Did YOU get a RABBIT for Easter?

Congratulations from Smith Veterinary Hospital on your new rabbit! Rabbits are complicated animals and need proper care. They trust us and depend on us to survive. By understanding what your rabbit needs and

what it can and cannot have, your relationship with your rabbit will be a strong and beneficial one for many years to come. A few topics of general care are:

Feeding/treats Rabbits can be fed once a day in the evening (about dusk) during the time they are most active. Rabbits are fed alfalfa pellets that can be purchased at feed stores. When buying feed, check the ingredients and try to get the brand with the most fiber – fiber is very important in a rabbit’s diet. Treats such as fresh (not canned in syrup) apples, pineapple, grapes, banana, peaches, papaya (fresh or dried), oats, cheerios, carrots, and celery are all adequate treats but must be fed IN SMALL PORTIONS. Never feed a rabbit cabbage or lettuce as it can cause excess body fluids.

 

Housing  The size of a rabbit’s cage is crucial. If a cage is too large for the rabbit and it becomes scared and starts to run, it risks being injured. If a cage is too small, it is uncomfortable! Cage size is classified by the size of the individual rabbit (i.e. a 2 - 4½ lb. rabbit requires about an 18 x 24 inch cage) Avoid cages with paint coating on the wire because a rabbit is liable to ingest the paint substance and become sick. A cage with a lower catch pan that slides out is very important. Rabbits are clean animals and have to be separated from the bedding they defecate in so a catch pan tray is highly recommended. A good set up usually costs about $35 to $45. Rabbits should never be put together.

Cleaning

Wood shavings are commonly used as bedding for rabbits. Shavings can be obtained from feed stores or other facilities that produce wood shavings. A caution pertaining to shavings is to NEVER USE CEDAR. Cedar shavings or chew toys are unhealthy for your rabbit despite the nice smell. Cedar can be fatal to rabbits if eaten. Once it enters the intestine, cedar tends to splinter inside the body and cause gastrointestinal problems or even failure. Pine, fir, or fruit woods are acceptable woods for bedding. Pine is the most common, easiest to obtain and best smelling wood for bedding. With the proper set up (using a catch pan system) when the tray needs to be cleaned (about every other day with smaller rabbits) simply remove the tray from the underside of the cage and transfer the dirty shavings or bedding to a trash can or plastic bag. Some gardeners like to use some of the used rabbit shavings and feces in their gardens because they are a good source of organic material.

 TOYS A few toys for rabbits include pine chew toys (avoid color treated blocks), empty soda cans, and pine cones. NO PLASTIC TOYS! Try to stay within the toys listed – anything else may not be suitable for your rabbit.

 

* Web sites

Rabbit information: www.arba.net

Supplies for sale: www.kwcages.com & www.klubertanz.com

*These are listed for your convenience. No endorsement or promotion of these