Should i buy rabbit

Rabbits are capable of being toilet trained. There is plenty of information online about toilet training rabbits. Rabbit should spend most of their time indoors or equal time indoors and outdoors. When you rabbit is indoors it should have at least some time each day to roam free. You may wish to set up a room or two rooms where your rabbit can roam free and interact with the family. Remember, that rabbits like to chew on things, so if leaving your rabbit free to roam unsupervised, you may come home to some chewed skirting boards, cables or chair legs.

If you wish to provide your rabbit with a larger living area than its hutch when you are not home, consider a pet pen or a children's play pen.

You could attach it to the hutch to give your rabbit a larger space to exercise and play. Your pet rabbit should have the opportunity to dig and forage when they are outside. They should be confined to an enclosed area and not allowed to roam free. A secure backyard where no other animals particularly cats or wild rabbits can enter is great, but a sectioned off area of grass is also good.

Ensure that if you leave your rabbit outside for long periods of time they have access to their hutch or a weather proof area with bedding so they can rest. Rabbits are social species and prefer to live in groups. If you decide to own a rabbit, always have at least 2 rabbits. However, if you don't have the room or time or money to keep two rabbits you will need to become your rabbit's companion.

This means that if you are away for long periods more than 4 hours every day you will need to provide your rabbit with enrichment activities and toys to keep them occupied and prevent them from becoming lonely or suffering from stress. If you have 2 or more rabbits it is important to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Separate males and females into different pens or have your veterinarian desex them. Males will be less likely to fight each other if introduced at a young age.

Females and males can be prone to fighting amongst each other so make sure you help new rabbits get used to each other in a supervised environment or through a mesh fence before they co-habit. Rabbits are playful and inquisitive and require the stimulation of other rabbits or humans and their environment. They are active animals that need to exercise and play regularly. Ensuring your rabbit is adequately stimulated is an important aspect of caring for your rabbit.

This can be achieved through environmental enrichment. Rabbits are most active during the early morning, late afternoon and evening. This is the best time for you to interact with your rabbit. Rabbits are a prey species, they are the animals that other animals catch and eat. Therefore, rabbits naturally hide from things that scare them.

Your rabbit's environment must cater for this. You need to provide them with places in their enclosure to hide. Rabbits are vulnerable to a number of health problems, in particular diseases such as Myxomatosis and Calicivirus.

These diseases are generally fatal for pet rabbits. They have been introduced into Australia to control the wild rabbit population. Unfortunately pet rabbits are just as susceptible to them. Try to reduce the risk of mosquito bites to your rabbits as mosquitos can carry Myxomatosis from the wild rabbit population to your pet.

There is a vaccine for Calicivirus. You can have your rabbit vaccinated against this disease every 6 months by your vet. Rabbits can develop dental problems. It is important that they are constantly chewing on something, either grass, hay or a gnawing block.

Their teeth grow at a rate of 2 to 3mm per week. Overgrown teeth can lead to weight loss, severe pain and discomfort. If you think your rabbit's teeth are getting too long, talk to your vet about some suitable options for reducing their length and maintaining an appropriate length.

Rabbits are susceptible to mite infestations. Symptoms include hair loss and itchiness. Thoroughly clean out and disinfect the hutch. The rabbit should be treated by a vet. Many animal welfare shelters are inundated with unwanted pet rabbits, which have been bred by accident.

Many shelters and rescue organizations care for and find homes for unwanted and abandoned rabbits. You may also purchase rabbits from reliable pet stores and reputable breeders. When choosing a rabbit, it is always best to see all the rabbits in the litter, if possible.

Each animal should be bright, alert, and active. They should all have shiny, lush fur and be plump and well-fed. If any members of the litter are sickly, do not choose them or an apparently healthy littermate, as that animal may soon also become ill. Run your hands and eyes over the entire rabbit. Both sides of the rabbit should look and feel the same. A rabbit with a dull or rough hair coat or one that is too thin, pot-bellied, or sluggish may be ill.

Make sure your rabbit has had human contact. Rabbits need to be handled and socialized from a young age to be comfortable with people and to make good pets. Before bringing your pet home, educate yourself about the care, husbandry, housing, feeding, and socialization needs of rabbits. Your pet must have a daily source of fresh greens and good quality hay for roughage. Fresh water and daily exercise are also necessary to keep your rabbit healthy.

Select the proper size cage or hutch for your breed of rabbit. The cage should have enough room for the animal to move around freely.

If your rabbit must live outdoors, select a hutch that is at least three feet above the ground, shaded, protected from wind and inclement weather, and covered to keep your pet comfortable and as safe as possible from predators. When you acquire a pet, you accept responsibility for the health and welfare of another living thing. A pet will be part of your life for many years. Invest the time and effort necessary to make your years together happy ones. When you choose a pet, you are promising to care for it for its entire life.

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Personal finances Loans, budgets, financial planning, and more. One Health Interprofessional collaboration across animal, human, and environmental health. These points are specific to children, there are more points to consider before buying a rabbit. Please see What do I need to know for more info! There are lots of ways you can get children involved with rabbits and teach them responsibility without having to buy them one.

If in doubt - a toy bunny is a lot cheaper and easier to look after, and it doesn't suffer when the novelty wears off! Questions to ask yourself before you commit to buying a pet rabbit, and information to help you care for your bunnies if you already own them. Includes a short video giving a good introduction to the housing and lifestyle rabbits need… continue reading.

Buying the rabbit is the cheap bit!