  Animal Care - Living With A Lagomorph | ||||||||||||||||
Rabbits As Companion Animals As Easter approaches each year and every child in the nation will be exposed to those cutesy little ads on TV (Cadbury chocolate comes to mind) that shows an adorable bunny. The rest of the year, a trip to the Animal Shelter may also expose you to these adorable Animals, who have ended up there as a result of Easter time purchases.For anyone thinking about that cute little bunny for an Easter present, please think twice - three times - before you run out to your local pet store and snatch a bunny to go. First of all, most bunnies are not adorable "hold me and squeeze me till I can't breathe" pets. They are intelligent independent creatures who may love a bunny rub now and again, but not all want to be held, and some simply do not want to be touched at all. They prefer for you to be on their level so they can get to know you. They are creatures of habit and mischief and, if given the chance, can be destructive. Bunnies are not exceptionally good with children. Bunnies are fragile prey animals, easily frightened by a childs' screams and needs to touch. They are prone to bone fractures. They tend to be extremely defensive when being manhandled and can use their sharp front claws for scratching and their thick back claws for inflicting even more damage. You should now that the back feet and legs of even a dwarf bunny can inflict a kick that feels as though you have been hit by a mule. Bunnies are wonderful playful creatures and one of our favorite critters. They can get along with most other house animals and will become extremely fond of their human keepers under the right circumstances. Bringing a Rabbit home means teaching every human and every other Animal to respect a Rabbits need to meet individuals gradually, learning to trust that their new family members have no desire to eat them. They are litter box trainable, but they are not dogs and are not trained the same way a dog can be trained. The "tricks" that bunnies do are ones they come up with themselves. Not ones you make them do. Bunnies are NOT lone pets and enjoy the company of another bunny, sometimes bunnies. They are sociable and are not meant to be locked away in a cage with no other contact or interaction. In fact being in a cage all of the time can mean death. Rabbits need a minimum of thirty hours a week of exercise. They each have distinct personalities and even in the same breed their traits can be widely varied. All have varying degrees of grooming and care that come with the bunny. Long or thick hair bunnies take brushing and grooming on a regular basis. Bunny nails grow quickly and need trimming. Angora bunnies are famous for looking absolutely stunning in photographs, however, their fur clumps and they also need to be groomed. Excessive clumped fur can cause sores on the skin, fecal balls and an inability to move freely. (Note: It is our understanding that people who have allergies to regular fly-away bunny fur do not have the same reaction to Angora bunnies who clump when they shed.) Older Rabbits need to have their scent glands cleaned. The last item takes dedication, even for old Rabbit hands like us. Some Rabbits need to have their teeth clipped monthly. Fleas and fur mites must be combatted just as they do with Cats and Dogs.  Bunnies are also prone to ailments cat and dog caretakers are not familiar with and you will find that your dog/cat Vet doesn't know or understand the physical make up of a bunny. Bunnies are Lagamorphs, not Rodents. Bunnies must eat constantly in order to keep their gastrointestinal tract moving. There are diseases that are Rabbit specific, such as forms of pasturella and e-cunniculli. Bunnies need fresh vegetables daily and fresh hay constantly. If you aren't fond of hay all over the place, a bunny is not for you. Bunnies need a good brand of pellet and you should be aware that pet stores and supply stores tend to sell what they make the most on, not what is best for the bunny.Having a Rabbit in the home also means "Bunny Proofing," covering wires and cords, blocking off non bunny proofed areas, and keeping things off the floor, away from a Rabbit's ever growing, and therefore ever chewing, teeth. The Cost of Caring For A Rabbit
The above chart is based upon internet store prices for feed and other supplies. Ordering on the internet may or may not mean extra charges for shipping, and prices seem to be equal to those at retail stores in California. The supplies mentioned include a cage, which will be needed initially. A better habitat may be called for, once the Rabbit is acclimated to a family. The cost of such a habitat would depend upon how handy at building things the caretaker is. And we have Rabbits in the home who live freely, with no cage or enclosure, calling specific areas of a room, (or two) theirs. An out door run is also an asset to Rabbit Caretakers, giving their Rabbits a safe place to play and dig outside. Also included are a feed dish, water bottle, nail clippers, toys, bunny proofing materials and a carrier. Veterinary charges and needs may vary. We allowed for one blood or culture test, which may never be needed. We have never met a Rabbit who never needed to go to the Vet at least once. The cost can also be lowered by buying a bale of Timothy hay, which should cost $14.00, and should last three months. In addition, instead of using Carefresh, Timothy hay could be used instead, in which case a bale would last two to three months. Another consideration when choosing a Rabbit as a family member is the time needed to provide care. Rabits require more care than any other Animal we care for. Feeding time is about 20 minutes a day with washing and distributing veggies, changing water, freshening cage and giving hay twice a day. Cages need to be cleaned once a week, which takes a half and hour. Grooming and health checks take about 30 minutes a month for regulart hair Rabbits, 15 minutes a day for Angoras. When children request an animal, we recommend you consider this: As your child grows and matures, you will find they aren't hanging around your house anymore and don't have time to care for the Companion you have allowed them to care for. If you are not willing to take on the responsibility of having an Animal in your household that may become YOUR responsibility instead of your child's, then don't do it. Rabbits can live ten to twelve years when cared for properly.  As with any family member of the Animal Kingdom, be certain you are taking this one home with a lifelong commitment. Be prepared to keep your new family member when it misbehaves, when it is being hard to deal with, when it becomes ill, or when it is aging and infirm. A good Companion Animal Caretaker weighs all of the pros and cons BEFORE they bring home an Animal. And please consider a rescued bunny if you determine a bunny(ies) will fit into your home.If a Rabbit does fit into your budget and lifestyle, welcome to Rabbit World. No other type of Companion Caretaker can say they are delighted to be greeted by their Companion's dance across the living room floor! Print Version
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