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Rabbits are Lagomorphs!

Rabbits are different from rodents like Guinnea Pigs, Degus, Chinchillas, Hamsters, Rats, Mice, Gerbills & Squirrels. Rabbits have 4 incisors in the upper jaw (including 2 non functional teeth). While rodents only have 2.

So, the distinction rabbit – rodent is not drawn based on the diet, but on the dental anatomy

Order : Lagomorpha

Kingdom : Animalia

Class : Mammalia

Family : Leporidae

• How long does a rabbit live ?

Well cared -for indoor rabbits can live 8 -12 years.

Care includes – Diet, Medical Care, Toys, Proper Housing, Rabbit Supplies & Regular Vet Checks. The oldest living indoor rabbit was 16 years old. 

MITES : Minute creatures that live on rabbits fur, feed on skin & fur cells. They can also be found in the ears—ear mites. Most common type is Cheyletiella.

• Signs & Symptoms :

- Dandruff in the fur ( walking dandruff)

- Rabbit may or may not seem itchy

- Loss of fur ( bald patches ), sores/scabs

- Rough fur coat / flaky skin

- Weight-loss & overall ill- health.

Transmission : Mites is highly contagious.May spread by Direct Contact with affected animal.

Prevention : Regularly clean rabbit’s litter box, food bowl & tray.

Must maintain Hygiene & a clean dry habitat.

Regularly grooming of the bunny's essential.

Treatment : Look for a Rabbit Savvy/ Exotic Vet. Also the whole setup has to be thoroughly cleaned.

Note – Wrong dosage/self treatment can be FATAL for the Bunny.

• Bunny Rules :

Must wake up early & feed your loved one.

Never delay meals & don’t disturb till finished.

Buck/ Doe hate being told what to do & decide how much treat they want.

Keep silent environment while they sleep, give endless headrubs on demand.

Don’t feel disgusting with bunny poop, It's protein for them, super manure for organic farming.

Everything belongs to Buck/ Doe in the house including all the family members.

• Adult Rabbit Diet :

Rabbits tent to eat frequently throughout the day!!

Petzee Alfalfa Hay for baby & Petzee Timothy Hay for adult.

To be available 25 hours (Main Diet)

2 small bowls of Bunny safe Fresh Leafy Greens daily. Eg: 1st in the morning/ 1 half at night.

Rabbit Food Pellets. Eg: ( ½ - ¼ th cups ) 30 gms per body weight of Bunny.

Fresh Water to be kept available whole day. (Bowls are better than bottles, as lapping from a bowl is more natural to rabbits. However, each rabbit has its own personality. Likes & dislikes.Bowl should be heavy so that rabbit can’t toss or tip them over.Avoid plastic / rubber containers.Heavy ceramic bowls or a coop cup attached to the age are good options.Bowl should be cleaned & re- filled from time- to-time.)
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80% Grass / Hay

15% Greens

5% Pallets

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Be Careful

Sugary food: Fruits/ Carrots can be served 1-2 Inches once a week as TREATS only.

Do not Bathe your Rabbit.

Bathing can cause unnecessary stress. Rabbit may go into shock, Develop hypothermia, Cause ear infections and many more...

Rabbits are dry groomers & are self cleaning. They constantly groom themselves. You just need to keep their habitat clean & hygienic.

Spot cleaning (if any) – Use damp/ alcohol free (baby) wipes to clean dirty spots on the body when necessary.

Brush the Fur regularly to remove dirt & as part of regular grooming. Keep clean the lower Glands of your Bunny.

DON’T submerge the Rabbit in water.

DON’T pour water directly.

DON’T SPRAY dry bath products/ any chemical.

Water is vital. Rabbits must have access to plenty of freshwater at all times. Rabbits eating lots of grass & greens will drink less, while those eating hay will drink more.

Generally, rabbits on WRONG DIET refuse to drink water. So it is important to take care of your bun’s daily diet.

Importance of Water:

It keeps the gut moving The digestive system works properly when it is well hydrated.

It flushes out excess calcium from body.

It keeps every cell and organ of the body alive.

It is major part of blood.

• GI Stasis (Gastrointestinal Stasis)

STASIS is a condition in rabbits where their gut slows or shuts down. Bad bacteria then builds up in the intestines & releases gas, causing painful bloating. STASIS can be very painful & potentially life threatening. It can be caused by an obstruction in gut or a non obstructive cause.

Prevention:

A diet of 80% grass/hay & lots of water.

A large area to exercise, Minimize stress e.g a sudden change in environment or food.

Signs & Symptoms:

Shaped poops/ no poops at all.

Stops eating & drinking.

Grinding teeth. (In pain)

Hard stomach.

Lethargy, hunched posture

Gurgling noise from belly.

What to do?

Don’t wait for self recovery, Consult/ Visit Exotic Vet.

Keep infant gas drops.

Gentle belly massage to ease gas pain.

Offer water/ use syringe to keep Bunny hydrated.

• SORE HOCKS – Ulcerative Podidermatitis

Sores appear in the skin of the back feet & hocks. The part back leg that rests on the ground when a rabbit sit. The condition is painful, may weep, bleed & get inflected. If left untreated, it can deteriorate to include deep pyoderma- pus filling. 

Causes:

Poor Hygiene.

Damp bedding.

Long nails.

Rough/ wire flooring.

Obesity/ Immobility.

Excessive thumping.

Certain breeds/ fur types.

Helping Sore Hocks:

Keep rabbits nails trimmed on regular intervals.

Ensure good quality flooring & make sure it is free of abrasive material. Layers of fleece or folded cotton bedsheet will do.

Wire cages are bad. Put a resting board/ rug/ hay mat

Housing should be safe & sanitary. Do not let wet litter accumulate.

• DENTAL DISEASE

Symptoms:

Weight loss & drooling.

Dirty bottom. (grooming becomes difficult)

Reduced appetite.

Weepy eyes.

Teeth grinding.

A bumpy jawline.

A runny nose.

Long/ deformed/ broken teeth.

Less active/ quiet.

Treatment:

Includes a combination of Surgery, Pain relief & digestive support medications, help eating and dietary changes.

WARNINGS

Never attempt to trim your rabbits teeth at home – you may crack the tooth, which will cause severe pain. Anesthesia is required. Procedure to be performed by a rabbit savvy vet only.

• Wheatgrass for rabbits.

Wheatgrass is nutritious & can be included with other safe greens. But wheatgrass is not a replacement for HAY as it is less in fibre.

Health Benefits: Wheatgrass has Vitamin A,C,E,K as well as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, selenium, magnesium, some amount of dietary fibre and so on. Also contains various antioxidents. Wheatgrass is one of the best sources for living chlorophyll.

Fun with food at home!!

What is needed: Organic wheatgrass seeds.

Sprouting container/ glass jar

Soil (method with soil.)

Water

Tray

Method how to grow at home:

Option I- Sprouting Container.

Rinse the seeds then put in a sprouting container & cover with a mesh. Add 1 cup of water & soak for 8 hours.

Drain & rinse again.Fill the container with water, invert it, let the water drain through the mesh Leave it upside down.

Rinse the seeds2-3 times a day for 2-3 days. Tiny sprouts form within 2-3 days.

Option II- SOIL:

Add 1 inch of soil to a tray ( with holes at the bottom ) & water it.

Sprinkle the sprouts & cover the tray with a lid/ newspaper. Spray water daily.

Remove the lid/ newspaper when grass reaches 1-2 inches. Continue watering.

Option III- Without SOIL:

Spread the sprouts across the bottom of the container & spray water

Cover the container with a cloth for the first night to create a warm, dark area for growth.

Keep the container well ventilated to avoid moulds.

Rinse & drain the seeds a couple of times a day.

Wheatgrass is ready to harvest once grass reaches 5 inches.

• SUMMER CARE

Temperature over 77° F ( 25° C ) may cause beat exhaustion in bunnies.

Heatstroke in rabbits – is an emergency !

Give “puppy haircuts” to fuzzy rabbits, brush out excessive fur

Keep out of direct sunlight. Keep them indoor.

Provide ceramic tiles for them to lie on.

Add 1 ice cube in the water bowl at regular intervals.

Place frozen water bottles near them

Must ears with cool water. Use a cool damp towel to dampen their fur.

Put damp cloth on their cage

Ice pops – freeze fruits in / out of water to give as treats.

Signs of heatstroke's:

Drooling

Reddening of ears

Short quick breaths

Sleepy, lethargic or slow movement

Falling unconscious

Convulsing

False/ Phantom / Pseudo Pregnancy

What is it?

It occurs when a rabbit becomes convinced that she is pregnant, even when this is impossible. Any female rabbit is breeding age can experience a false pregnancy.

• Rabbits ovulate reflexively in response to sexual stimulation:

Mating behavior between 2 females housed together however it can also be observed in female rabbits with no contact with other rabbits.

Duration: Pseudopregnancy typically lasts for 16-18 days.

Symptoms: Pulling fur from chest & abdomen.

Making a nest with her own fur or collect hay.

Developing mammary glands.

Aggressively defending nesting site

What should you do?

In most cases, treatment is unnecessary as the condition is self- limiting. Repeated false pregnancies can be prevented by spaying.

Make your rabbit as comfortable as possible. Offer more food, more hay & herbs. Some will be eaten, some will be used in building nest.

Provide a Wooden Box for building nest, lined with cotton clothes, hay & straw. These will help her in making nest, she will pull out less of her furs. Also this will prevent exhaustion. Do not disturb her best until she calms down.

Provide her space. She will be irritable & territorial. Don’t try to handle her unless absolutely necessary.

DID YOU KNOW? RABBITS TEETH NEVER STOP GROWING !

Rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout their lifetime.

Fibrous foods control tooth growth. Rabbits need to munch on good quality hay. Fresh grass in unlimited quantities to ensure their teeth never get too long.