Rabbits as pets

Rabbit 

Want to know if rabbits are a good option as pets? Yes!

Rabbits are indeed some of the best pets you can take home. They are very charming, cute, sensitive and fragile. Well then, let's see what needs to be done to take the rabbit home.

Did you find Bugs Bunny and Lola Bunny very cute? And do you plan to keep rabbits as pets because they are charming companions? Or are you just planning to take rabbits as pets for children? Well then you should know a lot about rabbits. There are many types of rabbits that are good as pets, however you should always consider the details of rabbits as pets, their pros and cons.

Rabbit care

Keeping rabbits as pets is really good, as they are cute, funny and amazing animals. We must be familiar with all the facts about rabbits in order to know them better. Rabbits are more like rodents, but they have an extra pair of incisors on the upper jaw, as well as some structural differences, which makes them different from rodents. There are many favorite breeds of rabbits, such as mini Rex rabbits, Himalayan rabbits, chinchillas, American rabbits. Flemish giant rabbits as pets are also good, as they are very calm and require less time to care for their hair.

The content of gnome rabbits as pets depends on the person, as there are many pros and cons. However, it is undesirable to keep wild rabbits as pets, especially British little rabbits, as they have a wild temperament and, therefore, are not suitable for keeping indoors. The life expectancy of rabbits is from ten to fifteen years, depending on their breed. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest rabbit lived until the age of 18. There are about 25 species of rabbits, they usually weigh from 1 to 9 kg. The most fascinating qualities of a rabbit are that they can see 360 ​​degrees without even turning their heads.

Rabbits usually need a lot of time to learn and adapt to their surroundings. They need a sense of security, so choose the best place to keep your cute little bunny. You can make a cage out of wire or buy ready-made cages in any pet store, using a soft cozy rug for comfort and warmth so that the rabbit can sit on it, and try to make a litter box in the cage. Choose cages that are large in size, it should be 4 times larger than the rabbit and large enough so that the rabbit can move freely.

If you have more than one rabbit, make sure that the cage is even larger with enough light and ventilation. The cage becomes the rabbit's own home, where he / she eats, sleeps and just climbs. If possible, try creating a natural environment for the rabbit in your garden, terrace or lawn to make it more comfortable for the rabbit. You do not have to keep the rabbit closed inside the cage all the time, as this affects the rabbit's health badly. The rabbit should move freely around the house, play and never keep the cage closed.

Diet

A typical rabbit diet should consist of all the vital nutrients needed to keep the rabbit healthy. Rabbits have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract, so do not feed the rabbit to everyone. A healthy diet for your rabbit ensures a long life, so don't limit your rabbit to only carrots like Bugs Bunny. Each meal should consist of dry and fresh hay, straw, oats, or at least 2 vegetables, such as cabbage, celery, green pepper, parsley, radish tops, spinach, and wheat grass. Fruits such as apple, melon, orange, peach, pear, plum, strawberries and raspberries can also be given to rabbits. Do not give sweets and sweet fruits. Do not feed the rabbit with processed and prepared products available on the market, as they contain a lot of starch and are thus harmful to the rabbit's health.

Rabbits under the age of 3 weeks should be fed only with mother's milk, other food can be given from 3 weeks along with mother's milk, but only hay, granules and vegetables can be served after the rabbit is 2 months old. Remember a very important thing: if you see that your rabbit secretes a lot of soft granules, this means that part of the grass eaten by the rabbit goes into the gastrointestinal tract, and this grass later turns into small granules, soft and filled with nutrients. These soft granules are known as cecotropes, they are easily absorbed by the body and contain fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids, which is very important for the well-being of the rabbit.

Manageability and Security

Rabbit care includes proper handling and safety of the rabbit. Rabbits should be kept with care, as they are very delicate and sensitive, this is not like stuffing a rabbit. The rabbits should be outdoors for a while, but when you are not around, take them to the house, because for many reasons your rabbit may not be safe. Strong sunlight, poisonous plants, predators such as raccoons, coyotes, hawks, cats or dogs can be targeted at small rabbits.

Do not forget to remove all wires and cables into the distance, as rabbits, as a rule, chew everything they find in order to shorten their growing teeth. Also shorten their claws regularly, as they may just scratch your precious furniture. All these factors are very important to ensure the proper care of your domestic rabbit.

Care

Keeping rabbits as pets always causes less fuss, as they are known, always clean and tidy, and this is natural for them. Rabbits usually molt every 3 months, so cleaning them at this time is extremely important. But remember that their skin is fragile and therefore use a gentle and soft toothbrush. However, if you have an Angora rabbit, then you need to comb it daily and cut the hair regularly. When a rabbit cleans itself, it can swallow its coat and it will collect in its stomach. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot tear out swallowed hair, and this ball of wool collected in the stomach is called the wool block and can be fatal. Rabbits, as a rule, do not need to bathe, as their coat dries for a long time. In case you bathe your rabbit, do not forget to dry your coat in the heat. Regularly check your rabbit’s ears, nose, eyes and skin for fleas and ticks.

Game and exercise

Rabbits are known to be very moody compared to other animals, so you should be aware of your rabbit’s mood swings that happen quite often. Rabbits love to run, so let him run around the house or in the garden. Give the rabbit toys, don't make him play when he doesn't want to. Handle the rabbit carefully during play, as this may get out of control.

Breeding

Rabbits usually breed at a very young age of three to four months, and the gestation period is about 31 days. The female has two cervix and two uterus instead of one, which means that they have ovulation cycles. They breed eight times a year and give birth to four to twelve rabbits. The female can give birth to even twenty-four small rabbits. It is very important to remove the ovaries from the female at the age of six months and castrate the male when he reaches five months. This control of hormones in the rabbit leads to the fact that the rabbit will be calm and obedient. This will also control the number of rabbits, and reduce the number of diseases. Do not forget to properly care for the rabbit after surgery, as they feel a little different and depressed

Health

The health of your rabbit is just as important as your health, so always have your veterinarian regularly check your rabbit's health so that you can get the vaccine you need. Rabbits can also suffer from various diseases, which include skin problems, bladder stones, poisoning, eye, ear infections, nasal infections, cardiovascular diseases, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, bacterial infections, hair rolling, etc. . Thus, it is very important to maintain good hygiene and take good care of the rabbit.

Before you buy a rabbit, you should know the following things:

Rabbits can easily live five or more years. They do not belong to those pets that live only a few years, such as mice. They need a good home and a lot of attention throughout their life.
The urine of rabbits is high in ammonia, so it will smell bad in your house if you do not often clean up after the rabbit and do not take care of good ventilation.

Rabbits rarely get along with other pets because they are far below the food chain. A rabbit cannot be left alone with a dog or cat. Even if they seem very friendly to each other, a minute is enough for a dog to curl up a rabbit's neck. Even a small dog can kill a rabbit, no matter what size it is. In addition, never leave the cage with the rabbit in a place accessible to the dog. The dog can and most likely will kill the rabbit even through the cage.

Rabbits need attention. They do not like to just sit in their cages and do nothing. Rabbits need toys and frequent contact with humans in order to be happy.
Finding a good rabbit veterinarian can be difficult. Many veterinarians know about dogs and cats, but few know about rabbits. Some drugs suitable for cats and dogs are fatal to rabbits. In addition, veterinary services for rabbits are often very expensive, since most veterinarians classify rabbits as exotic animals.

Rabbits need to be fed with special good rabbit food. They cannot live on salads and carrots. Due to improper feeding, they may develop digestive problems.
If you bought a rabbit, you need to sterilize it to prevent unwanted pregnancy and uterine cancer, which is very common in rabbits.
Some males and even females mark their territory. Castration and sterilization usually solve this problem, but it is best to do this before they begin to label.

Rabbits do not tolerate direct sunlight or very high temperatures. They cope better with low temperatures if they are taken care of properly. However, the best place for a rabbit pet in the house is with you!
Many rabbits can be trained to go to the toilet in the tray, but remember that not all, some will never be taught. Even those who go to the tray leave a few dry peas here and there, but they are easy to clean with a vacuum cleaner or sweep.

Rabbits often change their temperament when they become adults. A pretty little rabbit can become a hormonal terrorist when it grows up. It is best to buy a rabbit that is at least 3 months old, and preferably 4 months old. The rabbit reaches puberty at 6 months (with the exception of very large breeds that become mature at 8 months).
Rabbits love to chew and dig, so they can cause some damage to your home.

Now that you have learned more about rabbits, you can make a more informed decision. A good choice of animal, the key to your peace of mind.