Purchasing a pet rabbit as a family addition is a very good idea.
Pet rabbits are cuddly, relatively easy to care for, and they make the best veggie testers!
When you decided to add a pet rabbit to your family you will need to make sure that the care you provide is adequate.
Here are a few tips you should know in order to care for your pet rabbit so that it can have many years of bunny love.
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What Temperature is Bad for Rabbits
Just like human beings, rabbits cannot live in extreme temperatures.
If you live in Arizona, California, or anywhere in the South West and you plan to buy a rabbit; you might want to consider keeping your rabbit indoors during those scorching summer months when eggs fry on the sidewalks.
If you live in the Mid-West or North East, you might want to consider keeping your pet rabbit indoors during those winter months when sneezing outside can creating ice bullets.
Extremes in temperature aren’t good for rabbits because they aren’t built for the changes in environment like their wild cousins are.
Even when the weather outside is nice, make sure your pet rabbit is cool under the shade of a tree and that the temperatures do not go above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rattle the Cage
Rabbit cages can be super huge to teeny tine depending on the size you buy.
It is recommended that you bypass the small rabbit cages available at the pet store and, either purchase a large cage or custom build one for your new furry friend.
Much like their wild cousins, pet rabbits need plenty of space to play, sleep, eat, and make waste in.
Locking your rabbit into a small cage can actually cause health problems for your bunny.
If your pet rabbit likes to really run free, feel free to designate a specific room in your house as the “bunny zone” where your rabbit can go free and stretch its little bunny legs.
Fresh Vegetables and Pre-Made Pellets
Sure, those pre-made rabbit food pellets are designed to give your rabbit the best nutrition it needs.
They are created in pet food labs all over the world.
But sometimes your rabbit can get bored with its litany of vittles and decide it doesn’t like it anymore.
Spicing up your rabbit’s daily diet of pellets with fresh carrots and lettuce will give you a healthy, happier bunny in the long run.
Also, this is a good way to get rid of salad nobody wants anymore.
Pet rabbits need affection, attention, and room to move.
Giving your pet rabbit the care it needs is a sure fire way to get lots of bunny love in return.
Routine Rabbit Care
Rabbits are not particularly high maintenance pets, but in order to keep them happy, healthy and friendly, you will need to spend some time each and every day seeing to their needs.
Daily Routine Care
There are routine care tasks that you should get into the habit of doing on a daily basis.
These include removing any uneaten or perishable food, check water bottles for any leaks or blockages, clean food bowls, feed your rabbit and provide clean water, take your rabbit out of it’s cage or hutch and give it some attention and let it exercise, check your rabbits eyes and ears and finally remove and replace any soiled bedding.
Weekly Routine Care
Care tasks you need to perform on a weekly basis include cleaning out the hutch or cage and replacing woodshavings and straw, check the hutch or cage for any damage, check your rabbits nails – they should be short with no splits, scrub out the water bottle and finally weigh your rabbit.
Monthly Routine Care
On a monthly basis you should empty the hutch or cage completely and wash out the bottom with a pet friendly disinfectant and then check your rabbits teeth.
Keeping an Eye On Your Rabbits Health with Routine Checks
It is important that you examine your rabbit on a regular basis for any signs of ill health or disease.
The parts you need to pay special attention to are the feet and nails, the eyes, ears and nose and the rabbits teeth.
If during your routine checks you find anything untoward that you cannot confidently deal with yourself then you will need to consult a vet.
The Importance of Grooming
Grooming is an important part of caring for your rabbit, this is especially the case if you have a long haired breed.
Rabbits are clean animals and those with short hair can groom themselves using their teeth and claws as combs.
Grooming your rabbit with a soft brush will remove any surplus dead hair and will also help you to develop a bonding relationship.
Stick to a Routine
You will find it helpful to establish regular routines for all the tasks involved in caring for your rabbit, keeping it’s hutch or cage clean and feeding it.
Make a note of when you perform these tasks to remind you of when they are next due.
Rabbits are creatures of routine, and by sticking to your own, it will soon learn the routine and this will help it feel happy, secure and contented.
