your rabbit do it in small amounts to avoid runny spoilage and diarrhea.

Annual vaccinations - Make sure you take your rabbit to the vet for vaccinations against viral haemorrhagic and myxomatosis.A common cause of death in female rabbits (does) is uterine cancer which can often spread to other organs before it is diagnosed. This can be prevented by spaying if the rabbit is not intended for breeding and is best done when the rabbit is between 6 months and 2 years of age.
If your pet is scratching alot its most likley fleas. These are small flying insects dark brown in colour and are not easy to spot in all the fur. If not treated they will lay larvae eggs.It can be treated with revolution and is applied to the back of the rabbits neck.

Cleaning a Hutch - You should clean the hutch one a week and the toilet area every other day. When you first get your pet you can train them to use a litter tray and it will be much easier and tidier to clean the hutch. When cleaning a hutch you need to pull out all the soggy newspaper and scrape it into a bin liner with the hay and wood chippings.Scrub the hutch with a soultion of hot water and vinegar and allow to dry. Lay the hutch with newspaper adding more in the toilet area, then add the wood chippings and bedding hay. Wash the water bottle and food dish out and replace with fresh food and water to finsh.

Holding your rabbit correctly - Many owners have difficulty when it comes to picking up their rabbit and being picked up is not a natural experience for them. They do not have wings and are not designed to fly through the air at great (to a bunny) heights.Therefore you should make it as comfortable as possible, use two hands, one supporting the chest and one supporting the bottom.There are several ways to hold your rabbit, you should use the one that your bunny feels most comfortable in and you feel most secure holding it.
Hold your rabbit facing you with all four feet against your chest. Place one hand supporting the bottom, holding it against your body to stop it kicking out and the other hand across the rabbits shoulders. If you put your thumb in front of the bunnies front leg it helps prevent attempted escapes over your your shoulder.
The other position is like a hug using your arms to hold the bunny firmly against your chest. Hold your bunny sideways with its feet resting at your hip facing your right shoulder. Wrap you left arm across its body and support the chest with your hand, thumb over the shoulders, fingers underneath. Use your other hand to support the bottom, firmly to press her feet against you so he/she can't lift them to kick out.

So now you know about rabbit care you can get down to doing and enjoying it.

Care For Rabbits in the Summer

Rabbits are very playful, fun, and intelligent creatures, and they're adorable as well. If you're a parent that was tempted (perhaps at Easter) to purchase a rabbit as a pet for your children, be aware that they require a great deal of care, and they are very sensitive creatures.

With summer heating up, be aware that rabbits are extremely sensitive to the heat, and if they don't have a way to cool off, they can die. There are many ways, however, to help them cool down, if you have an outdoor bunny. One great way is to fill a 2 liter soda bottle with water, freeze it, and place it next to your bunny's favorite resting spot. (Depending on how hot it is outside, you may need to change it every couple of hours.) Also, make sure to always have plenty of water available to your bunny, preferably in a dish. (Ceramic crocks work well since they're tough for bunnies to knock over.) This way, they can put their feet or ears in the water, which is another way to help them cool off.

Bunnies are creatures of habit, so if you're traveling with your bunny, make sure to have all of his or her favorite toys, treats, and food. Changing food can upset a bunny's stomach, oftentimes causing diarrhea, which can quickly dehydrate a bunny (and can lead to death). Make sure to keep the routine as close to normal as possible, and this will help your bunny travel.

Another thing to keep in mind: never EVER leave your bunny in a car. On an 80 degree day, within just a few minutes, the car can heat up to over 120 degrees. Keep your bunny safe - if you go to a restaurant, make sure it's pet friendly. It doesn't take long for animals to overheat with temperatures like that.

Use common sense when taking care of your pet, and remember that with a thick fur coat, bunnies don't do well in heat at all. If you have an outdoor bunny, take the necessary precautions to keep your bunny healthy and happy. Take care of your pet, and you'll be able to enjoy his or her companionship for 12 years or more.

Sophie loves animals, especially bunnies, and has spent years caring for them. She enjoys spending her time reading about animals, and learning new bunny care tips.