Things You Definitely Need To Know Before Choosing To Own
a Pet Rabbit
·
Small rabbits can become big rabbits quickly
·
Rabbits need a balanced diet of hay and leafy greens
·
Rabbits love to chew and dig a lot
·
Rabbits can be litter box trained
·
Rabbits need a lot of space to run, jump and play
·
Rabbits can become pregnant as young as 3-4 months old
Here’s a little checklist to see if you’re truly ready to
own a rabbit. You’ll soon see that you don’t have to be a
rocket scientist to be a rabbit owner.
Checklist
Are you prepared to:
·
Spend at
least 2 hours a day bonding with and socializing your
rabbit
·
Spend as
much time in a pet store as you would in a supermarket
buying healthy greens for your rabbit
·
Deal with
potential noise from digging and chewing (especially young
rabbits)
·
Shell out
upwards to $200 to spay or neuter your rabbit to prevent
unnecessary breeding and health problems
·
Locate a
rabbit qualified veterinarian
·
Purchase a
large habitat for your rabbit to run and play
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you
are on your way to having a fantastic relationship with
one of the world’s greatest animals.
So, are you ready for a pet rabbit?
You may really like to sit and think about this for a bit.
I didn’t put too much thought into it at first, and boy
was I pretty shocked. I figured my girlfriend did it all
those years, how hard could it be right? Out on the
internet you can find a lot of useful information, and a
lot not so useful information. You’ll find the good rabbit
owners, the not so good, and then the down right rude and
obnoxious pet rabbit fanatics. Yeah, they are out there,
if you haven’t found them already, you will eventually,
and trust me, it’s not a pleasant experience. Though they
may have some good information, they generally do a good
job at persuading you to forego your ambitions of becoming
a successful rabbit owner. I’m here to tell you that you
do not need to be a rocket scientist to be a pet rabbit
owner, but it does take some work, and I would like to
start off with a brief summary of what to expect upon
choosing to own one.
A Rabbits Diet
Rabbits are herbivores, and love to eat vegetables,
fruits, hay, and other types of plants. The most important
part of their diet is a good source of timothy hay.
Whether you use hay itself or pellets is up to you, but a
good amount of timothy hay is needed to keep any pet
rabbit healthy. Many people today still feed their rabbits
alfalfa as a regular part of their rabbit’s diet. However,
what many pet owners don’t know is that alfalfa is one of
the leading causes of diseases in rabbits resulting in
obesity, kidney problems, and even death. A constant fresh
and clean water source is also needed to keep your rabbit
healthy.
A Rabbits Habitat
Rabbits, just like many other pets, require as much space
as you can give them. However many people don’t like to
have their rabbits running all around all over the place,
so a nice sized cage, or hutch will do fine. Whichever
enclosure you decide to keep your pet rabbit in, make sure
(s)he has enough room to stretch out in, and to relax
comfortably. Inside the cage or hutch you should either
use some type of bedding to aid in easy waste removal, or
provide a litter box with bedding. There are several types
of bedding an owner can choose from, but for your rabbits
safety you should avoid using bedding that consists of
pine and cedar. Pine and cedar have been used and
recommended for years, but today it has become well known
that these beddings can lead to respiratory and digestive
problems.
A Rabbits Handling and Behavior
With choosing to own a rabbit, a good amount of time will
be needed handling, and getting to know your new friend.
One thing you need to know is that your rabbit needs a
good amount of time to play and exercise everyday in order
to stay healthy. It is generally recommended to give your
rabbit at least 2 hours of supervised playtime outside the
cage or hutch. We’re all busy people, and 2 hours may seem
a lot to some of you. Try your hardest to give your rabbit
as much playtime as you can. This time outside the cage is
also time for you and your rabbit to bond and get to know
each other. Also, when holding your rabbit, always do so
securely and close to you because they can get frightened
and end up hurting you, or injuring and maybe even killing
itself. Some rabbits get so scared they kick so hard that
they can break their backs. Also, contrary to popular
belief, NEVER pick a rabbit up by its ears.
A Qualified Rabbit Veterinarian
One of the hardest things to accomplish is this
very step right here. Finding a Veterinarian that is
knowledgeable in Pet Rabbit Care is crucial to a long,
happy, and healthy relationship between you and your new
furry friend. Don't be afraid to ask questions to get the
answers you're looking for. Just do so in a polite manner.
If you have any doubt about your veterinarian’s expertise,
it is best to go out and find a new one.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
This not
only goes for the enclosure, and your rabbit, but for you
the owner too. Expect to get your hands a little dirty
while caring for your Pet Rabbit. A simple trick to quick
and easy cleaning is to make it a matter convenience, and
don't be afraid to get a little dirty, but don't be
reckless. What I mean by making it a matter of convenience
is that, don't have your rabbit’s cage or hutch arranged
in a way that it makes it hard to get to, and to clean.
Allow yourself clear access to the cage and supplies you
need. For example don't put your pile of clothes in front
of the cage if it makes it difficult for you to get too.
Secondly, make sure you always wash up and sanitize
anything you use to clean the enclosure. That includes
your hands, face, and any other body part.
Now that
you are aware of some rabbit basics, I would like to share
with you my story of how I became a Pet Rabbit Owner. A
lot of this stuff that me and my rabbits went through is
what many other owners go through in the early stages of
caring for their new rabbit. I hope my many mistakes will
start you on the path of becoming a great rabbit owner
long before I did in my journey.
First I’d
like to start out with a little story on how I became a
rabbit owner, and share with you some of my initial
experiences.
