Birds    Chinchillas     Turtles     Lizards     Snakes     Rabbits     Guinea Pigs

Rabbits can make excellent pets with proper care and commitment by the owner. Selecting a healthy rabbit requires good observation by a prospective owner. A rabbit that is healthy should be active and curious of its surroundings.

Any discharge from the nose, ears, or eyes, a dull hair coat, and/or listlessness are signs that the rabbit may have a health problem. As a general rule of thumb, only acquire a rabbit from a reputable breeder or pet store.

Because rabbits have very powerful hind limbs and may try to kick when frightened or startled, how you handle your new rabbit is very important. If your rabbit tries to struggle when restrained, release it and attempt the restraint again when he/she has calmed.

Incorrect handling can result in injuries such as fractures and a dislocated spine. For best results, restrain your rabbit by placing a towel over its back, making sure to contain the legs in it as well. Never pick up a rabbit by its ears, this can result in serious injury to your pet. Always support your rabbit’s hindlimbs when carrying him/her.

You should free-choice feed your new rabbit a fresh, high quality pelleted rabbit food daily. To keep it’s food fresh, you can store the unused portion in the freezer.

Rabbits also like to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, carrot tops, and apples, but these foods should not make up more than 20% of your rabbits daily diet.

Small amounts of alfalfa hay or cubes will provide extra roughage as well as help keep your rabbit from becoming bored.

If your rabbit is receiving the proper daily diet of fresh rabbit pellets, you should not need to supplement with any other vitamins or minerals. Food and water bottles should be made of heavy ceramic material to help prevent tipping, and should be cleaned daily to prevent bacterial growth. Water bottles with a sipper tube are recommended as they keep water fresher and eliminate the chance of contamination from the rabbit’s urine or stool.

Rabbits may be housed inside or outside in a wire cage with half of the floor covered with towels or Plexiglas. Rabbits that are allowed to roam free in the home should be carefully supervised. Because rabbits are natural chewers, they are especially susceptible to accidental poisonings, electrocution and intestinal obstructions.

Make sure, if housing your pet outside, that you place the cage in a shady area as rabbits are prone to heat stroke at temperatures above 85 degrees. Placing too many rabbits into one cage can also cause heat stroke as well as undue stress.

Signs of heat stroke include:

• Panting
• Slobbering
• Red ears
• Weakness
• Convulsions

If you see any of these signs, consult your veterinarian immediately.

While rabbits do not receive annual vaccines like dogs and cats do, they will benefit from regular veterinary care. Male and female rabbits can be neutered any time after five months of age.

Castration of the male rabbit can help to prevent behavior problems such as urine spraying, biting and aggression. Spaying of the female rabbit will prevent unwanted pregnancies and uterine cancer, which is the most common cancer in rabbits.

Signs that your rabbit may have a medical condition include:

• Nose, eye, or ear discharge
• Diarrhea
• A wet mouth or chin
• Flaky skin
• Sores or lumps
• Decreased appetite or activity level
• Weight loss
• A dull hair coat

If you observe any of these signs in your rabbit, he/she should have a veterinary examination as soon as possible.

Never try to medicate your rabbit yourself with leftover human or veterinary products. Rabbits are very sensitive to many antibiotics and improper use of these medications could result in the death of your pet. In addition, it is recommended that you take your rabbit to the veterinarian for an examination each year. This will help to ensure that your pet will live a healthy normal life span of five to ten years.

Birds    Chinchillas     Turtles     Lizards     Snakes     Rabbits     Guinea Pigs

e-mail: westarbor1@tds.net site by nuance web design