Spring is the season for new beginnings, new life and images of cute baby animals associated with anything to do with Easter. Chicks, ducklings and baby rabbits are adorable, therefore easily exploited by pet stores and breeders as perfect gifts for Easter time.
Think long and hard before adopting any pet, much less impulsively caving in to your children's pleas to take home those furry or fluffy little bodies at the pet or farm supply store. These animals are not toys. They are living, breathing, feeling beings who require responsible care from someone committed to their welfare.
Babies don't stay babies for long and far too often, once the novelty wears off, these animals end up neglected or abandoned. Quiet animals are the most at risk, since it is far too easy to simply forget about them. It is hard to ignore a hungry cat or dog, but a bunny cannot speak for itself, nor is it easy to get anyone's attention while locked in a cage.
If you do decide to bring home a bunny, do not put it in the care of your child. Rabbits may be easy to love, but they are not low maintenance pets. They are lovable, social creatures who can live ten years or more with the proper care. If at all possible, try to support your local animal shelters or rescue groups. It is always better to adopt an animal in need of a home rather than support the breeding industry of the pet store.
Domestic rabbits should live indoors. They are not the same as their wild relatives. They don't tolerate the extremes in weather conditions of the outdoors, especially the heat during the summer months. Rabbits frighten very easily. Just the sight or sound of a predator animal can cause enough stress for a rabbit to suffer a heart attack.
Your bunny's home within your home must be a safe zone. Rabbits like to chew and can do a lot of damage to furniture, wall corners, baseboards and electrical cords if left unattended. Houseplants such as aloe, azalea, Calla lily, Lily of the Valley, philodendron and certain bulbs can be poisonous. There is nothing wrong with periodically letting your bunny run around to play and explore. Rabbits need the socialization, stimulation and exercise, just keep a close eye on them. Otherwise, provide a nice roomy cage for your bunny to call his own.
A rabbit's cage should be at least five times his size. He needs to be able to completely stretch out and stand up on his back legs without bumping the sides or the top of the cage. If the cage only came with a wire bottom, be sure to layer the floor with cardboard of some type of nontoxic material. The feet of rabbits don't have protective pads like those of cats and dogs, so they are tender and susceptible to injury if forced to step on wire all the time. Also, provide a hiding area for quiet time, such as a cardboard box or bunny condo from the pet store.
Your rabbit is safe in his cage, but don't think just because he is often still and quiet that he doesn't need stimulation and interaction. Rabbits are social creatures. Optimally, it would be wonderful if two bunnies around the same age could be adopted at the same time. If you already have a rabbit and want to give it some company, check with a rescue group as to how to introduce them so they will bond.
Rabbits are clean animals and can be litter box trained. Even if a litter box isn't provided, they often choose on their own to do their business in a chosen corner of the cage. Just by saying the word litter box people may think that means to add kitty litter. Do not use cat litter. The ideal bedding should be made of wood pulp or paper. Don't use cedar or treated wood shavings, as they can cause liver damage or trigger allergic reactions.
Pet stores sell rabbit pellets, but don't rely on that as the basis for your pet's diet. Rabbits have complex digestive systems. Rabbits need hay, namely Timothy grass hay. Alfalfa hay is high in protein, calcium and calories, so should only be given periodically in limited amounts.
Besides the pellets and hay, make an effort to include leafy, dark green vegetables such as romaine and leaf lettuces (not iceberg lettuce), parsley, dandelion greens, collard greens, chickweed, etc. Variety is important. Like everyone, treats are appreciated, but best in moderation. Rabbits enjoy carrots, apple slices, strawberries, melon, peaches and blueberries. Grapes and raisins are good too, but being more sugary, limit how often you offer those.
Foods to avoid include: iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, beets, seeds, grains and rhubarb.
Rabbits need fresh water daily. Make sure you rabbit is shown where and how to use the sipper bottle. Be sure to clean the bottle and tube whenever the water gets changed. If you choose to use a bowl instead of the sipper bottle, be sure it is a heavy ceramic type so as to avoid being tipped.
To avoid problems with the teeth as well as provide amusement, keep untreated wood blocks or cardboard in the cage. Empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes are great for bunnies to chew and play. Avoid anything with sharp edges or rubber and plastics that can be chewed and swallowed.
Rabbits are fragile and must be handled carefully. A struggling rabbit can do itself damage because its bones are delicate in comparison to the powerful muscles in their hind legs.
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.
Rabbits enjoy being petted but may need time to tolerate being picked up. Be very careful with supervising young children when they handle their bunnies. Rabbits cannot cough up hairballs, so try to pet and/or brush them daily to remove excess fur. Breeds like angoras definitely have grooming needs so be aware of that before bringing home the long-haired types.
Like any pet, rabbits need to receive periodic medical care. Be sure to find a veterinarian with experience with rabbits or find a vet who specializes in exotic pets.
The decision to spay or neuter your rabbit is your choice, but in doing so you not only prevent unwanted litters of kits but eliminate the risk of cancer. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce aggression and territory-marking behaviors. Spaying females eliminates the risk of reproductive cancers very common as they get older.
Again, be sure to know what experience your vet has had with rabbits. We once had a devastating experience when we lost a bunny under anesthesia, not realizing how sensitive rabbits are to the type of anesthesia typically used for cats, and just assumed the vet was aware of that.
So Happy Easter, and enjoy these wonderful additions to your family!
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