Important Rabbit Accessories for Your Pet Bunny

Caring for a pet rabbit can surely be rewarding. It’s hard not to fall in love with these adorable furry creatures that make great companions. As a pet rabbit owner, you need to ensure that your bunny is taken care the best way possible. One of the ways to do that is to provide all the important rabbit accessories and supplies such as the ones listed below:

Hutch

The first thing to buy is a rabbit hutch. Find one that’s large enough for your bunny. There should be enough wiggle room to move and play around. Get one with a sturdy bottom. Avoid a wired bottom that may hurt your bunny’s feet. Include a comfortable resting place inside the rabbit hutch. Straw mats available in many pet stores are some of the best options. 

Litter Box and Scoop

You need to buy a litter box and train your pet to use it as his bathroom. This would make cleaning an easier task for you. It’s a good idea to buy two, one inside the hutch and the other in the room where you’d let your rabbit roam freely for playtime and exercise. 

Food, Food Dish and Water Bottle

Nutrition is an important part of your rabbit’s health. Feed your rabbit with hay, vegetables, and pellets. Make sure you provide a fresh supply of food and water inside the rabbit hutch. Keep the food dish and water bottle clean at all times. 

Carrier

This is especially useful for pet owners who travel a lot. Even though you don’t plan on traveling in the next few years, it’s still a good idea to invest on a high quality carrier that you’ll need for transporting your bunny like when you’re visiting relatives for the weekend or when you need to take your pet to the vet. 

Brush

Good grooming habits are essential to a rabbit’s health. Whether your bunny has short or long hair, it’s handy to have a brush to prevent hairballs. 

Toys

Keep your pet entertained with a variety of toys that can stimulate him both physically and mentally. Chew toys are great choices. Since a rabbit’s teeth are constantly growing, they need to chew on objects to wear them down. Opt for bunny-safe toys made from nontoxic materials. 

So that wraps up the list of the essential rabbit accessories that you need to buy for your beloved pet. Have fun with your rabbit!

Some Things that You Should Know Before Rabbit Adoption

Many people today are finding the joy and benefits of having rabbits as pets. Aside from providing owners with happiness because of their cuteness and fluffiness, rabbits aren’t that difficult to take care of! 

If you are planning to have a rabbit, you should learn about the rabbit adoption process first because you must know the animal’s needs and your own capacity to provide the time, money and care required in caring for one. 

Here are some simple ways of rabbit adoption that you can do to finally have a pet of your own.

1. Find a rabbit that you want to adopt - You can look for a pet that you want from various local rescue centers or pet shops. Make sure to read the descriptions and other important nuggets of information about the rabbit that you are eyeing.

2. Contact a rescue center or pet shop - Once you have selected which one to pick, you can now start contacting the shop or center to know the process on how to take the rabbit home. Also, follow the guidelines set by the rescue center or pet shop.

3. Read the adoption requirements very carefully - This is important so as not to miss out any valuable detail about the rabbit adoption process. You can also use the information in buying pieces of equipment for your pet, such as hutches and cages since requirements usually specify the accommodation sizes as well as the ideal places to purchase these. 

4. Visit the center or shop - Meet the rabbits available and take time to discuss the adoption process with the person in charge. 

5. Conduct pre- adoption checks - Before bringing your rabbit home, the center or shop staff might perform inspections to ensure that you can provide a suitable home for the pet. 

6. Sign the adoption contract - A contract includes agreements on regular vaccination, proper vet care and even returning the rabbit to the rescue center if you can’t take care of it anymore. 

Final tip, keep in touch. For pieces of advice and tips on how to take care of your new pet rabbit, make sure to maintain an open line of communication with the rescue center or pet shop.

Things to Consider in Building an Outdoor Rabbit Hutch

If you’re going to adopt a pet rabbit, one of the first things that you should plan for is its outdoor rabbit hutch. Since bunnies are fond of the outdoors, it’s only right that you have an outdoor hutch aside from an indoor cage. It’s one pet item that you can turn into a DIY project. But keep these factors in mind when building this type of rabbit housing. 

Legs

Unlike inside the house where you have control over what comes near your pet’s hutch, the same cannot be said outdoors. That’s why it’s a must that your pet is protected from foreign objects and one way to do that is to lift the hutch from the ground by putting legs at its bottom part. Be sure to wrap the legs with chicken wire or any other material that will prevent other animals from climbing into the hutch. 

Design

Design is a crucial factor to consider when building a hutch since it contributes to the comfort level and safety of your pet. Your rabbit hutch plan design should not only be convenient for your bunny but also for you. See to it that the hutch design allows for easy cleaning. 

Tray

Don’t forget about the tray when designing the outdoor rabbit hutch. It’s best to have a tray that can easily be slid in and out so that cleaning the cage and feeding your pet will be a cinch. 

Base

Do you have big dogs in your house like a bulldog or German shepherd? If yes, then it’s imperative to build a rabbit hutch with a solid base. This will ensure strength for the hutch and safety for your pet. 

Size

Of course, you can’t discount the importance of size. There should be ample space inside the housing for your pet to move freely around. It should not only be wide enough but also tall enough if your bunny stands up. 

These are the factors that you must consider when building a rabbit hutch outdoors. It would be a great idea to check hutch design ideas online before starting with this project.

What are the Pros and Cons of Rabbit Neutering?

Rabbit neutering refers to the surgical procedure of removing the reproductive organs of a male rabbit. Before you scream foul or cruel, it’s important to understand that it is not a form of abuse. It is performed to prevent over reproduction as well as some health problems. It can also contribute to harmonious relationships among bunnies. 

Advantages

• Prevention of population boom – The most common reason for having rabbits neutered is to prevent over reproduction. This is especially true for households that have both male and female rabbits living together. Remember, there are already many rabbits in the world that are abandoned and neglected. It’s not a good idea to breed more if you’re not a responsible pet owner who can handle the duties of owning more rabbits.
• Prevention of health problems – Uterine cancer is the most gripping reason to spay a female rabbit. It is well documented that uterine adenocarcinoma, a type of malignant uterine cancer, affects about 80 percent of female rabbits due to their genetic makeup. Surgery is done as a form of cancer prevention. Other uterine diseases that can be prevented through spaying include pyometra (pus-filled uterine infection), uterine aneurism (uterus filled with blood) and endometritis (inflammation of the uterine lining). For male rabbits, neutering can prevent testicular disease, which although isn’t as common as uterine disease in females, can still occur.
• Prevention of aggression – Sexually mature rabbits display aggressive behavior. Not only do they hate being touched, they also attempt to destroy whatever they can get their teeth on. This is an instinctual behavior that enables them to protect themselves and establish dominance and territory. Rabbit neutering can tame the aggressive behavior when they reach stage of sexual maturity.
• Prevention of urine spraying – Rabbits, whether male or female, mark their territories by spraying urine. Males engage in this activity 10 times more than females. Since the smell of a rabbit’s urine can be repulsive to humans, it would help to neuter the rabbit to discontinue the behavior.

Disadvantages

• Irreversibility of the procedure – Once you have your rabbit neutered, there’s no turning back. If you decide in the future that you want to breed more rabbits, it’s not possible to reverse the surgical procedure of removing the rabbit’s reproductive organs.
• Risks involved in the operation – Veterinarians assure pet owners that rabbit neutering only has minimal risks. But minimal risk doesn’t mean zero risk. The procedure can possibly bring unexpected complications. There are times when rabbits die after or while being neutered.
• Expensive cost – Especially if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll find that the amount of castrating a male rabbit and spaying a female rabbit can be a little difficult on the pockets. The amount for this procedure ranges from $94 to $100 for male rabbits and $120 to $140 for females. 

The decision whether to neuter your pet rabbit or not is up to you. Weigh the pros and cons very carefully to make an informed choice. Also, if you decide to go for it, it’s a must to learn all the rudiments of pre-operative and post-surgical care. You want to enjoy the benefits of rabbit neutering without risking the life of your beloved pet rabbit. Finally, keep in mind that that best time to neuter either a male or female rabbit is before or after sexual maturity.

A Good Rabbit Diet: What Every Rabbit Owner Should Know

One of the cutest mammals on earth is the rabbit. Many people, especially kids, have rabbits as their pet. Rabbits are herbivores which mean they only eat leafy vegetables as one of their main source of food. But the most important nutrient that a rabbit needs is water. 

Clean water should be available at all times in their cage or food dish to keep their digestive system on process. It’s one of the most important things on a rabbit diet. Clean water isn’t only for the rabbit’s consumption but also for it to poop in or fuddle in. Check their water twice a day and change it if there are any signs of contamination. 

Avoid giving them foods and treats that are high in sugar and starch since it may cause your rabbit an imbalance especially with their sugar level. Giving them treats is permissible once in a while. You can give it as a reward but sparingly. It helps build a trusting relationship between the rabbit and the owner. Never lose track when it comes to handing out treats to a rabbit because it can damage the rabbit diet system. 

When it comes to rations, rabbits should always be fed in small amounts. Small, frequent feedings are best for a rabbit. You can also feed your rabbit with fresh fruit as an alternative to commercialized pellet. This can be a good alternative to treats and it’s healthier, too. 

Providing a pet rabbit with good grass or hay is also good for their system. A good rabbit diet is always composed of fiber which you can get from hay or grass. Avoid giving pet rabbits with pellets mixed with seed, nuts or any colored pieces. For rabbits, it is equivalent to junk foods and is not good for their health. In fact, it can only cause them serious illnesses. 

It is also important to feed your rabbit a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day to keep their nutritional needs on track and always wash those fruits and vegetables before feeding it to your rabbit. This is to avoid spreading any viruses that may have contaminated your pet’s food. 

Rabbits are also crepuscular; they are more active during dusk and dawn. Some people tend to feed their rabbits during those times to see how active they are and to make sure that they are healthy. 

In a rabbit’s diet, do not feed them with huge amount of foods. Always bear in mind to give your rabbits what they need according to their size and age. The smaller the rabbit is, the smaller the amount of food that should be given. 

All of these simple tips should be followed in order for you to not alter your rabbit diet proportions and give your rabbit a good health and allow them to live longer. 

When it comes to feeding your rabbit, do what you would do when feeding a human. Make sure the food is clean, the food is good, and feed them with food that makes them healthy. Do not also forget to make your rabbit exercise. Exercise is always part of a diet, both for the owner and the pet. 

When you follow these guidelines in taking care of your pet rabbit, you will have a healthy and happy pet.