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Even with the most diligent bunny rabbit selection process and the very best care and grooming, there is always the possibility that your pet will develop a health condition that requires medical attention. When this happens you will need to find the right veterinarian who will give your pet the kind of attention he deserves.

This article will discuss that as well as a run-down of the most common rabbit health concerns. You should read them all, even if your pet seems in perfect health now. Being alert to the symptoms of illnesses is the key to getting care quickly and preventing complications.

Finding the right Vet

Waiting until you have an emergency on your hands to find a vet is never a good idea. For one thing, you’ll wind up racing around trying to find just anyone who can help you, and you may end up with a mediocre vet or one who overcharges you. For another thing, many vets don’t have much experience with pet rabbits, and it is in your pet’s best interest to find a vet who knows a great deal about rabbits.

So find a good vet now, before you even need one. You’ll be putting yourself in a much better position should your pet require emergency care down the line. Moreover, having a vet will make you much more likely to take your rabbit for regular checkups and important procedures like spaying/neutering and clipping or teeth-trimming.

Choosing the Right Vet

It can be next to impossible to find a good vet simply by scrolling through names in a phonebook or even just looking online. You should visit offices, check out the environment, ask others in the office what the vet is like, and so on.

Talk to the vet him- or herself. Ask him how familiar he is with rabbits?how many rabbits does he see per month? Does he have training with regard to rabbits? Does he know the common health concerns that rabbit pet-owners have to worry about? Can he give you advice on rabbit diets? What about clipping and teeth-trimming? Will he be able to help you with that?

This kind of in-person research is the best way to ensure that you select a vet who is knowledgeable, has a good reputation, has a clear office environment, and has experience with pet rabbits in particular.

If you are looking for a vet to spay or neuter your new pet, ask specifically about the office’s rate with this procedure. It is expected that some rabbits die as a result of this common process, but if a vet has a loss rate of over 2%, you should go to another vet.

by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide: Bunny Rabbits

So you have decided to purchase a pet rabbit, and now you are wondering how do I pick out the right one?

Well, aside from appearance, there are a number of important considerations that you will have to make when you pick out your pet bunny rabbit at the local pet store or other venue. This is important both to ensure that you choose a healthy pet rabbit, and to make sure that you and he are compatible!

Now I’ll explain what you’ll need to think about before heading out to buy your pet rabbit, and what to look for when you’re actually selecting an animal from a local breeder, adoption center or pet store.

Housing: Do You Have Enough Space for a Pet Rabbit?

When it comes to tame pet bunny rabbits, they do much better indoors than outdoors. Living indoors will ensure that your pet bunny rabbit stays healthy and safe and gets to know the members of your family. Rabbits kept in outdoor cages are at risk of being threatened by other animals; foxes, dogs, and raccoons have been known to open cage doors.

Therefore, before you decide to bring home a pet rabbit, make sure that you have plenty of space inside your house for your new animal friend. For most rabbits, plan on buying a cage that is either 30 inches square, or 2 feet by 3 feet. You will also need to make sure that you have enough room inside your home to fit a cage of this size. If you don’t have space for a cage, you will not be able to provide a rabbit with an adequate living situation.

Keep in mind that the cage should not just be placed in any old spot, but should put somewhere where the rabbit can feel connected and close to the family. At the same time, the rabbit cage should be away from heaters, air conditions, loud objects like TVs or radios, and not in direct sunlight. Since you will be letting your rabbit out of his cage for exercise, you will also need to put the cage in an area that can be bunny-proofed. (more on that later…)

Your Time Investment

A lot of people seem to think that because rabbits are relatively small and spend a good deal of time in their cages that they’re easy to take care of. Well, that may be true in some sense, but it’s foolish to bring home a rabbit thinking that it’s not going to be much of a time commitment. If you are not willing to spend time with your pet rabbit, then you probably should not get him. This, of course, applies to all pet animals!

Well, here’s what to expect. You should ensure that you have plenty of time for all the initial and intermediate stages of pet care, which include:

- Rabbit-proofing your house to make sure the little guy won’t get hurt
- Litter box training
- Cleaning up after the inevitable accidents
- Spaying/neutering

You will also need to devote a good deal of time to your rabbit well after you bring him home for the first time. You must:

- Give him exercise (at least a few hours per day out of the cage)
- Give him attention (just like any pet or child, rabbits need to feel love!)
- Buy and provide rabbit toys
- Administer feedings
- Take him to the vet if necessary and for check-ups

Above all, just keep in mind that bringing home a new pet bunny rabbit is not so different from bringing home a new infant. You will need to spend adequate time preparing for the arrival, as well as adjusting to life with the newcomer. Setting aside time for all these necessities will make for a happy, comfortable situation for everyone involved.

Before bringing home a pet rabbit, make sure that you can commit to giving him the quality of lifestyle he deserves throughout his lifetime (5-15 years, depending on the rabbit-s breed and age and health at the time of purchase).

by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide: Bunny Rabbits

One of the most important aspects of properly caring for your pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying, and well-balanced diet. Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy, since there is general consensus about what is good for rabbits and a wide range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also eat many of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on your dinner table every night (see below for recommendations and portions).

Hay

Hay is an essential component of a rabbit’s healthy diet. One reason why is that feeding a rabbit hay on a daily basis seems to reduce rabbits tendencies to pull out and consume or chew on their own hair, which leads to (sometimes very dangerous) hairballs.

Buy high-quality leafy grass hay, timothy hay or clover hay. Avoid alfalfa hay, as it can sometimes be problematic and has been shown to increase the risk of bladder stones.

FRESH Water

Like all creatures, rabbits need fresh water in order to survive. Change water daily or at least every two days. When you change the water, also wash the water bottle or dish thoroughly to get rid of bacteria.

You may want to use a water bottle that can hang on a cage, as this can reduce the messiness factor. If you prefer to use a bowl, make sure it is sturdy and heavy enough so that your rabbit won’t overturn it.

Yogurt?

Although it may sound funny, rabbits can actually benefit from yogurt just the same way that humans do. Yogurt is proven to reduce the bad bacteria in the body, balancing out the good bacteria in the process. Many pet rabbits seem to like yogurt and accept it as a part of a balanced daily diet.

Chew Toys

As you will quickly learn as a new rabbit owner, bunnies love to bite and chew on things. This is actually essential for good dental health, but the trick is to give them good substances to chew on so they won’t be tempted to eat up your furniture or other, more dangerous substances, like wires or electrical cords.

A dog’s chew toy (on the smaller side) can be a great alternative, one which most rabbits seem to enjoy a great deal. Two more natural options are a large bone from a piece of boiled meat, with the bone marrow taken out, or some apple tree branches (the twigs are great roughage and help keep the bunny’s intestines clean).

Rabbits tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to changes in their diet or feeding schedule. In fact, if there is a sudden change or interruption, a rabbit may lose his appetite or become ill.

Therefore, it’s important to be consistant. Establish a feeding routine that is easy for you to stick to each and every day. Set your timer and fix the feeding schedule into your own everyday routine. Make sure you have enough rabbit food (whether hay, pellets, veggies, etc.) on hand so that you don’t run out unexpectedly.

Feeding your rabbit a consistent, balanced and healthy diet is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet has a long and happy life as your prized companion.

by Andrea Austin, http://www.rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide: Bunny Rabbits

When my daughter asked for a bunny for her birthday, I got a mental image of a hutch in the back yard. Wrong! Backyard bunnies are coming into the house, to the delight of families all over. In fact, house rabbits are quickly climbing the list of America’s most popular pets.

It’s easy to see why. Bunnies are quiet, clean, don’t bark, don’t bite (unless they have a good reason to), and they can even be litter-trained. They’re terrific housepets - and it’s a waste of a great companion (not to mention cruel) to leave them out in the yard.

Here’s the scoop on bunnies as pets. House rabbits like to bond with fellow rabbits, and for that reason many Humane Societies and shelters only adopt them out in bonded pairs. These pairs are fast friends, and groom one another, share their food, and generally have a ton of fun together. But bunnies need human friendship too! They’ll get used to their pet humans, and enjoy being stroked, cuddled and played with. In fact, bunnies are a hoot! They’ll hunt for treats hidden around the room, and get as comfortable in your house or apartment as a cat or dog. And, bunnies do very well with these more common housepets, as long as they’re properly introduced.

Bunnies don’t make great pets for small children. They aren’t really delicate, but they can’t be picked up haphazardly, and small children may confuse their toy bunnies with the real thing. Kids under the teenage years shouldn’t be given full caretaking responsibility for a house rabbit. But with an adult’s supervision, bunnies are incredibly fun for families with older children.

Bunnies need fresh water, bunny food (which comes in pellet form), fresh veggies, and hay - lots of hay. All of these things are available in pet stores or from the local chapter of the House Rabbit Society, the group that specializes in educating people about bunny love. They need toys - things like empty toilet-paper rolls make great bunny toys - and some human attention every day. And they’re worth it!

Bunnies are incredibly relaxing pets. If you face a lot of stress at work, a bunny can send you right into the chill zone with some cuddly snuggling. Sometimes, men say Bunnies are chick pets, but wait until they touch one! Bunnies will eat out of your hand, hop over to you when you enter the room, and quickly hop their way into your heart!

My daughter’s Can I have a rabbit? request started the wheels turning, and we are now the happy guardians to four of these little sweeties. Bunnies are popular for a reason! To learn more, visit your local House Rabbit Society chapter page or ask your local animal shelter for more information on owning a house rabbit. You’ll be glad you took the time.

Liz Ryan is the founder and CEO of WorldWIT, the global online discussion network for professional women. She is the mother of five children, two dogs, a cat and four house rabbits. Liz lives in Boulder, Colorado. http://www.worldwit.org