Housing maintenance Gently herd your rabbit back towards his cage rather Health
than “catching” him, you don’t want his cage to feel
Remove the wet spots daily and clean the entire Rabbits should be seen by your veterinarian at least
like a “timeout” zone. Try a command like “sleeptime”
Rabbit
bedding weekly or more frequently as required. Clean once per year and checked for ear and fur mites, general
when you want your bunny to go back to its cage.
the food and water vessels daily and top up fresh hay. body condition, nail length, and dental problems. With
During the training period you will obviously have to
the presence of Calici virus in New Zealand this check up
Fruits and vegetables not eaten within 24 hours catch your rabbit.
can be linked in with an annual vaccination. Any health
care guide
should be discarded.
problems that occur between regular check ups should
Chew toys be referred to your veterinarian.
Behaviour & exercise Rabbits need chew toys as their teeth continually grow;
Rabbits are most active at dawn and at dusk, so these Neutering / spaying should also be discussed with
it is essential that they gnaw on hard, safe objects
are great times for supervised play and exercise. For your veterinarian.
in order to keep their teeth at a manageable length.
playtime, an outdoor play arena can be used or a rabbit Overgrown teeth can cause serious health problems
harness allowing your new rabbit to explore safely. and need to be assessed by your veterinarian. The signs of a healthy rabbit are:
Make sure that the outdoor area is predator free.
Grooming Active, alert and sociable
Rabbit proof your home prior to letting your rabbit
Rabbits generally stay clean but can be bathed using Healthy fur
loose; remove electrical cords within chewing reach and
provide toys for your bunny when he is out to prevent a small animal shampoo. Some long-coated rabbits Clear bright eyes
him chewing such things as your furniture. A box on its require regular (sometimes daily) and thorough Eats and drinks regularly
side stuffed with hay makes a fun toy for your bunny. brushing and combing. Communicates by making soft noises
Always wash your hands before and after Hops normally
handling your rabbit. Normal stools.
Don’t clean the cage
while your rabbit is in The signs of an unhealthy rabbit are:
it. This is his sanctuary Prolonged diarrhoea or a dirty bottom
and he needs to feel Overgrown teeth
safe in there. Heat stroke – panting, loss of
consciousness or seizures
Skin lesions.
If you notice any of these signs please
Handle with care contact your veterinarian.
Your rabbit should be handled frequently to keep it
Recommended supplies
tame and maintain a bond between the two of you.
Good sized cage Litter box / litter
Open the cage door and let him come to you to be
High quality food Hay
lifted out. Lift gently with both hands and hold him
close to your body. It is important to remember to Safe chew toys Water bottle Food bowl
always support his hind legs. are essential Bedding Chew toys
for preventing
Rabbits should never be lifted by their ears or by the
Grooming products Books about care
health problems for long haired
scruff of the neck and should not be allowed to ‘jump’ Nest box/ hidey hole.
caused by rabbits
down or be held facing the ground as this may cause overgrown
them to struggle and can severely damage their legs. teeth.
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should be escape proof and have an area with a solid
surface. Rabbits were not designed to spend all
day on a wire grid.
Rabbits Position – keep your hutch in an area where there are
no great extremes of temperature or draughts. If your
are smart, rabbit is to be housed in an outdoor hutch, make sure
there is shelter from the wind and direct sunlight.
social pets and Rabbits can tolerate cold weather if properly
loving companions. acclimatised and sheltered, but they must be put
under shelter in the winter. Rabbits can not tolerate
Like all pets they high temperatures.
Place 3 to 5cm of bedding in the bottom of your
truly benefit rabbit’s cage using hardwood shavings (cedar bases
Feeding The following is a list of safe vegetables / are not recommended) and hay. Your bunny will also
from daily social Feed a good quality pellet that is specifically designed plants for your rabbit: need a nest box or hidey hole.
for rabbits. Small amounts of fresh fruits and
interaction. vegetables and a constant supply of hay are also diet
Alfalfa, radish & clover
sprouts
Endive
Green peppers
Litter training
staples. Treats should not exceed 10% of the total Rabbits can be taught to use a litter tray by placing
Basil Mint
food intake. the rabbit droppings (pills) into the tray over a period
Beet greens tops Mustard greens
(sparingly) of a few days. They tend to use “corners” as toilets so
Water Bok choy
Parsley place your litter box in the corner that your rabbit has
Fresh clean water should always be available and Pea pods chosen. Older rabbits can also be taught to use a litter
Broccoli
changed every day. It is best to use a water bottle or a (mostly leaves/stems) Peppermint leaves box – in fact they become better learners the older
Use this checklist to make sure that a heavy bowl to avoid contamination and spillage. Brussels sprouts Raddichio they get. Use a rabbit specific litter.
rabbit is right for you and your family Carrot & carrot tops Radish tops
Hay Celery Raspberry leaves
I have the appropriate housing for this pet Hay is a very important part of your rabbit’s diet, as Coriander Spinach
I understand that it is best to keep rabbits it provides a good source of roughage to maintain (in small amounts)
Clover
separated unless they are neutered digestive health. Hay is also essential for bedding. This Watercress
Dandelion greens and
should be freshened up daily. flowers (pesticide free) Wheat grass.
I can provide daily supervised time for my rabbit
outside of its enclosure
Fruit and vegetables
I can commit to taking care of my rabbit for If in doubt DO NOT FEED
Vegetables are a great source of nutrients and add
up to 10 years When trying a new feed, introduce it gradually Animates
variety to your rabbit’s diet. It is important that you
over a few days mixed with the original feed. starter kits are an
There is an adult who can provide primary vary the vegetables you give your rabbit and ideally
economical way
care for this pet. feed a selection of 3 vegetables a day. Introduce any to set up your
new vegetable one at a time with 2 already existing new friend’s
Average size: 20cm to 30cm depending on the breed type Housing
favourites. Do not feed lettuce as the high water home.
Life span: Up to 10 years
content will often lead to diarrhoea. Fresh grass is also You are best to provide your rabbit with the largest
acceptable as long as it has not been sprayed with any enclosure you can afford and it must be at least four
chemicals (and never lawn clippings). times the length of the adult rabbit. The enclosure
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