Author: Alice Andrew
Rabbit Care
Info:
What Is Domesticated Rabbits? Is Rabbit The
Suitable Companion
For You?
How To Take Care Of Your Pet-Rabbit? What
Are The Daily Rabbit
Care Rituals?
Classification Of Rabbit Breeds
What Is Domesticated
Rabbits?
Domesticated rabbits are likeable pets. The
reasons for their popularity are many! Firstly, rabbits
are just cute, charming and attractive! Yet, their nature
is gentle. They love to be around with people and rather
friendly too. They do not demand a lot in terms of care
and housing, different from dogs or cats.
Thus, taking care of rabbits is so easy. Rabbits can be
kept either outdoor or indoor, at home with you.
There are more and more pet lovers choosing
rabbits as an alternative to dogs and cats. Though rabbits
require proper daily routine care, they do not need to be
walked often like a dog. And, they are sociable and do not
bark. Rabbits are self-cleaning pets and have no real problem
to be litter trained using an effective litter training
system. They fit into most lifestyles because rabbits are
most active at twilight.
There are about 40 species of rabbits and
hares existing in this world. All domesticated rabbits are
originated from European rabbits. Oryctolagus cuniculus
is the scientific name for a domestic rabbit.
Normally, domesticated rabbits weigh between
2.2-221lb (1-10kg). The gestation period of a rabbit is
31 days. The typical litter size ranges from 6 to 8 young.
The lifespan varies with breed.
Is Rabbit The
Suitable Companion For You?
To determine whether a rabbit is a suitable
pet or companion for you, the most important factor that
you need to consider is "yourself". Do you have
interest, love and willingness to take great care of your
rabbit? Do you have time to spend with your pet rabbit?
Do you have time to train for your pet rabbit?
Typically, a rabbit needs care, affection and attention
for approximately 10 years.
Nevertheless, rabbits are not usually recommended
for children under 8 years old. A child's thunderous voice
and hyper active nature can create stress to the rabbit.
And, rabbits are not fond of being picked up or held often.
So, be patience when picking up the rabbit and with correct
approach and technique.
The mentioned factors will help you to determine if a rabbit
is the suitable pet companion for you.
As a rabbit lover, I urge you not to adopt
a rabbit and leave it uncared for at the corner of your
house. The saddest thing that could happen is to abandon
a rabbit in parks or woodland areas.
Once the pathetic rabbit is left wild, it has a very little
chance to make it to survival.
How To Take
Care Of Your Pet-Rabbit?
Keeping a rabbit as pet requires patience,
coupled with a good training system in order to prevent
unwanted destructions or hassle. The typical challenges
that a rabbit owner may go through are furniture and carpet
chewing problems, litter problems, pseudo pregnancy symptoms,
behavioral problems,
fights, sickness, fleas, predators like cats and dogs, and
so on. Nevertheless, these challenges can be overcome when
the owner is equipped with the information, knowledge and
experience to deal with them.
What Are The
Daily Rabbit Care Rituals?
Balance Diet:
The domesticated rabbits can be fed on rabbit
food, pellets, hay, green food, vegetables, tree bark, herbs
and apple.
A rabbit's diet should be balance. The quality
of pellets should be good and high in fiber, vegetables
and hay must be fresh and lots of water to prevent dehydration.
Water should be fresh and changed frequently.
It is recommended to change it twice a day. If water is
not available, the rabbit will cease eating. The water bottle
or bowl should be washed daily.
Sweet treats such as bananas or apples should
be given in small amounts and only on occasion. Rabbits
have a sweet tooth and will eat sugary foods to the exclusion
of healthy ones. And, do not feed your rabbit with chocolate,
sweets, cookies, bread or crackers. These high sugar content
stuffs may lead to an overgrowth of "bad" bacteria
in the gut that leads to critical fatal cases of enterotoxemia.
Litter Training:
Train your rabbit to use litter boxes. Replace
litter boxes with fresh litter everyday.
PRECAUTION: Do
not use any litter containing pine or cedar shavings as
these contain oils, which can cause respiratory and liver
disease in rabbits. Litter made of plant material (hay)
or paper (cellulose) is the safest and recommended litter
to use for rabbits.
Droppings should be inspected daily without
fail. Normal droppings appear like regular round dry marbles,
called pills. There may also be some clusters. An abnormality
in droppings can be the first sign of illness in rabbits.
For example, if you find your rabbit's droppings that are
getting smaller, infrequent or misshapen, it signifies less
is coming through. Thus, you ought to check out the reasons.
It could be intestinal problems or any other kinds of illnesses.
Grooming & Health
Care:
Rabbits enjoy human love and touch. By touching,
brushing and combing your lovely rabbit for a few minutes
daily will help your pet rabbit to feel your care and presence.
Typically, a rabbit shed every 3 months. Hence, it is absolutely
for you to free your rabbit of this excess fur. It is perfectly
common for
rabbit to shed. So, spend enough time to help your rabbit
to remove loose hair or fur.
Nevertheless, rabbits are self-cleaning and
healthy small animals. They can groom themselves too. How
do they do that?
They can swallow excess fur! Once swallowed, these rabbits
cannot vomit a fur ball, as what a cat can do. This excess
fur can cause an obstruction.
Technically speaking, we say that a rabbit
has developed GI Stasis, a common slowing down of the GI
tract. The symptoms of GI Stasis are smaller size droppings,
lesser droppings frequency, loss of appetite, hunched up
situation and teeth grinding due to pain. Bring your rabbit
to your vet at once when
you see these symptoms.
Intestinal problem in rabbits can be a very
serious. Rabbits can have various types of gastro intestinal
upsets. For example, if you find your rabbit's droppings
watery, smelly, messy or "crushed" when you sweep
them; it signifies that your rabbit has a diarrhea. From
a medical standpoint, a diarrhea is diet
related. If you detect it, please send your rabbit to your
vet immediately. Your rabbit might need antibiotics from
your vet.
If there is no dropping at all from your rabbit, please
take him to see your vet as well!
It is important to watch out for any abnormalities
in your rabbits as rabbits are susceptible to various digestive
ailments and other life-threatening diseases. For example,
rabbits are vulnerable to myxomatosis and VHD viruses. These
are the killer viruses!
Exercise And
Play Time:
Human must get daily exercise, so must your
rabbit! The benefits of exercise for your rabbit include
smoother flow of blood circulation, stronger muscles and
prevention from fragile bones.
A rabbit's bone weight is only 7% of his total body weight
compared with 15% in a cat.
Rabbits are known to be crepuscular animals.
Crepuscular refers to animals that are most active and dynamic
at twilight. Therefore, the perfect time for your rabbit
to get exercise is in the morning, when you are getting
ready for work and in the evening when you arrive home.
By the time you get home, your
rabbit will have been sleeping all day! Bet you will be
happy and entertained to watch him running and hopping around
and doing bunny dances in mid-air, "binkies"!
Similar to kids, rabbits love toys! Rabbits
like new toys daily!
So, what are the toys that your rabbits love dearly? Some
ideas of toys include toilet paper roll, cardboard box with
a rabbit side doors, newspapers, towels, untreated wicker
baskets and paper bags. Tunnels of any kind are always welcomed
too!
Spay/Neuter
This procedure is necessary if you want your
rabbit to lead a healthy life, free from cancer. The risk
of ovarian cancer in an older female is approximately 85%
if she is not spayed during puberty (4-6 months).
The reason for a male rabbit to be neutered
is mainly behavioral reason. It is crucial as well as to
eliminate random spraying, reduce hormone-related aggression
and for easier housetrain.
The process of spaying or neutering your rabbit
with minimum risk can be performed professionally by your
vet. A bonded pair should each be spayed and neutered to
avoid pseudo-pregnancies.
Rabbit Proofing
A good rabbit cage must be large enough for
the average sized-rabbit. A rabbit's living area must be
spacious enough for a litter box, toys, and perhaps a cardboard
box, with enough room left over for him to be comfortable.
The minimum size recommended is 4 times the rabbit's stretched
out length as to
ensure the cage is tall enough for the rabbit to stand up
straight.
Rabbits like to gnaw as it is a expected action
for them. Boredom is common reason for their chewing activity
and other times, items such as electrical cords get in their
way. Thus, they are smart to use their mouth and teeth to
shift it. Rabbit is a must! It not only protects your belongings
or furniture, it keeps your rabbit safe and sound.
All electrical cords should be concealed in
vinyl tubing. Hide the cords before your rabbit move it.
By providing your rabbit with acceptable things
like toys and card box boxes to chew will not hurt you rabbit.
If you notice your rabbit swallowing it whole, remove it.
Classification
Of Rabbit Breeds
There is no universal system of classification
for rabbit breeds. Nevertheless, some breeders characterize
breeds by size, shape, ears, fur texture, sheen and color.
In some breeds, the individual fur haracteristics are combined.
Some popular
breeds of rabbits include:
* Alaska * American Fuzzy Lop * American
Sable * Angora *
Belgian Hare * Beveren * Californian * Champagne D'Argent
*
Checkered Giant * Chinchilla * Dutch * Dwarf Hotot * English
Lop
* Flemish Giant * Florida White * Harlequin * Havana * Himalayan
* Hotot * Jersey Wooly * Lilac * Holland Lop * Mini Lop
* Mini
Rex * Netherland Dwarf * New Zealand * Palomino * Polish
* Rex *
Rhinelander * Satin * Silver * Silver Fox * Silver Marten
* Tan
I guess for most of us, the most difficult
decision in raising rabbits is choosing the breed that you
want to raise.
All the best!
Warm regards,
Alice Andrew (A Rabbit Lover)
Email: alice@rabbitcareinfo.com
Website: http://www.rabbitcareinfo.com
About the author:
I am a rabbit lover at young age and I grow up with rabbits!
My rabbit name is Snow White, a white Polish. Rabbits are
my passion and interest. I spend my free time reading lots
of books, articles and news about rabbits and sharing information
with experienced rabbit owners. Collecting rabbit pictures
is my hobby, and playing with my honey bunny makes my day
perfect!
