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Do bunnies need a companion bunny? No that is
not necessary. Turn the
radio or tv on for the bunny when you are away. Have several toys (empty
boxes, etc.) for the bunny to play with. When you are home let the
bunny out to socialize with you.
Can my bunny share a rabbit cage
or hutch? Generally,
bunnies should have their own cages. Occasionally, unaltered
does raised from birth together may be able to cohabitate without incident.
Altered rabbits (spayed or neutered) may become a bonded pair and live happily
together. Otherwise, you can expect does to scrap by the time they are 6
months old, at the latest. Bucks may begin to scrap around 3 to 4 months
old. Pairs of opposite gender may breed as young as 3 months old, with
disastrous results.
I recommend that the bunnies have their own cage. I
will not be responsible and tell you that bunnies will get along. My bunnies are
in separate cages except for real young ones.
Do bunnies need to be fixed? Honestly,
there are pros and cons each way.
Research to decide what you want to do. Since my bunnies do not get
fixed, I am not an expert on that subject.
Can you litter train bunnies? Yes, I have heard
from quite a few people that
have my bunnies that potty training them was not a problem. I do not
suggest cat litter. I have heard from some people that the bunny tries to eat
it.
They say since the bunny is already used to going in the cage they leave the
cage door open. When the bunny goes in the cage they verbally praise the
bunny and give the bunny a little treat. After some repetition, the bunny
learns it is a good thing to go in the cage. One lady also lays down some
pet urine pads around in case the bunny can't make it back to the cage.
How long do bunnies live? Bunnies can live 4 -
12 years.
My bunny has a patch of thin fur between the shoulder
blades with white flakes. What is it?
I would treat the bunny for fur mites if they showed those conditions (plus
twice per year as a prophylactic) . I use Ivermectin 1% for goats. I
give 0.08 ml for a 3 lbs. rabbit or 0.1 ml for a 4 lb. rabbit. It works
out to just about 3 drops per rabbit, given orally. I repeat after 8 to 10
days. I have seen many recommended doses that are too high. Please
consider that 1.0 ml is the appropriate dose for a 75 lb. goat! One a 3 ml
syringe, 0.1 is just to the very first hash mark. On a typical 5 ml
syringe, it's halfway to the first hash mark.
Which gender
makes a better pet? I find that either sex makes a good pet. It is the
personality of the individual bunny and how much time you spend with the bunny.
Do bucks always spray?
I have a number of bucks that never spray
and a few who have sprayed for a short period in their lives (after moving here,
for example). I have had no bucks spray on a long-term basis. The
problem of spraying is overstated, in my opinion.
Do rabbits like carrots and
lettuce? Yes, they do like them. But carrots should be regarded as
a sugary treat and lettuces should be avoided altogether. A 1-inch slice
of a large carrot or one baby carrot is enough for a daily treat. Some of
the higher fiber leaf lettuces may be tolerated by some rabbits, but head
lettuce can cause a watery diarrhea and lead to death. By the way, most
rabbits actually prefer the green carrot top over the carrot itself. Some
pet rabbits have been killed by being fed carrot-only diets or iceberg
lettuce.
Do bunnies need shots like
puppies? Being caged animals, bunnies do not require shots such as rabies. Vaccinations are not necessary.
Always check with your vet for recommendations.
Is there any preventive
medical care necessary for bunnies? I
worm my bunnies with Safeguard for horses and treat them
periodically with Ivomec. Check with your small animal vet for recommendations.
Is red urine from my bunny a sign
of a medical condition? No,
unless the consistency is more like blood than urine. Normal rabbit urine
ranges from a color that looks like lemonade with milk in it, to orange juice
with milk in it, to fruit punch with milk in it. Sorry if I just ruined
all of your favorite beverages. Red in urine is undigested protein.
When can my bunny begin having
treats? I
think it's best to wait until the bunny is at or near adult weight before giving
treats. It's always possible that a treat would not agree with your rabbit
and cause a reaction such as diarrhea. An adult-size rabbit has a better
chance of coping with the change in the diet and any resulting reactions. Treats should be introduced slowly, one at a time, with observation of any ill
effects on your rabbit.
Can my bunny live outside? I
do not advocate keeping the bunny outside. The bunnies are tame and noises like
dogs barking can scare them so much that they can die of a heart attack.
Bunnies are allergic to fragrances
and will act like they have snuffles.
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