How do i take care of a bunny?

Question

I'm going to get a bunny but i never had a bunny.Are they hard to care for?Do they need medical attention,Do they need to be fixed.Can you give them baths?Doi the need to be walked.Oh help.I dont want to hurt the bunny by me doing something stupid!

Answer 1

Care:http://www.rabbit.org/care/index.html

-Feed EVERYDAY. I usually give my bunny pellets (alfalfa based when he was a baby up till 1 year:http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776625&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026390&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409043878&itemNo=7&In=Small+Pet&N=2026390&Ne=2
and Timothy hay based after that: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441805890&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026390&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409043773&itemNo=2&In=Small+Pet&N=2026390&Ne=2 ). This is what my vet recommended. You don't need to give the bunny a lot of pellets (like a handful). They need hay all the time, Timothy hay is best unless it's a newborn or elder rabbit, which should eat Alfalfa hay.

-Habitats: Choose a cage with a flat bottom, not wire :http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808080&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026391&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409216780&itemNo=4&In=Small+Pet&N=2026391&Ne=2
Get a water bottle: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776930&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026388&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409302790&itemNo=2&In=Small+Pet&N=2026388&Ne=2 and fill it w/ new water everyday.
Get a food bowl:
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441809587&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026388&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409302788&itemNo=1&In=Small+Pet&N=2026388&Ne=2 the bigger one is best.
Rabbits can be litter box trained so I recommend getting one and only using paper-based litter like this http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441808603&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026387&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1153409485405&itemNo=4&In=Small+Pet&N=2026387&Ne=2 and DO NOT USE CAT OR CEDAR LITTER/BEDDING! Not good for rabbits!

Don't give your rabbit baths. They clean themselves like 5 times a day.

As for getting them fixed, I recommend it. It stops with territorial behavior like spraying and biting. Makes both sexes less aggressive. Plus, it helps them live longer, healthier lives, as both sexes as they age are very prone to cancer of the reproducitve glands.

They don't need walks, just exercise. Let them run around the house in a bunny proofed environment; ie no electrical wires.

Please review this site. It will help a lot.http://www.rabbit.org/index.html

Answer 2

Rabbits are harder to take care of than a cat or a dog but not as much as a horse. They require food, water, veggies (you can get a list from rabbits.org), and hay to eat. They also like to have a house, some towels or blankets, toys (hard baby toys are good) and the opportunity to run around.
Most rabbits don't need medical attention, I take my rabbit to the vet to get looked at when the cats go in for their shots. Rabbits can get sick just like any other animal.
You should always fix rabbits, male rabbits have a lot of testosterone and can have issues and female rabbits can get cancer. Many not fixed rabbits only live to be 3 or 4 but if they are fixed they average 8-10, I don't know about you but a longer life seems like a good thing to me.
You can give your rabbit a bath, but they are like cats and clean themselves. If you do need to give your rabbit a bath (the rabbit got into something, or is covered with something) make sure the rabbit is in a very warm place to dry. Rabbits can get sniffles and that is life threatening.
Rabbits should have a cage or a pen to spend at least a good part of the night and some of the day in. Then they should be let out (they are often times active in the mornings and evenings) to let them get some exercise. We let our rabbit in our front room all day, because it is safe (no cords) and she is good about using her litter box.
Unless the rabbit is litter box trained spending too much time out will likely lead to messes.
Not all rabbits like to be picked up and held. You want to make sure they feel supported if you are going to hold them.
If your cage has a wire bottom, make sure and cover it, rabbits are known for getting their feet caught between the wires and hurting themselves.
I'm not sure what other adivice I can give you, other than there is a lot of information out there, and people have been taking care of rabbits for a long time, you should be fine as long as you are prepaired.

Answer 3

I just passed by a pet shop one day and saw a cute bunny and decided then and there to get it. I had no experience with bunnies or pets whatsoever. The pet store owner provided me with some information, i also read some books and went online to do some research. Now my bunny is 4 yrs old and she's one happy cute bunny!!

Bunnies make wonderful pets. They are adorable, friendly, love to be cuddled. They are not high maintenance like some other pets. As long as you take good care of them, love them with all your heart, give them food and shelter and make them feel safe, they will love you back and more.

They groom themselves constantly so they don't usually require baths. You should give them plenty of room to hop around coz i don't think anyone likes to stay cooped up in a cage all day long!
And also try not to drop them when you pick them up!

Just give your bunny plenty of tender loving care and everything should be fine. I hope you and your bunny will have many wonderful years ahead :)

Answer 4

Go get a good book. To answer your questions in a nutshell:

They are not hard to care for, however you will need to clean the cage or litterbox regularly

They don't need medical attention if they aren't sick, shots & checkups aren't necessary

They don't need to be fixed. Yes, you heard right. If you only have one bunny, don't bother. Fixing them won't affect their personality, female rabbits don't have heat cycles, they can't breed to cottontails if they escape, and they don't live long enough to get cancer of the reproductive system. If you get a male and female, only get the male neutered. It's non-invasive and much easier for him to recover since they don't have to cut his stomach open. Fixing cats and dogs is a very good idea. There is no good reason to fix one pet rabbit, and it's cruel to submit an animal to a surgery that gives it no benefits.

Yes, you can give them baths, but you shouldn't need to. They're very clean and will be fine with a brushing. Their fur is so dense that it takes them a long time to dry, so you'll have to keep them in a warm place for several hours.

They don't need to be "walked" necessarily, but they do need exercise. This can be a run around the house or play time in an outdoor pen.

Answer 5

You really need to read the book The House Rabbit Handbook. This will really help you. You should also check out these websites. Yes you need to get it fixed. No don't give it a bath. No don't walk it. Keep it indoors. They need to go for a check up every year unless they don't eat or drink for more than 24 hours or seem to have a cold.

Answer 6

I agree, get a book and start reading. Having run a rabbit rescue for several years, I rely on them constantly. Also check with your local bunny rescue and they can not only help you find a pet, but advise on care too. Rabbits are great pets, full of personality, but also work. They are messy and don't like to be ignored. A walk may not be necessary, but they do like to play, dig and run. Good luck!

Answer 7

dont give it a bath it will clean its self and dont take it on a walk but do let it out like once every other day to run around but put it in a room where if it goes to the bathroom it will be easy to clean up. And whatever you do DONT FORGET TO FEED HIM!!! A friend of mine got a bunny and never fed it and it died.

Answer 8

i have a few suggestions, but first since it seems that you have no idea what you are doing you probley should get a book anyway. ok my suggestions are from experience, rabbits teeth continuously grow and they chew on things so they need other than food, they need wood to chew on with my rabbit i found that just putting sticks in the hutch works because she didn't like the blocks and chew things i got from the store, and sticks are cheaper. my rabbit chews the bark off the sticks and then i throw them outside and get fresh ones. then food i don't bother getting anything expensive, just also be sure to give my rabbit fruits and vegis, she likes apples, lettice, celery, and brocholi.
also, you should trim its claws, like you would any animal with claws and be careful when you trim claws, you don't want to hit the quick(where the veins and blood vessels are). you can take it for a walk just get a special rabbit harnis and lead. and rabbits clean themselves.
good luck :-)

Answer 9

Bunny's are not hard to care and make great pets. First off, you should spay your pet, because bunnies have a ton horomones, and they will be calmer if you spay them. Walking them isn't necessary. I allow my bunny out to play in a clean room, and stay there to keep an eye on her as she plays. Check out these websites, they might help you with other questions.

Good luck and enjoy your new pet!

Answer 10

I think it would be a good idea to read a book about rabbits and caring for them. You have a lot of questions. Good luck with your future pet, and I congratulate you for getting questions out of the way before buying the pet. Some people do it the other way. Hope you enjoy your rabbit!

:)

Answer 11

Keep the bunny warm and dry. Have commercial food and water available. Don't feed him lettuce or cabbage, they will make him sick. If you have a cage with a mesh bottom, you won't have to walk him. Don't play with him too much when you first get him. Rabbits are sensitive. They will get accustomed to touch gradually.