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Necessities:
cage water bottle
food feeder
shavings Timothy hay
salt lick
Rabbits are one of the cuddliest of all pets to have. They can be potty trained, learn tricks and are one of the favorite pets for apartment dwellers. Rabbits live 6-8 years and come in a variety of sizes and colors. They are a commitment just like a dog or cat and careful consideration must be taken before purchasing one. They can be spayed/neutered, which we highly recommend as it reduces odor, mating behaviors and many health problems.
Rabbits require a cage that allows room for them to move around and be comfortable (we recommend nothing smaller than 18 x 30). Even though the cage maybe of adequate size, daily exercise is very important. The more time you spend with the bunny the more affectionate and happy the bunny will be. Rabbits enjoy being members of the household and are much safer being kept in the house, warm, dry and safe from raccoons and dogs. The cage should have a raised floor so that the bunny's feet are not in contact with the urine as this can lead to foot disease. The cage should be cleaned at least once a week but more often is even better. Since rabbits usually go in the same spot, daily scooping can greatly reduce any smell. When cleaning the cage it is important to use only bleach and water and to rinse thoroughly. We recommend using pine shavings (not cedar) but cat litters may also be used.
Young bunnies (7 weeks to 8 months) should be allowed as much pellets as they would like eat. Their digestive tracts are still forming at this age, so it very important to introduce new things to their diet very slowly and carefully. We carry Oxbow™ bunny foods which are lifestage balanced. When feeding Oxbow™ diets follow the instructions on the bag. If you are feeding other diets the following information will be helpful and is copied directly from a handout by Northgate Veterinary Clinic 206-363-8421.
RABBIT PELLETS (feed store quality)- For adult bunnies, a good quality rabbit pellet (alfalfa based) maybe offered daily but in limited quantities. The uncontrolled feeding of a pelleted diet can lead to obesity, heart and liver disease, kidney stones, chronic diarrhea, and kidney disease which results from the high concentration of carbohydrates, low fiber and high calcium levels in alfalfa based pellets. Make sure that you buy pellets high in fiber (18% or higher), and that you buy small quantities. Keep the pellets refrigerated or cool and dry to prevent spoilage. Old rancid pellets can cause a rabbit to stop eating. If you must buy more than 2 months of pellets at a time, freeze them.
The following chart shows the daily amounts to be feed to an 8 month or older bunny. Do not refill the bowl, even if the pellets are all eaten before the next day. Over feeding pellets is the number one cause of health problems that we see. Keep your rabbit happy by not overdoing it.
2-4 lb body weight - 1/8 cup daily
5-7 lb body weight - 1/4 cup daily
8-10 lb body weight - 1/2 cup daily
11-15 lb body weight - 3/4 cup daily
Please note that these food amounts are for the maintenance of the adult non-breeding house rabbit. If you intend to breed your pet, then we suggest increasing the daily pellet amounts by 1/4 to 1/2 cup during breeding season.
For does that are nursing babies, the pellets should be offered free choice until the babies are weaned. After the breeding period is over, resume feeding at the maintenance levels as listed above.
Timothy Hay or Grass Hay - should be offered DAILY in UNLIMITED QUANTITIES. It is critically important that hay be available at all times for your pet. Rabbits eat small amounts of food frequently throughout the day and withholding hay for long periods of time can lead to intestinal upsets. We prefer the loose long strands of hay, as opposed to the pressed cubes or
chopped hay. The fiber in the hay is extremely important in promoting normal digestion and the prevention of furballs. Hay also contains proteins and other nutrients essential to the good health of your pet. We no longer recommend the use of alfalfa hay because it appears to be to high in calcium and carbohydrates which may lead to serious health problems and digestive upsets. Discard any wet or damp hay, or any hay that does not have that "fresh" smell. At certain times of the year it maybe difficult to get timothy or grass hay. At these times it is okay to use hays mixed with alfalfa or straight alfalfa for a short period of time. The important thing is to ALWAYS HAVE HAY AVAILABLE TO THE PET. Remember we are restricting the pellets and the hay is a major source of fiber and nutrients.
Fresh Foods - These foods should be given daily. Rabbits in the wild eat primarily tough, fibrous leaves, bark and other difficult to digest plants. Their digestive tract is happiest when it has the most work to do in breaking down cellulose. If your pet is not used to getting any fresh foods, then start out gradually with the green leafy veggies and add a new food item from the list every 5 - 7 days. if the addition of any item leads to diarrhea or unformed stools in 24 - 48 hours, then remove it
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