Rabbits are very cute and cuddly and many have the idea that it is very easy to have them as pets. Children love to play with rabbits and as they are soft and cuddly, children like to catch them or hold them. Before deciding to have a rabbit as a pet, you need to learn some points so that you find it easy to maintain them. The first thing that is important is to note that they bite and they don’t like to be held or picked up when they are roaming about. So it will be a dangerous thing if you have a small child at home and if the rabbit is caught against their will, they may bite. You cannot train them not to bite in such cases.

Rabbits look very cute and it seems that they are the simplest of pets, as they just have to be caged. But the fact is that they have to be cared for a lot. They need to be taken out of the cage daily and they need to be exercised to keep them healthy. You will have to keep an area especially for them so that they exercise there daily and it should not have any harmful things. You should also keep away important things so that the rabbit doesn’t bite and destroy them. Those who have studied about the behavior of the rabbits, are of the opinion that it will also get depressed if it does not get the human touch on regular basis. So you or your child will have to spare some time exclusively for the rabbit and play with it.

It depends upon the breed that how often you have to brush the rabbit because they have a tendency to swallow their own fur, which might lead to intestinal problem or even breathing problems in the rabbit. The rabbit’s cage also needs to be cleaned either every day or alternate days. If taken care properly rabbits can live up to 10 years or even more sometimes. Buying a rabbit for a pet is a costly and time taking job. You will have to look after and take care of the rabbit and its habits so that they are maintained in a good health and in hygienic way. You have to take care of the type of food and the nutrition that is important for the rabbit too.

Rabbits are quite destructive sometimes and messy too, because basically it is mischievous. They cannot be trained, not to destroy anything so you will have to keep things away from their reach otherwise rabbits can go to the extent of chewing a shoe, cord or anything that they like. Also you will have to groom your rabbit regularly. Even then you should be prepared to clean up the fur, as they shred them here and there. There is one important point to be noted that most rabbits die of heart attack and they fear children a lot. So by keeping all the things in mind you can have a pet rabbit for your home.

By: Victor Epand

Many pet owners enjoy the company and companionship of having a pet rabbit in the house. People are attracted to the idea of house rabbits because rabbits are not only playful and fun to watch they are also very social. Rabbits tend to appeal to people who like the size and feel of cats but are put off by the aloof manners cats sometimes display, most rabbits, if handled properly, are friendly all the time. Rabbit owners need to be aware that because rabbits are so social they need to spend allot of time each and every day playing with their pet rabbit. Rabbits that do not get enough attention can become depressed. Like cats pet rabbits are low maintenance and are easily litter box trained. Rabbits chew on everything, the best way to spare your furniture is to give your pet rabbit lots and lots of chewy toys. Rabbits and young children are not a very good combination, kid’s habit of grabbing and running around makes rabbits nervous and they can start biting, and rabbit bites hurt. If you decide to keep your pet rabbit in the house you need to be prepared to clean the litter box on a regular basis.

Rabbits need to be taken to the veterinarian on a regular schedule for routine vaccinations and check ups. Rabbit owners who keep their rabbits in the house recommend spaying and neutering your rabbit. Pet rabbits are not known for their willingness to take medications. If you have to give your pet rabbit liquid mediation you will need to use a syringe (just the syringe not the needle) or an eye dropper. I prefer syringes because it is easier to measure the proper dosage of medication. Holding the rabbits head and neck with one hand slide the syringe into the rabbit’s mouth behind the teeth, Check to make sure that the tip of the syringe isn’t stuck out the other side of the mouth, point the tip of the syringe towards the rabbit’s throat. Depress the syringes plunger.

If your vet prescribes a medication for your rabbit that is in a pill or tablet form you are going to have to crush up the pill. Once you have crushed the pill into a powder mix it with a little bit of flavored Sustacal or Ensure until you have a watery paste. Use a syringe to administer the paste like a liquid medication.

]]> http://www.indoorrabbitcage.net/getting-health-insurance-for-your-rabbit/feed/ 0 http://www.indoorrabbitcage.net/do-you-have-pet-health-questions/ http://www.indoorrabbitcage.net/do-you-have-pet-health-questions/#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 17:03:53 +0000 fthomas http://www.indoorrabbitcage.net/do-you-have-pet-health-questions/

If you have a pet, be it a rabbit or a rottweiler, you are, of course, concerned about your pet’s health. In this article we’re going to focus on dogs specifically, but the general principles apply to any household pet, with the possible exception of that pet rock you’re still keeping around in the attic from the 1970’s. Like any pet owner, you have a lot of pet health questions.

Your pet’s diet is no doubt the number one thing you can manage to ensure that your pet has a long, happy and healthy life. But at the same time, many pet owners know very little about nutrition, or that their pet may have specific needs that are going unmet by the pet food available at the local grocery store.

There is a lot to know, but don’t be discouraged. Like anything that’s important to you, you’ll manage to learn more about the subject than you ever thought possible. Your pet is a member of the family, and when it comes to the health of your family, you’ll be amazed what you can do.

The first person you’ll want to go to with any pet health questions you may have is obvious: your veterinarian can provide you with a lot of information on a healthy diet tailored to your pet and geared towards achieving optimum health. This may involve anything from switching brands of pet food to making your own pet food at home, but as with any issue involving your pet, your vet should be the first stop.

With that caveat, the internet also contains a lot of information and tips for the pet owner.

For instance, is your pet overweight? If so, what should be done about it? You can find information on that topic, as well as read how others have managed their pet’s weight problems on some of the many websites devoted to pet health questions.

How can you get your pet’s dull coat back to a healthy shine? What foods should my pet not have, or have more of? All of these pet diet and health questions have answers. Have a talk with your vet, and peruse the pet websites for further reading.

The best way to approach this is when you find what seems to be an answer to your question, write it down to refer to next time you speak with your veterinarian. You’ll want their advice before proceeding with any course of action which may effect the health of your pet.

Take advantage of the goldmine of answers to your pet health questions that the web has made available to nearly every pet owner, but read carefully. Make sure to cross reference when possible. As we all know, the phrase “your mileage may vary” was coined for a reason. But rest assured, between your vet and the many other resources accessible to the pet owning public, the answer to your question is there.

By: Laurie Lindsay

Gastrointestinal stasis (or G.I. stasis) is a serious and potentially fatal condition that occurs in some rabbits in which gut motility is severely reduced and possibly completely stopped. Treatment should be sought immediately from a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals and with significant rabbit experience. When untreated or improperly treated, G.I. stasis can be fatal in as little as 24 hours.

G.I. stasis is the condition of food not moving through the gut as quickly as normal. The gut contents may dehydrate and compact into a hard, immobile mass (impacted gut), blocking the digestive tract of the rabbit. Food in an immobile gut may also ferment, causing significant gas buildup and resultant gas pain for the rabbit.

The first noticeable symptom of G.I. stasis may be that the rabbit suddenly stops eating. Treatment frequently includes subcutaneous fluid therapy (rehydration through injection of saline solution under the skin), drugs for treatment of the buildup of gas in the digestive tract, massage to promote gas expulsion and comfort, possible drugs to promote gut motility, and careful monitoring of all inputs and outputs. The rabbit’s diet may also be changed as part of treatment.

Some rabbits are more prone to G.I. stasis than others. The causes of G.I. stasis are not completely understood, but common contributing factors are thought to include:

* a lack of fiber in the diet. Many pet rabbits do not get sufficient fresh grass hay but are instead mistakenly fed only commercial alfalfa pellets originally developed for rapidly increasing mass in rabbits bred for meat.

* insufficient moisture in the diet. Fresh, leafy greens are a critical part of a rabbit’s diet in part because of their moisture content, which helps prevent the gut contents from becoming impacted.

* lack of exercise. Rabbits confined to a cage frequently do not get the opportunity (or motivation) to run, jump, and play which is critical in maintaining gut motility.

In addition, G.I. stasis can be caused by the rabbit not eating for other reasons, such as stress, dental problems, or other unrelated health problems.

G.I. stasis is sometimes misdiagnosed as cat-like “hair balls” by veterinarians not familiar with rabbit physiology.

By: Hagar Lagarto

The typical diet for a pet rabbit consists of water, hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, and its own caecal pellets. Fruit and other treats are given only in very limited quantities, as they can cause obesity in a rabbit. Rabbits require a constant water supply as they dehydrate quickly.

Most sources recommend 80% of the diet should be Timothy hay or another grass hay. Too many vegetables in a rabbit’s diet typically leads to diarrhea and other digestive problems.

Pellets

Rabbits are generally fed a pelleted feed available from pet stores, supermarkets, and farm suppliers. Pellets were originally designed for rabbit breeders for the purpose of providing as much food energy and vitamins as inexpensively as possible. This is optimal when the rabbits are being bred for food or for experimentation.

Most sources recommend a minimum of 18% fiber, low protein (14?15%), and less than 1% calcium. Depending on the amount of vegetables available, an adult rabbit should be given between 20 ml to 40 ml per kilogram (? and ? cup of pellets per 6 pounds) body weight daily. Pre-adolescent and adolescent rabbits (7 months and younger) can be given as much pelleted diet as they can consume, although additional vegetables are preferable to additional pellets. An older rabbit (over six years) can be given more pellets if they are having difficulty maintaining a steady body weight. Timothy hay-based pellets are great for rabbits that have stopped growing and do not need to gain weight. Alfalfa-based pellets are best only for young, growing rabbits or older rabbits who are under-weight.

Hay

Hay is essential for the health of all rabbits. A steady supply of hay will help prevent gastrointestinal stasis and other digestive tract problems in rabbits. Additionally, it provides a number of necessary vitamins and minerals at a low food energy cost. Rabbits enjoy chewing on hay, and always having hay available for the rabbit may reduce its tendency to chew on other items. Timothy hay and other grass hays are considered the healthiest to provide the rabbit. As a persistently high blood calcium level can prove harmful to the rabbit, hays such as alfalfa and clover hay should be avoided. Alfalfa is also relatively high in food energy, and a constant diet of it can cause obesity in rabbits.

Treats

Treats are unhealthy in large quantities for rabbits, just as they are for humans. Most treats sold in pet stores are filled with sugar and high food energy carbohydrates. If an owner is determined to feed the rabbit treats, the best treat to provide it with is fruit.

Acceptable fruits (seeds and pits MUST be removed): Banana, Mango, Pineapple, Peach, Apple, Kiwi, Berries, Orange and other citrus fruits.

Pineapple, mango, and papaya all contain a natural enzyme which is thought to reduce hairballs.

Fruits or other treats must be given in moderation, as rabbits easily become overweight and suffer health problems. Their diet should consist of no more than half a tablespoon of fruits or treats per day.

However, fresh fruits should not be given to rabbits under the age of 4 months because their digestive systems are not always developed enough to handle the fruit. It can cause enteritis that causes death within 48 hours.

While a common myth that rabbits should be given lettuce, this is not a good idea because it contains little to no nutritional value for the rabbit and again can cause enteritis which leads to a quick death.

Caecal pellets

Do not be alarmed if you see your rabbit eat some of his *****. These are called cecal pellets, and are a vital part of his diet. Caecal pellets are soft, smelly, clumpy feces, and are a rabbit’s only supply of Vitamin B12. Due to the design of the rabbit’s digestive system, they cannot extract some vitamins and minerals directly from their food. At the end of their digestive system is an area called the caecum where cellulose and other plant fibers are broken down and ferment. After they have been broken down and passed, a rabbit’s digestive system can finally extract the vitamins from them.

By: Hagar Lagarto

I was wondering if inhaling rabbit hair might be bad? I’m not actually inhaling it, but whenever I pick him up theres tons of hair left in my shirt and I’m afraid that inhaling that by accident might affect my health. I’ve heard that if someone inhales a cat hair they could have a heart attack, but idk if its related to the rabbit. HELP!!

no stupid comments : )

thanks

By: Jen25

I have 2 indoor rabbits I keep in my room. They like to have a towel in the cage, but I recently noticed that one or both of them have been eating small circle shaped bites out of it. It’s a relatively thin towel, but I’m worried it could cause a blockage or something. Is it dangerous for them to chew it like that?

Thanks.

By: Peter Griffin

My male bunny has a rashes around his genital, and its swollen. It looks like a wound around his *******. I tried to put some betadine but, i think its hurting him. What could be the cause of this rashes?

By: Elay