Grooming1. TEETH Rabbits are a unique species with special needs and requirements. One characteristic that make rabbits unique is their teeth. A rabbit’s teeth are continuously growing. A rabbit’s upper and lower incisors can grow up to 5 inches a year if they do not wear down properly. Some dental problems in rabbits such as malocclusion (where the jaw can be shorter than normal) can be a result of bad genetics or injury. This is why it is important to encourage your rabbit to Chew. Rabbits chew to groom themselves, to mark their territory, and to express their emotions. There are many strategies to encourage chewing. One such strategy is to make sure your rabbit is not getting a diet that is exclusively pelleted. Pelleted foods alone do not encourage enough chewing. Make sure your rabbit’s diet is supplemented with hay. Hay can provide good nutrition and can encourage chewing. There are two main types of hay available: grass hay and alfalfa hay. Grass hay is generally more ideal for indoor rabbits because alfalfa hay is very high in calories and can result in a higher risk of obesity. Here are some items that are OK for rabbits to chew on:
2. FUR Grooming your rabbit regularly is important to its health and well-being. Regular brushing, especially of longhaired breeds, is important to remove excess dead hair and prevent your rabbit from developing hairballs. Unlike cats, Rabbits cannot vomit and hairballs are prone to cause intestinal obstructions. 3. NAILS Since pet rabbits are not able to dig and wear down their claws inside your house or apartment, their nails will invariably grow too long. Keeping your bunny’s nails at an appropriate length is very important. Long nails may potentially curl into your rabbit's foot, or they may snag on something, causing great discomfort to your pet. Clipping your rabbit's nails may seem a daunting task. And many rabbit owners elect to let their veterinarian handle it. Frequent vet visits can get expensive, however. So here is some advice on trimming your rabbit's nails yourself. It is easier to trim your rabbit's nails quickly and effectively when the rabbit is properly restrained. If possible, ask someone to assist you and then wrap your bunny in a towel to reduce movement and to isolate each paw. Examine the claw to locate the quick, or the vein. Some rabbits' nails are quite dark, so you will need a small flashlight to see it. Cutting the quick will cause your pet to experience some pain, and he/she will bleed. So your objective is to cut just below the quick. If you do accidentally trim the nails too short, use flour or styptic powder to stop the bleeding. Some bunnies are startled by the sound of clipping. In these situations, you may consider simply filing the nails down, but this may be a longer process if your rabbit's nails are quite long. 4. CLEANING EARS Rabbit ears should be checked daily for wax clogs or mites and cleaned every two weeks. Any black discharge or soreness in the ear could indicate mites of other infections that require the attention of a veterinarian. To clean your rabbit’s ears, use a soft cotton-tipped swab to clean all the visible areas of the ear – NEVER insert the swab into the ear canal or in anywhere that is not visible. Gently rub the swab to remove any wax or dirt that may have collected in the ear. 5. BATHING Rabbits are generally not bathed, but spot cleaned. Because bathing can cause extreme stress and because rabbits do not dry out quickly, bathing can cause rabbits to experience stress, chills and may induce shock. If your rabbit is diagnosed with fleas, check with your veterinarian on the best way to treat the fleas. If your rabbit is ever completely soaked with water, dry the rabbit as best you can with a towel and immediately move them to a warm, dry location – preferably in the sun. Vet CareSelecting a VeterinarianChoosing a veterinarian for your pet is often be a difficult task. The following information will give you some useful guidelines when making this important choice. Take the time to find a veterinarian before you need oneIdeally, you should already have a veterinarian as soon as you get a pet. Don’t start looking for one when it’s an emergency. Since rabbits are already considered as exotic pet, you’d be looking for an expert in the field. The best time for a health check-up is right after you’ve purchased your pet or at least within 48 hours of purchase. This will give your veterinarian a chance to see if you indeed have a healthy pet and for you and your pet to establish a working relationship with your veterinarian. Visiting the Veterinary HospitalWhile you are on your first visit, you might as well make some observations that will be vital to your pet’s life.
Characteristics of the Veterinarian and Staff MembersAnother thing you need to take note of is that you should be comfortable with your vet. You’ll be working closely with him when it comes to your pet so it’s quite important for him and his staff to have the following characteristics.
The Final DecisionUltimately, the decision lies in your hands. You may want an expert to care for your pet but distance may not make it ideal. In such case, a less experienced Vet will do but look for one who’s open to learning and willing to develop your education as a team. And more importantly, you should never be afraid to ask for a second opinion when you are in doubt. Your ResponsibilityAs a pet owner you have certain responsibilities to your pet and the veterinary staff. If you follow through with the suggestions listed below you will create a strong and effective team.
General InformationTypeA long-eared, short-tailed, burrowing warm blooded mammal with soft fur. Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are not rodents, like rats or mice, they are lagomorphs. Rabbits are actually more closely related to horses than they are to a rat or a mouse. SizeRoughly about 3-16 pounds (1.4-7.5 kg.) depending on the breed. With over 50 breeds of rabbit, there are rabbits as small as a guinea pig and as big as a small spaniel and everywhere in-between. Life Expectancy5-15 years depending on the breed. Medium and large sized rabbits tend to live longer than dwarf rabbits. TemperamentRabbits are active, playful and social. Entertaining to watch, a rabbit can be a very rewarding pet. Their popularity as a pet is growing. They are quiet and do not demand a lot of attention. Properly socialized rabbits are relatively calm and enjoy being around their people. They will allow you to hold them but lots of times they would rather not be held. Rabbits can be litter box trained. Indoor rabbits will love to hop around your house, however rabbits like to chew. If you allow your rabbit to roam free in your house or outside for that matter, be sure to keep things you do not wish the rabbit to chew out of his reach. Rabbits will chew things such as furniture, curtains, and wires. You may want to look into cord protectors, found in most mail order pet supply catalogs. Chewed wires are dangerous for the rabbit and can also be a fire hazard for you. A rabbit must be provided with things it is allowed to chew such as a block of wood. Because most rabbits do not like to be held and cuddled, a rabbit may not be a good choice of a pet for very active children who may not be careful when picking them up or playing around them. Rabbits can be destructive if deprived of attention and appropriate toys. Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they are more active during twilight hours (around 10pm). They sleep most of the daylight hours. Some rabbits will sleep with their eyes open. When Rabbits sleep they will often twitch, and their noses stop wiggling. A happy rabbit will sometimes jump up into the air twisting and flicking its feet and head. Rabbits will show they are unhappy, startled, or warn of danger by thumping their back feet. If a rabbit grunts or squeaks when you touch it, it may be telling you it does not wish to be touched or it may be displaying territorial behavior. Rabbits who are territorial can become aggressive when you suddenly stick your hand into their territory. Spaying and neutering rabbits greatly reduces the risk of this behavior. A rabbit will squeal to express extreme fear or pain. A rabbit that has never been caught by a person may squeal in fear as it is picked up from the ground. HousingRabbits must be kept in a relatively large cage. Most rabbits are kept in outdoor rabbit hutches, however keeping in indoor rabbit is becoming more and more popular. Rabbits can be kept outdoors if they have adequate shelter. They need to be shielded from rain, wind, sun, and drafts. If a rabbit is protected from the elements, they can withstand very cold weather. Some choose to use a wire cage with an enclosed box inside the cage. A 7 pound rabbit should be housed in at least a 2 foot by 2 foot house. Larger rabbits will need larger houses. Some outdoor rabbit houses have self cleaning wire bottoms which allow the urine and poop to drop through the bottom. Outdoor rabbit hutches have an indoor area where the rabbit can get out of the elements and an outdoor area where they can go and lay in the sun. Which ever you choose, it is important that your set up is well ventilated. GestationFor a rabbit, the time between mating and birth is about 28/32 days. This is only about a one month pregnancy! They will usually have a litter of 3 to 8 babies. The newborn young are blind, deaf, and hairless. Within hours of giving birth, the female (or doe) is able to mate again. She can produce up to seven litters a year. The babies themselves can start breeding as young as 4 to 5 months old. Expectant mothers will pull fur from their belly and line the nest box just prior to giving birth. It is important to have your rabbit spayed or neutered, especially if you have more than one rabbit. You may try and keep your rabbit separat but accidents happen. There are too many unwanted rabbits in the world to take the risk. KitsBaby rabbits are referred to as “kits,” short for “kittens.” Baby rabbits are best raised and cared for by their mother, as raising an abandoned or motherless “kit” can be extremely burdensome. If the baby rabbit is left without its mother or its mother is unable to feed it, the next best scenario is to have a foster mother raise the rabbit. A baby rabbit can be integrated into a non-familial litter if the mother accepts the new baby. To get the new mother to accept the baby, a drop of perfume or pine oils applied to the babies nose will cover the strange baby’s scent and improve the chances for adoption. Spaying and NeuteringMales: Male rabbits can be neutered as soon as they are about four and a half months old. Delaying neutering increases the likelihood of testicular and prostate cancer, and can increase the sexual aggressiveness of male rabbits. |
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