how do i bathe him and what do i feed him with? thanks
2007-01-08 17:28:49 · 6 answers · asked by Sweetu . 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Hi there! Congratulations on your new rabbit!!! Well, firstly, I'd advise you not to bathe him, but use dry rabbit shampoo instead. Sometimes a rabbit may catch a cold when it's bathing and die. Creepy huh? I feed my own rabbit with a good serving of pellets, dried alfalfa, and oats. If your bunny is a young one, cut the carrots in different shapes. My rabbit enjoyed it, and even though he is 2 years old now, he still likes me to cut the carrots in different shapes. Remember to vary the stuff he eats! My rabbits favorite meal is what I call "The Wrap" I wrap oats, pellets, alfalfa and carrots in a "sheet" of lettuce.
Your rabbit will also need exercise. I stayed in an apartment before so I put a wooden plank in between 2 chairs for him to run around on. Sometimes you can get a rabbit leash to walk him. If his nails grow quickly, get a mineral stone for him! They sell this stone in most shops and they are in different shapes & sizes. If you don't want to, just cut his nails with an ordinary nail clipper. Just remember not to cut over the red part in the nail.
If you are thinking of giving him a whole carrot, that's good! The carrot acts as a mineral stone as well. Just remember not to leave it in the cage for over a day. Hope my tips helped, good luck!
2007-01-08 17:41:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
1) Rabbits need a lot of stimulation so they don't get bored. Buy a cheap parrot toy to hang from the top of the cage. Also, make sure it has something to chew (their teeth never stop growing).
2) Use your judgment on what food you buy. Pellets are great. Timothy hay is a necessity. Make sure they get plenty of it daily. It helps them digest their food. Also, rabbits can't vomit. So, be aware of what they are eating because it has to go through them completely.
3) Don't bathe your rabbit. Dry shampoo powder is your best bet. If your rabbit happens to pee all over itself and it smells, you can use a spray shampoo that doesn't need water. That will help. Generally, the rabbit will clean itself.
4) The best bedding I have used for my rabbit is the corn cob kind. It's very absorbent. Either that or carefresh.
5) If you do feed your rabbit lettuce, do not feed it too much. Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value, so stay away from that.
6) Give your rabbit plenty of exercise. Let it run around. There are rabbit "playpens" that are like a fence to keep it enclosed so it doesn't chew up any wires. Safety is key. Rabbits love to chew on ANYTHING. Also, then cleaning up won't be so hard because it is contained. I also give my rabbit paper towel or toilet paper rolls (empty) to chew on. She loves them.
Good luck with your new rabbit! If you want anymore tips, feel free to e-mail me (seeking_him86@yahoo.com). I have a rabbit myself.
2007-01-08 18:54:05 · answer #2 · answered by Erbilicious 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't bathe him, unless he gets covered in pee or something awful. Giving him a bath is really terrifying, and he keeps himself clean, anyway. It's not worth it.
Just feed him plain alfalfa rabbit pellets, not the kind with the colorful fruits and seeds in it. He doesn't need those, and they'll just make him finicky and fat. Feed him according to the instructions on the package, so he gets a good amount of food for his body weight.
He should also have a lot of low-calorie hay to chew on, such as Timothy or oat hay. You can get hay at some pet stores, but it's much cheaper at a feed store. Just store it so it doesn't get moldy. The purpose of hay is to give him extra fiber and make sure he has something to do: rabbits will chew happily on a pile of hay all day. Alfalfa is a high calorie hay, so he can't eat as much of it as he could of oat hay. Rabbits should get very little, if any, sugar or fat.
Rabbits are very, very timid. Your bunny needs a cage, whether you plan to let him run around the house or not, and it needs to be his place of safety. You can take him out and hold him after he's gotten settled in, but as soon as he gets nervous, you have to put him right back, so he learns he can trust you. He'd appreciate an upside down box in his cage with a door in the side to hide in, like a burrow.
Give him small treats when he's being friendly or sitting comfortably with you. Check out this website for plants that aren't safe for rabbits:
http://www.adoptarabbit.com/articles/toxic.html
Rabbits can use a litter box, but they chew up walls, carpet, and electrical cords. It's best to have one rabbit-proof room for them to stay in, then let them out now and then when you're willing to watch so they don't destroy anything.
I've never had a house rabbit, but I raised meat rabbits and I've seen enough vicious, aggressive young females and older females that just dropped dead for no apparent reason to tell you that spaying a female rabbit is a very worthwhile investment. With all those hormones, the girls turn into little demons, and later on they get cancer. Males spray urine everywhere, and they hump people and things, probably worse than dogs. It helps to get them neutered, too.
2007-01-08 17:46:18 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about bathing.They are an extemely clean
animal.No bathing required.
Great,comical pets.Low maintenance.
Easy to litter train.
I'd suggest contacting your VET asap to find out where you can get a good staple rabbit food.
Fresh greens are good for them & a necessary part of
their diet but,in a domestic environment,can lead to
issues,if not given to them judiciously.They will
give a domestic rabbit serious intestonal problems,
if fed as a steady diet
AND,by all means,find a feed store,farm supply,pet
store,that can provide you with a small "salt-lick" for
the bunny.(keeps them from nipping & biting)
Raised a lot of rabbits as a teen.
2007-01-08 19:04:26 · answer #4 · answered by huppercupper 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Make sure he has fresh hay or bedding and the cage is kept clean and he has plenty of rabbit food and fresh water daily.
Make sure he is out of wind and in a nice shelter too with no paint on wood that he can nibble.
You can find food at the pet supply place and I am sure they can offer any further advice you may need.
Do not let him run around the house as rabbits like to nibble and electric cords are a hazard as well as other things he may find.
2007-01-08 17:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by The_answer_person 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just to emphasize on the wires thing. I've heard that rabbits can hear the electricity that travels through a wire, and it drives them nuts. Please be very careful that the poor bunny doesn't electricute himself!!!!
Other than that. I know that they love carrots, radishes, lettuce and oatmeal. Normal pine bedding that is changed every few days should be sufficient as well.
2007-01-08 17:39:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Call your local vet ASAP. They can give you the complete rundown on what you need to do.
2007-01-08 17:32:43 · answer #7 · answered by M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋