Questions on Rabbits as Pets?

Question

I am a bit interested in getting a pet rabbit this fall. I have a few questions..... sources & experience veterinarians, owners, etc. would be nice :-)

-How much and what type of care do they need?

-What is the life span? Do different types have different life lengths? Are there any 5years or under?

-How much does it cost (aprox.) to own one year to year?

-Any thing you need to do special??

Thanks!

-g in the USA

Answer 1

care - females should be neutered, b/c reproductive complications may arise (such as cancer), a check up every now and again is great, but many owners don't. i never have and my rabbits have led happy and healthy lives.

nails should be clipped often, and fur should be brushed. it really depends on the breed that you get, the longer hair, the more time spent grooming.

life span - about 8-10 years. rabbits tend to hide their symptoms when they are sick, and sometimes it is too late when you finally figure out they are ill :( so you shoudl observe your rabbits actions and reactions throughout the day, so you will know whats wrong.

cost - depends really, i go to a local pets warehouse to buy my supplies so its much cheaper than petco and petsmart and stores like them. (i pay $7 rather than $12 for a 4 lb bag of food)

i buy my rabbits food every month or so.

alfalfa & hay (also about every month) $3 each at walmart, like $6 at other stores.

water bottle i bought for less than $5, and don't even bother buying and food bowl, they knock them over or throw them across the cage!

i buy a 50liter bag of bedding (made of paper, not wood shavings because wood shavings may cause respritory disorders in the long run) for a little under $20. that lasts me approx. 1 month 1/2

my cage cost $70, but they range from $50 to even $150, but i reccommend an indoor cage, rabbits are more social and healthy indoors. (mines inside and roams about the house as he pleases, and we take him outside when the weather is nice)

i have a little chihuahua harness and leash for my rabbit, the rabbit ones cost about $8-$18, just depends on the store.

special? buy it lots of toys! i went to the dollar store and bought a ton of puppy toys (balls, tug-o-war ropes etc), and a bird toy with a bell to hang in the cage, mine loves his. theres this carrot toy at petco that rattles, my rabbit won't leave it out of his sight! paper towel or toilet paper rolls are great toys, so are cardboard boxes and newspapers, they love to tear things apart.

make sure that you don't have any loose cables in your rabbits reach, i made the mistake of leaving mine uncovered, and had to spend $ replacing them

Answer 2

ok i'll tell you the same thing i told another person

1. CAGE: cage has to be big, a solid floor is fine and not too difficult to clean. Many cages meant for rabbits are still made with wire floors over pull out pans, designed to make cleaning easier. Wire floors are uncomfortable to a rabbit and can cause sores on their hocks!If you get a wire cage make sure the bottom is covered with a piece of wood, or grass or sisal mats (grass mats are are nice to have in solid floored cages too, to vary the surface and provide traction).

The door to the cage should be about large enough to get a litter pan (and rabbit) through easily. A side door is probably best, as a top-opening cage makes getting the rabbit in and out a little harder. The opening should have smooth edges, or plastic guard strips over the edges of the wires.

2.BEDDING: cedar and pine shavings should be avoided due to concerns over the aromatic oils they release. Use hardwood shavings such as aspen. Straw or hay is a good bedding material for rabbits.

3. CARING FOR: they need a great deal of interaction with their owners and/or other rabbits to be happy. Daily playtime and exercise outside of their cage is necessary. Rabbits like to be near people, but they often would rather not be held.

4.FOOD: Rabbit pellets alone are not a sufficient diet -- they need lots of good quality hay and a variety of fresh vegetables.

(lettuce,carrots,etc.) When buying pellets from your local store, be sure to buy fresh pellets. Rabbit pellets should be stored in the refrigerator, and any food that will not be used within 2 months should be frozen for later use.

5. OTHER: Rabbit pee can have a awful smell, so change their litter box(cage) frequently (spaying and neutering can help reduce the smell. In addition their pee is high in calcium so it will leave a chalky residue when it dries that can be hard to clean up (vinegar works pretty good for this).

6. CLEANING THE CAGE: Remove any uneaten fresh foods (greens, veggies etc.) from the cage daily ( mornings and nights are the best).

Remove hay from the floor of the cage -- if you don't use a hay rack, at least remove any hay that is wet or nasty.

Wash out the food bowls, and wash and refill the water bottle.

7. CLEANING CAGE WEEKLY: Remove all accessories from the cage.

Remove all bedding from the cage.

Wipe down the cage well with hot water (use vinegar to remove any pee spots). If you have a smaller cage, you may want to take it apart and rinse it with hot water (e.g in the tub or with a hose).

Wash feeding dishes, the water bottle, hay rack and litter box with hot water.

Clean any toys or furnishings that have become soiled.

**It is a good idea to periodically disinfect your cage, but any disinfectant needs to be rinsed really well and isn't a good option for wood cages (which can soak up the chemicals) or cages that aren't easily moved to a place where they can be hosed off. A bleach solution (one part bleach to ten parts water) can be used to disinfect the cage, but make sure to rinse extremely well. **

8. WATER: Rabbits should have water made available to them at all times, especially during the summer months. A hanging drops-style water dispenser is a great solution for keeping water from spilling and keeping it free of contaminants. The water dispenser should be refilled with fresh water every two days and should be cleaned and rinsed every time it is refilled.

9.NAILS: Rabbit nails should be trimmed every two weeks. To trim your rabbit’s nails, use cat clippers and cut the sharp ends off of the nails. Be careful not to cut too deeply or it will bleed. Rabbits should never be declawed ( rabbits need their nails for climbing, walking and escaping predators.)

10.CLEANING EARS: Rabbit ears should be checked daily for wax clogs or mites and cleaned every two weeks. Any black discharge or soreness in the ear could indicate mites or other infections that require the attention of a vet. To clean your rabbit’s ears, use a soft cotton-tipped swab to clean all the visible areas of the ear ** NEVER** insert the swab into the ear canal or in anywhere that you cannot see. Gently rub the swab to remove any wax or dirt that may have collected in the ear.

11.BATHING:Rabbits are normally not bathed. Because bathing can cause extreme stress and because rabbits do not dry out quickly, bathing can cause rabbits to experience stress, chills and may induce shock. If your rabbit is diagnosed with fleas, check with your vet on the best way to treat the fleas. If your rabbit is ever completely soaked with water, dry the rabbit as best you can with a towel and immediately move them to a warm, dry location (in the sun)

There life span depends on how you treat and care for them.

My rabbit cost me around $40-$50 a year

**TOYS**

~cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towel rolls

paper bags



~cardboard boxes (especially a closed box with two or three rabbit sized entrance holes cut in the sides)

~cardboard concrete forms or large PVC pipes for tunnels (make sure bunny can't get stuck!)

~untreated wicker baskets or other wicker items

~hard plastic cat balls with a bell inside (make sure your bunny isn't chewing up and swallowing the plastic though)

~hard plastic baby toys such as rings, links, keys, rattles, etc.



~parrot toys and bells

~kitty condos (the shorter ones), tunnels, platforms

  towels

~small straw whisk broom

~straw balls ( you can get the ones meant as hamster

  houses; for MORE enjoyment fill with timothy hay)

~box full of shredded paper (preferably ink free - you can

~sometimes get unprinted newsprint roll ends from the local  

    newspaper printer)

~fresh branches from apple trees

~dried pine cones

~large rubber ball

Anything else just ask!

Good Luck with your rabbit!! =)

Answer 3

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