Rabbits are quickly becoming popular pets in American households in recent years. However, they can be quite difficult to look after because most owners are not aware of their needs or make incorrect assumptions about what their pet wants.
So it is very important to know how to look after rabbit’s health if you have one at home, or plan to adopt one into your family.
Rabbits have a very complex digestive system which is why it is hard to look after their dietary needs. They can easily react negatively to food like biscuits, bread, potatoes, iceberg lettuce and other household food.
Autumn Trails, a veterinary center in Charlottesville gets many worried rabbit owners and they usually get asked the same questions over and over again. Keeping in mind, the team at the vet center shares a couple of proven ways to look after the health of your pet rabbit.
So if you have a rabbit in your family, it is worth reading this post to the end.
Appropriate Diet for a Pet Rabbit
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We’ve already mentioned above how rabbits have a very complex digestive system. So naturally, as a pet owner, you should take extra care in what you give your rabbit to eat. Here are the food options that the vets recommend.
- Hay
- Fresh Vegetables
- Pellets
- Clean water
As your pet rabbit begins to age, their dietary needs will also change. Until they reach adulthood, which is about 7 months old, they should only be provided with alfalfa hay. It is high in protein and provides enough calories.
- Make sure the hay you get is always fresh and replace the hay every single day. Hay wiki can become moldy fast and that is not good for your rabbit’s health.
When your pet rabbit reaches 7 months in age, replace alfalfa hay with either meadow hay or timothy hay. Make sure to provide your bunny with a lot of hay every day. Along with hay, pellets are also very important.
- Fresh vegetables like dark leafy green vegetables are the best choice for a rabbit. Keep fresh water in the hutch so your rabbit can stay hydrated throughout the day.
Maintain a Comfortable Temperature at Home
- Rabbits are not really good at living in hot temperatures. So make sure that to keep the body temperature of the bunny around 100 – 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter than that will make them sick.
Most rabbits can cope with cold weather so you shouldn’t worry about keeping the temperature-controlled when it’s chilly. But for extreme temperatures where it can drop below 20 degrees, it is a good idea to keep the rabbit indoors.
Regular Physical Activity is a Must
- Physical activity is crucial for rabbits’ health. It will not only help them maintain a healthy weight, but it will also keep them very happy. They have a lot of energy and making them stay in the hutch for all-day gets them frustrated and dull.
The average rabbit requires at least 3 hours of free-roaming each day. So make sure you let them out for this much time for optimal health and mood.
Give them Companionship
- Rabbits really don’t like being alone. They are sociable animals and they typically live in groups when in the wild. For you, it means that your bunny could easily become stressed if they are left alone.
A lot of rabbit owners don’t take this into account, so it is very important that if you decide to adopt one, you must be able to provide companionship to these pets.
Vaccinations, Teeth Health, and General Wellness
- As with all pets, rabbits also need to be appropriately immunized on time. You must also ensure proper dental care is provided to the rabbit. Talk to your veterinary today to get more information on the general wellness of your pet.
It is a very good idea to take your rabbit to the vet every 3-4 months for health checkups. Autumn Trails welcome all pets with open arms. We treat them as if they are our own. For appointments, contact us today.