Rabbit Care
The basics of baby rabbit care
Pet rabbits can be wonderful additions to your household, but you should know what you're getting into before you visit the pet store or breeder. Although it will vary by breed, a rabbit's life span can range from a few years to over a decade, so you'll need to commit a lot of time to your furry friend. From the very beginning, you'll need to interact with your rabbit and allow them time to hop around outside of the cage, as rabbits are active and social creatures. Food, grooming and living environment also play big roles in your rabbit's wellbeing, so learn more about rabbit care to keep your pet healthy.
Elements of Pet Rabbit Care
Their calm demeanor and passive lifestyle may lead you to believe that rabbits are low-maintenance pets, but that's simply not true. Although some breeds are naturally easy to care for (short hair varieties won't require nearly as much grooming as long hair breeds), all rabbits will need regular veterinary check-ups and close attention to catch and treat any illness early. Pet dwarf rabbit care is similar to how you would care for larger rabbits, even down to the size of the rabbit cages -- after all, the bigger area your rabbit has, the better for their health and happiness!
Grooming is another regular part of rabbit care, so prepare to brush your rabbit regularly and clean up hair as they go through their natural shedding cycles. Flea control is also a part of life with a pet rabbit, and the treatments will differ from those you would use for dogs or cats. Although your rabbit will appreciate close contact, do beware of their social preferences: contrary to what you may imagine, rabbits generally don't like to be held and cuddled, though they do like to be around their owners. Keep this important fact in mind if you plan to introduce a new pet rabbit into a family with young children, who may not know how to be gentle or respectful of the rabbit's space.
Keeping Baby Rabbits Healthy
Baby rabbits need some extra loving care to keep them warm and safe. You'll need to keep the cage in a comfortably warm room, and gather a couple of soft towels plus a bit of nesting wool for the babies to rest in. Sometimes the mother will neglect her offspring, in which case you'll need to move the babies to a different cage to protect their health and safety. But remember, baby bunnies only nurse once each day -- don't assume neglect just because you don't see them feed.
If you handle baby rabbits regularly from the time they are born, you'll find that they're quite easy to tame, although some breeds are more docile than others. Dwarf rabbit care can be more challenging, as those breeds tend to be more anxious than others. In any case, be gentle with your baby rabbits and allow them to come out of the cage on their own terms; some bunnies, especially those that are approaching sexual maturity, can get aggressive and lunge if you go into their territory to pick them up.
