Since rabbits are small and often confined to cages, some people have the misconception that they are "easy" pets. But rabbits require a lot more careful care than a goldfish or a hermit crab. As a first-time rabbit owner, following these tips will help ensure your bunny stays healthy and happy.
Provide a chewing block.
Rabbits' teeth keep growing and growing for their entire lives. They need to chew on something hard in order to wear their teeth down, or else the teeth may become overgrown, causing the rabbit pain. Pet stores sell wooden chewing blocks made especially for rabbits, but you can even give yours a natural twig you find outside as long as you know it has not been treated with chemicals or pesticides.
Practice litter training.
You'll keep your bunny's cage a lot neater if you teach him to poop and pee in a specific corner. This is a lot easier than it sounds. Several times per day, scoop all of your bunny's feces and wet shavings into one corner of the cage. Sooner or later, your bunny will catch on that the one corner is the "dirty" corner and will start going in that corner automatically. This will keep him coat cleaner since he won't continually be lounging in messy shavings, and a clean coat reduces the risk of skin conditions and infections.
Provide fresh foods.
Rabbit pellets can form the basis of your pet's diet, but you also want to provide your bunny with some fresh foods at least a few times a week. Green lettuces, like romaine and Boston lettuce, are good choices. Zucchini, celery, parsnips, and broccoli are other options. Bunnies love carrots, but you should not give them too many since the carrots are higher in sugar than other veggies.
Get them fixed.
You should have your bunny spayed or neutered by your veterinarian. This helps decrease the risk of reproductive cancers. For female bunnies, spaying also makes them easier to handle since they won't go into heat. For male bunnies, neutering tends to make them less aggressive.
Keep them cool.
Bunnies can handle chilly temperatures pretty well, but they don't tolerate heat. Make sure you leave the air conditioning on for your bunny so he's not exposed to temperatures much above 75 degrees. If you do not have air conditioning, keep a fan running on your bunny's cage and provide cool water to help keep your pet comfortable.
For more information, contact establishments like Evergreen Veterinary Clinic.
Share6 October 2017
When I was growing up, I had a dog that I absolutely adored. We did everything together. From running and playing outside to spending time together in the house, she really felt like a friend who loved and cared about me. Unfortunately, she passed on when she was about ten years old, and it was really difficult for me. I realized that I wanted to get a new dog after that, so I started looking for a business that could help. I started going from pet store to vet clinic to see if anyone had an animal that needed a home, and I found an animal that I really loved. Check out this blog for great information on pet ownership.