Caring for your pet > Rabbits

Caring for Rabbits

Rabbits

Facts

  • Life Span: 5-8 years (domesticated)
  • Female: Doe
  • Male: Buck
  • Young: Kittens
  • Average Weight: 2-13 pounds
  • Sexual Maturity: 16-24 weeks
  • Diet: Herbivorous

Rabbits 101

There are more than 60 breeds of rabbits, including the Dutch (very popular in the United States), droopy-eared German lops and furry Cashmeres. Although domestic rabbits make great companions, they are delicate animals and require special care. Rabbits can be frightened when well-meaning children hold, cuddle or carry them. And when scared, rabbits may scratch or bite to protect themselves. So while a rabbit may be a great pet for your family, an adult should be the primary caretaker.

Environment

Rabbits love interaction with humans, so it’s best to keep them indoors. Make sure you get a cage that allows your rabbit to move freely — rabbits require lots of room for housing and exercise.  Buy a cage with a solid bottom, and put down plenty of CareFRESH bedding so your pet can make a cozy nest. Don’t use pine or cedar shavings or clay cat litters. Aromatic oils in pine and cedar bedding have been shown to have adverse health effects on small pets. Put something to chew on in your rabbit’s cage, like a simple cardboard box. Otherwise, he might chew on your furniture.

One rather obvious note: rabbits should not be housed with other rabbits unless all have been spayed or neutered.

Your rabbit will want to exercise several hours a day, so he will need a safe area with ample room to run and jump. Any outdoor area should be fully enclosed by a fence and supervised. Also, it’s important to rabbit-proof an indoor area by covering all electrical wires and anything else your pet might chew.

Diet

A pet rabbit has very specific dietary needs.  Make sure you feed him a high-fiber, low-protein diet.  Long fiber grass hay such as Timothy hay is essential to in preventing health problems, such as gastrointestinal stasis (a deadly blockage attributed to, among other things, a diet lacking in fiber) as well as obesity.  A specially formulated food for rabbits should provide variety while maintaining the proper fiber/protein balance necessary.  To enhance the healthy coat of your pet, a diet with balanced Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids should do the trick, and use Anise to boost your pet’s immune system.

Some rabbits can be extremely picky eaters, others seem to love variety. Either way be sure you resist feeding them human-sized portions of meals or treats.  A rabbit will do fine with five raisins as opposed to a handful, a small piece of banana instead of a whole one, or a couple of baby carrots instead of a full bowl.  Most rabbits will also relish dark leaf lettuces, collard greens, turnip greens, carrot tops and other fresh leafy greens.

Clean fresh water, dispensed in a bottle or sturdy bowl, should be available at all times.

Care & Handling

As we said, rabbits are delicate. Pick up your rabbit by supporting his forequarters with one hand and his hindquarters with the other. Failure to handle him properly could cause spinal injuries. Never pick up a rabbit by his ears.

Brush your rabbit regularly with a soft brush to remove excess hair and keep his coat in good condition. Brush from the back of the head down to the tail. Ask your veterinarian how to clip your pet’s nails.

As soon as your rabbit chooses a corner of the cage to use as a bathroom, put a litter box there filled with CareFRESH bedding. Change the litter box daily, and change the cage bedding once or twice a week.

Health & Veterinary Care

You should bring your pet to the vet for a check-up once a year. If your rabbit stops eating or moving his bowels for 12 hours or longer, or has watery diarrhea, seek care immediately. Other signs of illness include runny nose and eyes, dark red urine, lethargy, fur loss and red, swollen skin.