| Choosing a Rabbit |
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| Rabbit Articles | |||
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Rabbits make beautiful pets. They are social, playful and entertaining to watch. Rabbits may live up to 15 years so please take this into account when purchasing your rabbit. Rabbits do require love and a lot of care. Make sure you have the time to clean up and play with your rabbit. They need to be exercised and also like to chew, so they need lots of chewable toys. As with many pets, rabbits may require vaccination and other veterinarian care which may be expensive. Quick Step Guide on How to Choose a Rabbit Step 1 - Decide Whether to Choose a Large or Small Rabbit. If you have young children the larger breeds are better. Smaller rabbits are more delicate and may be hurt by small children cuddling them. Crossbred rabbits often grow to a medium size between 2 to 4 kilos and rabbits such as the Dutch and Polish breeds may weigh over 5 kilos. Do be careful if you have small children as rabbits may bite. Step 2 - Consider Other Pets in the Household. What other animals do you have in the household? If the rabbit is a similar size to your dog or cat, they may get along. However, be very careful if you have dogs. Rabbits are the natural prey of dogs and generally shouldn't be left unattended round dogs. Step 3 - Which breed of rabbit? There are many popular breeds of rabbits. How much time do you have to spend on grooming? Although long haired rabbits such as Angoras are beautiful, they will require more grooming and are more susceptible to having hairballs. Step 4 - Age of Your Rabbit. Should you choose a baby or an adult rabbit? Baby rabbits are very energetic and are often hard to train. Whereas if you purchase an adult rabbit, it may be easier to train and has already formed its personality. It may also be easier to purchase an older rabbit and it can be easier to look after if you are very busy or have young children. Step 5 - Find a Healthy Rabbit. These next steps just flow. Choosing a healthy rabbit is difficult. If a rabbit is in a stressful environment it is less likely to be healthy. Sometimes it may be better to purchase from a breeder, as the rabbits can be very stressed if they have been living in a noisy pet shop. Look for a rabbit that is: * not too thin; * is moving around the cage easily; and * has a nice shiny coat. Generally a healthy rabbit will have: * clear eyes; * clean teeth; * clean dry ears; * light pink gums; and * quiet breathing. If the rabbit is scared, hot or unwell, its breathing may be very fast. Step 6 - What Kind of Personality? Some rabbits are more social and will rush up to meet you. By looking at a variety of rabbits you can decide if you are looking for a very adventurous rabbit or a quieter rabbit. Step 7 - Male or Female? One Rabbit or Two? Rabbits are social animals and enjoy company. Its often better to have two or three rabbits. If the male has been neutered, you can have two male rabbits together, or a male and a female rabbit together. If the male has not been neutered, it may fight with other males. Step 8 - Allergies - Choose Wisely! Test for allergies with people in the house before buying a rabbit. Step 9 - Legality. Make sure it is legal to have a rabbit. In some places, such as Queensland in Australia, it is illegal to have a rabbit without a permit. 3 Quick Ways to Help Your Rabbit Settle In 1. Check with the supplier what kind of food a rabbit eats. 2. Choose appropriate bedding and rabbit hutch . 3. Buy a water dispenser and an appropriate food bowl for your rabbit. Add your comment
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| Last Updated on Monday, 29 December 2008 12:52 |