How do you take care of a rabbit?

Question

i'm getting a rabbit that is 3 years old. my friend is giving him to me, but i don't know how to take care of him. he is a lop ear, but, not long hair! do i also give him bathes? my friend does...

Answer 1

Indoors or Outdoors?
Every rabbit owner should know that the safest place for a rabbit to live is indoors. Rabbits should never be kept outdoors! Domestic rabbits are different from their wild relatives—they do not tolerate extreme temperatures well, especially in the hot summer months. Even in a safe enclosure, rabbits are at risk from predators. Merely the sight or sound of a nearby wild animal can cause rabbits so much stress that they can suffer a heart attack and literally die of fear.

Caged or Free to Roam?
Whether you decide to let your rabbit roam free in your entire home or just a limited area, it is important that you make everything rabbit-safe. One little bunny can easily find a whole lot of trouble in an average home. Because rabbits like to chew, make sure that all electrical cords are out of reach and outlets are covered. Chewing through a plugged-in cord can result in severe injury or even death. Their chewing can also result in poisoning if the wrong objects are left in the open or in unlocked low cabinets. Aside from obvious toxins like insecticides, rodenticides, and cleaning supplies, be aware that common plants such as aloe, azalea, Calla lily, Lily of the Valley, philodendron, and assorted plant bulbs can be poisonous to rabbits.

If kept in a cage, rabbits need a lot of room to easily move around. A rabbit's cage should be a minimum of five times the size of the rabbit. Your rabbit should be able to completely stretch out in his cage and stand up on his hind legs without bumping his head on the top of the cage. Additionally, cages with wire flooring are hard on rabbits' feet, which do not have protective pads like those of dogs and cats. If you place your rabbit in a wire cage, be sure to layer the floor with cardboard or other material. Place a cardboard box or "rabbit condo" in the cage so the bunny has a comfortable place to hide, and respect your animal's need for quiet time (rabbits usually sleep during the day and night, becoming playful at dawn and dusk).

When rabbits are kept in a cage, they need to be let out for several hours each day for exercise. Aside from running and jumping, rabbits also enjoy exploring their surroundings. This is an ideal time to play and interact with your rabbit. Make sure that he has a safe area to play and explore.

Bunny Bathrooms

Just like cats, rabbits can easily learn to use a litter box. Place a litter box in the cage to encourage this behavior. If your rabbit roams freely through multiple rooms of your home, it's a good idea to have litter boxes in several places. Many rabbits enjoy spending time relaxing in their litter box, so make sure that it is of ample size. For bedding (litter), stay away from cedar or other wood shavings, which may cause liver damage or trigger allergic reactions in rabbits. Also avoid clumping or dusty kitty litters, which can cause serious health problems if eaten. Instead, stick with organic litters made of paper, wood pulp, or citrus. Newspaper can work too, but may not be as absorbent. Be sure to put fresh hay in the litter box daily, as many rabbits like to have a snack while sitting in their litter box.

A Balanced Diet

Rabbits have complex digestive systems, so it's very important that they receive a proper diet. Many health problems in rabbits are caused by foods that are incompatible with their digestive physiology. A basic rabbit diet should consist of the following foods:

Hay
Rabbits need hay—specifically, Timothy grass hay. Rabbits should have access to a constant supply of this hay, which aids their digestive systems and provides the necessary fiber to help prevent health problems such as hair balls, diarrhea, and obesity. Alfalfa hay, on the other hand, should only be given to adult rabbits in very limited quantities, if at all, because it's high in protein, calcium, and calories.

Vegetables
In addition to hay, the basic diet of an adult rabbit should consist of leafy, dark green vegetables such as romaine and leaf lettuces, parsley, cilantro, collard greens, arugula, escarole, endive, dandelion greens, and others. Variety is important, so feed your rabbit three different vegetables at a time. When introducing new veggies to a rabbit's diet, try just one at a time and keep quantities limited.

Fruits and Treats
While hay and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet, rabbits also enjoy treats. Cartoons and other fictional portrayals of rabbits would lead us to believe that carrots are the basis of a healthy rabbit diet. Many rabbits enjoy carrots, but they are a starchy vegetable and should only be given sparingly as a treat. Other treats your rabbit might enjoy are apples (without stems or seeds), blueberries, papaya, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, or melon. Extra-sugary fruits like bananas, grapes, and raisins are good too, but should be given on a more limited basis.

Foods to Avoid
With such sensitive digestive systems, there are a number of foods that rabbits should avoid eating. These include iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, potatoes, beets, onions, rhubarb, bamboo, seeds, grains, and many others. Also, don't feed your rabbit chocolate, candy, anything moldy, or most human foods. If you are not sure about a certain food, ask your rabbit's veterinarian.

Pellets
If you choose to make pellets a part of your rabbit's diet, it is best to use them as a supplement to the dark green, leafy vegetables, not as a substitute. These pellets should only be given in small quantities (1/8 -1/4 cup per five pounds of body weight per day, spread out over two daily feedings). Also, make sure to purchase Timothy-based pellets. Many brands of rabbit feed contain seeds, corn, and other foods that are too high in calories to be the basis for a healthy rabbit's diet.

Water
Rabbits should always have an ample supply of fresh water available. Be sure to change your rabbit's water at least once each day. Water can be kept in a sipper bottle or bowl. If you use a sipper bottle, watch new rabbits to make sure they know how to use the bottles, and clean bottles daily so the tubes don't get clogged. If you use a bowl, make sure that the bowl is heavy enough to avoid tipping and spilling.

Chew on This

Chewing is part of a rabbit's natural behavior, but it doesn't have to be destructive. To keep rabbits active and amused, you may want to put untreated wood blocks or cardboard in their cages. Bowls, balls, and rings made of willow wood are big hits with many rabbits and can be purchased online or in specialty stores. You can also use paper-towel rolls, toilet-paper rolls, and other chewable cardboard materials that can be tossed in the trash once they've served their purpose. Avoid objects with sharp edges, loose parts, or soft rubber that rabbits could chew into pieces and swallow.

Handle With Care

Rabbits are fragile animals who must be handled carefully. Their bones are so delicate that the muscles in their powerful hind legs can easily overcome the strength of their skeletons. As a result, if not properly restrained, struggling rabbits can break their own spines.

To pick up your rabbit, place one hand underneath the front of the rabbit and the other hand underneath his back side, lifting him carefully with both hands and bringing him against your body. Never let a rabbit's body hang free, never lift by the stomach, and never pick a rabbit up by his ears.

Don't forget that rabbits are prey animals and many will not enjoy being picked up. Be sure to go slowly with your rabbit and practice. Let your rabbit get accustomed to being handled.

Rabbits groom each other around the eyes, ears, top of the nose, top of the head, and down the back, so they'll enjoy it if you pet them on their heads. Like any animal, each rabbit will have an individual preference about where he likes to be touched. Rabbits lack the ability to vomit or cough up hairballs like cats, so try to remove loose fur when you have the opportunity to do so. Simply petting or brushing your rabbit for a few minutes each day should remove most of the excess fur. Some rabbit breeds, such as angoras, have extra grooming needs because of their distinctive coats.

What's Up, Doc?

Just like cats and dogs, rabbits need to receive proper medical care, including annual check-ups. While there are plenty of veterinarians who are able to treat cats and dogs, the number of veterinarians able to treat rabbits is much smaller. It is extremely important that any veterinarian treating a rabbit has experience with rabbits. Many veterinarians who treat rabbits will be called "exotics" veterinarians, meaning that they treat a number of non-traditional pets. Make sure that you have a regular, rabbit-savvy veterinarian as well as a listing of emergency clinics in your area that treat rabbits.

Fix That Bunny

Spaying or neutering your rabbit is very important. Aside from preventing unwanted litters of kits, spaying or neutering has health and behavior benefits. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce aggression and territory-marking behaviors. Female rabbits have extremely high rates of reproductive cancers as they get older, but spaying them can eliminate those potential problems.

I Need a Friend

Rabbits are social animals and most will be much happier as a part of a pair or trio than on their own. If you don't have a rabbit yet, consider adopting a bonded pair instead of a single rabbit. Most animal shelters and rabbit rescue groups have pairs available for adoption. If you already have a rabbit, you should consider adding another one to the family. Local rabbit groups can usually find a good match for your rabbit and help with the introduction and bonding process.

When thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, please remember that rabbits are not toys and they are typically not appropriate pets for children. Rabbits are complex creatures—socially, psychologically, and physiologically. They require a great deal of special care and supervision. If you make the decision to add rabbits to your family, please don't buy from a pet store; instead, adopt from your local animal shelter or rabbit adoption group.

Answer 2

I have had Holland Lops for about 13 years. i'm not sure what kind of Lop you have, but they are all very nice pets. Rabbits do not need baths as a general rule. for feeding use a good quality rabbit pellet not more than 1/2 cup once a day. If rabbit does not eat all of it by next day, reduce the amount. it is important not to overfeed. a piece of carrot or apple 2-3 times a week is good, no iceberg lettuce, though because it has no nutrional value. once in awhile I give mine a small piece of oatmeal or wheat bread or a couple tablespoos of dry oatmeal. provide fresh water at all times. If rabbit is kept in a cage outside provide shelter from the wind and hot sun. a wire floor is important to keep the floor free of droppings. also have a board in cage so rabbit can get off from wire sometimes. Hope this is helpful and enjoy your new friend!

Answer 3

Really all rabbits are equivalent. Be conscious that the rabbit does want a cage of its possess, and it is rather tough to hold a condominium rabbit evidence. They chunk on the whole thing. All rabbits are really effortless to litterbox coach. I advise preserving a rabbit in a cage despite the fact that, it's more secure and less complicated (and IMO much less annoying to them). If you wish a fairly laid again, docile breed I might opt for a Holland Lop, Mini Lop, Lionhead, or Dutch rabbit. There are different well rabbits too, however those are a well dimension and essentially the most natural for pets.

Answer 4

The only reason you need to bathe a rabbit would be if it has diarreaha, in which case you should consult a vet. If you do have to give it a bath, use warm water and make sure you keep it warm until it dries. If it is a calm rabbit, you can use a blowdryer on low heat to help dry it. No soap is really needed, but I find that baby shampoo or a kitten shampoo works well. You can also use white vinegar on urine stained feet.

Answer 5

Only give him a bath if he is not bathing himself. Generally rabbits are like cats, they like to do that themselves. Watch your friend as she cares for the rabbit.

He'll need to run around for at least a couple of hours a day, and you MUST keep a careful eye on him while he is out. Rabbits chew on everything and can injure themselves doing it (not to mention be incredibly destructive). He will need food and water (of course) and hay. A mineral stone and vitamins are good as well, check your local pet store. You will need to give the rabbit lots of attention, but don't smother it. Often, they just want to play on their own. He will also need toys. Baby toys are good.

Answer 6

rabbits dont generally have bathes...you must be extreemely careful if you choose to do this and keep any soap (which i DONT recommend using) away from his/her head completely! rabbits need to have their nails trimmed each/mo if you dont have anything they can scratch in the cage...or if the rabbit is house-trained, then you need to keep them trimmed for sure! they also need something they can chew on like a carrot or something that will help their front teeth stay trimmed. (this is only done naturally by chomping things-even wood if it doesnt look like it will splintor-dont EVER try to do anything w/a rabbits teath yourself-it WILL send it into shock/even death.) rabbits are easily startled and depending on how much attention it did or didnt get before, it may not like being picked up that much at first. be patient and gentle and always keep clean water, clean cage, and fresh food at all times, esp the water if you keep it outdoors.

Answer 7

You need to speak very softly or your rabbit will get scared. Never pick it up by its ears.
It needs a place to call its own.
Your rabbit needs a special water bottle hung on the side of its cage. You should change the water daily.
Feed your rabbit its food twice a day. Feed it one handful of greens to. It loves carrots. Don't feed it rhubarb! It makes rabbits sick.
Don't forget, rabbits teeth grow so give it a stick to chew on.
Keep its litter box clean.
It needs to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
Keep it clean and well groomed.
Give it safe toys for exercise and for fun.
Take it to the vet for its yearly checkups.
Always remember to give your rabbit lots and lots of love.

Answer 8

If you keep your new bunn indoors with you, he'll really become attached to you, and you'll have a much more rewarding relationship with him. He'll also live much longer if you keep him inside. I've written an article on this -
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyhouserabbits.html

And please check out my site at
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyfood.html#safe&poisonous
for lists of safe and dangerous foods for bunnies older than six months of age, reproduced from the excellent "Rabbitlopaedia" by Meg Brown and Virginia Richardson.

Have a read of these great detailed rabbit sites too -
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/?once=true&
http://www.tagyerit.com/hopline/cold.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyheatstroke.html - my own site - please have a browse and enjoy reading!

Answer 9

www.rabbit.org this is the homepage for the House Rabbit Care Society. Be sure to find a vet in your area that is good with bunnies too. they do not require vaccines but should he ever get sick you'll need a good vet pronto! good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

Try researching on rabbits...it's probably the most helpful source of information.

Answer 11

NEVER feed it too much
keep it warm
Fresh food only
Never feed a rabbit exotic grass, best food: carrots, lettuce and cu-comber