Wednesday, 10 October 2012

How to Keep Your Rabbit Healthy


How to Keep Your Rabbit Healthy

Due to most rabbits being kept outside in rabbit hutches, small changes may go unnoticed, which is why it’s important to check your rabbit regularly for any key signs of deteriorating health. Here are a few key things to be looking out for when you take your rabbit out of its rabbit hutch to play:

Firstly, you should be having contact with your rabbit daily so that you are fully aware of what he looks like physically, as this will make you more alert to any sudden changes in his appearance. Check his eyes weekly to see if there is any discharge; inside his ears to make sure there is no dry skin, discharge or bumps; his paws for any sores and his toenails to ensure they are the correct length; and finally check his teeth to make sure there are no teeth missing or chipped teeth.

When you have him out of the hutch and you’re stroking him, playing with him and so on, keep your eyes and hands alert for any lumps, bumps, bruises or cuts. Equally, if his fur appears to be quite matted or dirty, particularly around the genital area then you should be washing him with special rabbit shampoo to ensure cleanliness.

Monitor how your rabbit moves within his rabbit cage and outside and if you notice any limping, not lying down or other odd behaviour you should consult your vet immediately. Equally, it’s important your rabbit is able to move freely around his rabbit hutch as exercise and movement is important to keep their joints healthy. It’s a good idea to have a covered rabbit run for during the day, with an attached rabbit cage for night, so you can shut off the run to avoid attacks from predators

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Rabbit Hutches Or Rabbit Cage? Picking out Your Rabbit's Home

Rabbits make wonderful pets, they may be gentle creatures they like to cuddle and explore and also apparently just like the company of men and women. For anyone who is pondering adopting a rabbit as being a pet, there are many of belongings you must consider before bringing your brand-new pet home.
The most important decisions you will make is choosing where and which kind of home your pet could have. The two main basic possibilities: a hutch or perhaps a cage. Taking a closer look at these options will allow you to make the right option for a new pet rabbit.
Hutches
Rabbit hutches are designed for rabbits that will live out -doors. They often, though not absolutely consist of three wooden sides and a wire front and bottom. There may be usually a door at the rear of the cage to acquire your rabbit out and a lot of rabbit hutches possess a removal the top to the make washing the hutch easier.
A hutch is often sturdily built and sits on long sturdy legs and keep the rabbit off the ground where rabbits could well be put through chills plus much more offered to predators. Hutches were originally created for folks who kept meat rabbits. They can be extremely efficient for your purpose to be a large hutch can house several rabbits in individual units. These days some pet rabbit owners have taken to housing their rabbits in outside hutches.
Advantages and disadvantages of Housing a cat in a Hutch
Here are a few pros about employing a rabbit hutch over an inside cage. The most apparent you are that rabbit's waste smells. If you don't thinking about cleaning your rabbit cages daily then perhaps considering housing your rabbit in a very hutch is actually a wise decision.
Rabbit hutches make daily cage cleaning unnecessary. However, do not forget that a rabbit hutch does need cleaned using a weekly or biweekly basis and that you should also clean within the pen where droppings will pile up.
Another positive of your rabbit hutch is the fact that for individuals desperate to own a rabbit but lack adequate space inside for just a reasonably sized cage a hutch makes having a rabbit a chance.
However, when it comes to if they should house your four-legged friend rabbit inside an outside hutch you should think about these negatives.
An outside rabbit are at the mercy of your various predators. While hutches are designed to help discourage some predators they can't protect your rabbit all predators. Some other rabbit is going to be be subject to neighborhood cats, dogs, coyotes, along with predators. Even if these animals cannot obtain the interior of the hutch they will and frequently do harass a rabbit to death.
For additional protection associated with a rabbit residing in a hutch you simply must get some style of completely enclosed housing that will enable the rabbit to escape and hide from all of these predators.
Climate is another consideration when deciding on if you should house your rabbit in the hutch as opposed to inside in a cage. While large rabbits may take extremely cold conditions after they remain dry, smaller rabbits only have difficulty surviving the cold. There is the danger of English lops having their long ears freeze fast to wires producing serve damage as well as death to this particular type of rabbit.
Most professionals agree that pet rabbits are best held in the home or otherwise a rabbit cage inside a garage and other warm buildings where they'll be shielded from the next thunderstorm and from predators.
A cushty rabbit cage is often the ideal housing for a pet rabbit. There are numerous types and models available. One type that is certainly especially well matched to pet rabbits are condo rabbit cages that has a ramp leading in the bottom level to the in the.
A high-rise apartment rabbit cage gives your furry friend more room in the limited number of space and makes for a happier, more active pet.
Pluses and minuses of your Indoor Cage
An inside rabbit cage makes bonding together with your pet easier and simpler than does a rabbit hutch. Getting the rabbit inside means they are constantly hearing your voice and they're easily obtainable to learn with and hold anytime during the day or night.
An interior rabbit cage also protects your dog rabbit from harsh weather and predators, keeping them comfortable and safe summer and winter regardless of what the next thunderstorm is much like outside.
Rabbits are reasonably easy to litter train in case you've got rabbit proofed your living space or home, your rabbit can savor the freedom of your dwelling and interaction with all of loved ones while still having their cage to go back to if they are tired or simply just need to have a little private time. As a result your four-legged friend truly a family member.
On the downside, cages at least litter pans inside the cage do need cleaned daily. Luckily, with all the newer cages this is quick and easy to accomplish hardly taking whenever in any respect. When you purchase the more roomy condo rabbit cage, daily cleaning is often only necessary within the cage bottom, with a quick brushing on the rest of the cage a few times weekly.
With the one that really wants their pet to become pet along with a the main family, an indoor rabbit cage is truly the smart choice. It allows more interaction between both you and your beloved rabbit also it keeps your pet safe prolonging recent years the pair of you will pay out together.
Choosing from your hutch with an indoor cage can be a personal choice. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each will assist you to make an educated choice that is certainly befitting for both your canine friend to call home the happiest, longest, and safest life possible making the bond between you fulfilling.

Thursday, 15 March 2012

Rabbit Hutches - Safe and Healthy havens for Your Pet Rabbits

Rabbit Hutches - Aside from the social aspect of the life a pet rabbit, what two things can rabbit hutches contribute in making it a happy rabbit?
Much of the life of the pet rabbit revolves around the rabbit hutch in which you have decided to place it in to stay for most of the time. Necessarily, its dwelling place, the hutch contribute a major part of its life and happiness, which is coupled with your own personal effort to give it a healthy diet and give it clean water to drink.
Other things that you should do is giving you rabbit the necessary vaccination especially against myxomatosis virus which causes the skin of the face, the ears and anus to swell so that it becomes difficult for the rabbit to see, or eat or drink.
In addition your efforts to socialize with it, give it toys to play with and most of all supervise it personally by you or have somebody else in the family to do it for you will definitely play a big part in the happiness of you pet rabbit.
The hutch is a safe haven for your pet
The rabbit hutch is high enough above the ground to prevent any would-be predators from being able to reach the pet inside the hutch. Even a hawk will not come down to the hutch because it is difficult for it to spot the rabbit since it is protected from its sight by the roof of the hatch.
In addition, because the hutch is usually placed under a shade and one that protects it from the direct rays of the sun and strong wind, life for a rabbit inside its hutch will be normal and practically undisturbed. Such protection can help the rabbit avoid illness. Usually a good roofing will be a key factor in achieving this condition.
If the hutch has a room where your pet can hide, either for sleeping and relaxation or when rain beats on the hutch or even at the sight of a dog or a fox for that matter, the rabbit will have less chances of panicking. Consequently, injuries are avoided like the breaking of its back when it runs wildly too and fro, or twists due to extreme fear.
A solid floor, that is, one with mat that will prevent your pet's nails from being broken or the feet being injured by the wire floor or developing painful sores will be a great place to stay for your pet rabbit.
Rabbit hutches built strongly, with its wire mesh which the rabbit cannot destroy by chewing, not only lasts long. More than that, it is an assurance that no matter what happens, whether beaten by weather or struck by the hot rays of the sun or attacked by any of the predators, your rabbit will be safe inside.
The hutch is a healthy haven for the rabbit
The hutch is itself a healthy haven, where the rabbit can stay free from the possible causes of diseases or illness.
A rabbit hutch that is always and can easily be kept clean will help keep diseases away from your pet. This however should not really be a problem if the rabbit has been litter trained, and so a litter box is provided and cleaned regularly. Cleaning the litter box regularly will help a lot in maintaining cleanliness inside the hutch.
A healthy hutch is one that has a combination of wire siding and a strong wooden or plastic siding. The wire side provide the proper ventilation that is needed by the rabbit, while the wooden or plastic siding will help to keep it warm.
In addition, if possible to keep it warm, especially during cold weather, you can place hay on the place where it sleeps or a blanket for it to lay down.
It is also one that provides adequate space for the rabbit to play or else, it may start looking for something to chew, anything it sees it can, or it can overeat. Playing with toys. Varying everyday can keep the rabbit from boredom and so avoid potential problems like obesity if it overeats
If the rabbit becomes obese, there is a possibility that because it cannot clean its bottom, flies may find there their place to lay eggs. When the eggs hatch into maggots, they start to eat the flesh of the bottom away. This will definitely lead to death if it is not detected early enough.
A safe and healthy hutch
Rabbit hutches with adequate space to play with toys, run around and are safe and healthy combined with your effort to make things for your pet as comfortable as possible, can give you much peace of mind. You know that your pet rabbit will be your nice and sociable companion for many days to come.


by Christopher Lunsford

Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Rabbit Hutches

Rabbit Hutches - Rabbit hutches can be purchased premade, or, if you are particularly adventurous, you can choose to construct your own. Rabbit hutches should be elevated off the ground and have waterproof tops to protect pets from inclement weather. At The Rabbit Hutch Shop you will find a wide range of rabbit hutches and runs that have been specially designed for your Bunny rabbit. A rabbit hutch is the best choice for a rabbit kept outside. The traditional rabbit hutch is a plywood box, one foot by one foot by four feet in size. Although rabbit hutches are typically used outside, they can be used indoors if space allows.
Choosing a Hutch
Whether you choose a rabbit cage or a hutch, be sure to keep your pet's safety and comfort in mind, avoiding selections that are very small, contain wire bottoms, or have sharp edges. The traditional rabbit hutch is a plywood box, one foot by one foot by four feet in size. Bedding straw should be replaced on a daily basis and the hutch should be cleaned thoroughly each week. A rabbit should be able to stand on its hind legs and stretch out full length in the bed section of the hutch as a bare minimum requirement.
Pet
Pet rabbits should be protected from contact with wild rabbits to prevent infection and this includes the situation where wild rabbits might have contaminated the grass area where you might place a portable run for your pet rabbit. So before you bring one of us rabbits or any pet home really, just make sure you are doing it out of genuine love for the animal and not because of some holiday, or because its trendy. Rabbit hutches and runs sold in pet shops are often woefully inadequate for adult rabbits. This is especially true when people buy pet shop hutches along with a baby rabbit when they have no idea of it's adult size. Also, keep in mind that if you're buying a hutch for a baby rabbit, you should estimate how large your pet can grow up to be and do the math according to his full-grown size. Many people continue to keep their pet in a small hutch, perhaps sited at the bottom of the garden. Your veterinary surgeon can advise you on the vaccinations and annual boosters that are required to keep your pet protected.
Conclusion
Rabbit hutches can be purchased pre-constructed, or, if you are particularly bold, you can choose to construct your own. Although rabbit hutches are typically used outside, they can be used indoors if space allows. Wood rabbit hutches are the most common, with screened-in or wire-mesh sides. Looking at design in addition to size, you need to consider rabbit hutch design when determining your purchase. The roof should also be detachable to aid in the cleaning of the rabbit hutch. A typical rabbit hutch is relatively easy to build, offering your rabbit sturdy and reliable shelter, good ventilation and nest boxes where bunnies can be born.