A Note For Parents:When should my kid get a bunny?

While this blog is meant for young children I think that this post is very important to parents.
Parents all ask themselves, "When should I get my kid a bunny?". So they make up excuses for the cute lil' love of their life. She's great with animals. He's ALWAYS wanted a bunny. This'll teach them about responsibility. So when do you know if your child is ready? Well consider the following things......

1.How responsible is she?
2.How good is she with caring/respecting animals?
3.Is she good with instructions?

1.Kids who want a bunny need to understand one thing:The child (who the bunny belongs to) is the one to clean the cage, feed, and groom the bunny.  Unless your child is young enough to need your help, he should be able to feed, groom, clean the cage, and watch bunny. I got SB (short for Snowberry) when I was 9. SB was mine. All mine. Not my mom's or dad's. I was the one to do all the bunny stuff. Unless I was sick the job was mine. Your child should also be responsible BEFORE you ever get her rabbit.  A rabbit is a reward for showing responsibility, gentleness towards animals, and a desire for a bunny. Not a something to make the child be hard working, gentle, and motivated.

2.Children like animals. However some may not be as good to them as others. Younger children (in general) tend to be more rough around animals than older ones. If your child is young (6 or younger) it may be good to hold off. This will be a great time to let your child learn more about bunnies! Children will need to learn about holding positions, and what bunny shouldn't eat etc. A young bunny owner (like 7 or 8) doesn't mean anything bad. I got my little Snowberry when I was 9. She has grown up with me into my teen years and remains a big part of me.

3.This kind of goes back to #2. If your child is young she may not understand the importance of why there are rules about certain things and how important they are when it comes to bunny. What if she doesn't listen about food importance and feeds bunny a chocolate chip cookie? Or lets bunny out of the cage and doesn't watch her and bun gets hurt? Or gives bunny a pipe-cleaner to play with which bunny chokes on? She/He must be old enough to understand the absolute importance of instructions and why they must obey them.

In the end it is up to the parent to decide. I would say the child should be 7 or older, responsible, caring, and a good follower of directions. Even if she doesn't meet all the "requirements" she should at least know what you require of her to do on a daily basis. If the bunny is hers then she will carry the bulk of bunny's care.

Seriously! Who doesn't want a cute lil' ball o' fluff?

A Note on Treats

So.....What is a wise treat (or treat amount) to let bunny have?
Everybody likes a nice sweet. With bunnies it is very important to watch her sweet intake. Please note that pellets (depending on the brand) and "rabbit friendly" fiesta mixes are almost just as sugary as sweets. It is always better to avoid any store bought treat unless its a very special occasion. ;)
Bunnies like natural foods. And- believe it or not- they like veggies and fruits for dessert! Not only will bunny be healthier but she will be happy too! Bunny would be happy with just 3 or 6 baby carrots. (Remember small bunnies get a little less). Carrot tops are great. So are small apple chunks, pear chunks, and papaya (no seeds). Pineapple is good too.
Give bunny treats 2x a week. Twice a day. Not to much though.

Protection for Bunny

Ever thought about what might happen to bunny if something really bad happened? (i.e. she got stolen or lost or went missing in a terrible storm).

Lots of people live with no protection for their pets. So that doesn't mean that you should. If bunny gets lost, stolen, or you loose her during a bad storm you will soon realize what you needed to do.

What if bunny gets stolen?:

PREVENTION-Bunny should not be left outside alone. A rabbit hutch should be kept in an area not visible to the general public. She shouldn't be tied tied up outside like you would a dog. Don't take bunny out for a walk with no leash on and then turn your back. Lock your house and don't leave windows open while your gone. You could always install a camera in the yard where bunny is kept or in your house where bunny is in her cage.

WHAT IF IT DOES HAPPEN-You can file a police report. Don't wait too long though if you want to file one or it will take longer to address the problem. Put up signs in your neighborhood to let people know to watch for bunny and offer a reward. 

What if bunny gets lost?:

PREVENTION-Rabbit proof your yard and make sure you watch bunny when she is out there. Don't leave bunny attended in your yard unless she is safely in her hutch/secure bunny pen. If you are walking her do not take her off of the harness. You can ask your vet if you can microchip bunny.

WHAT IF IT DOES HAPPEN-Put up signs in your neighborhood. Keep a look out for bunny. Safety note:Don't put a collar on bun.

Thankfully this rarely happens to rabbits. It is more common with dogs and cats.

If you never see bun again remember, its OK to be sad. Don't take it out on your family. If it is someones fault forgive them. Don't be bitter. If it is your fault for something don't kick yourself for it.

Remember the good times with bunny. Give thanks for the time you had with bunny. 

BUNNY LUV 

Dealing With an Aggressive Rabbit

Do you have an aggressive bunny? I did. Fuzz-Butt (Snowberry's nick-name) was a pretty mean girl. When she wanted to be that is. (Just like her lovely mamma)! 'Twas such a nightmare! Everyday when I tried to feed her or clean up her cage it was the same: Open the cage, get bite, open the cage, get bit. Being a 9 year old rabbit owner to a 6 month old aggressive dwarf rabbit was not easy! So, since I understand how you feel let me share with you what I learned. Remember......
Be kind to a mean bunny. Don't be mean or cruel to her. This will only make it worse. Sometimes it has to do with you. Think for a moment. Do you ever speak sharply to bunny or make "aggressive" movements? Do you forget to feed bunny? Clean her cage?
If bunny bites you or scratches you then give her sharp NO and put her in her cage. Do not give her treats.

APPROACHING THE CAGE & DEALING WITH THE AGGRESSIVENESS:
Approach casually. Don't be nervous, bunny'll see that as weakness. Speak calmly, in a quiet voice, and a little firm. Place your hand above bunny's head and then take her out. If bunny bites, say, "NO!" very loudly and don't give her treats! Do not hit bunny. Seriously consider getting bunny fixed. Unfixed bunny's can be very territorial and aggressive. 90% of SnowB's aggression went away after we fixed her. Be considerate to bunny. Respect her. Talk to your vet about bunny and se if he has any ideas about what you can do to help bunny be nicer.

NOTE: Bunny bites can get easily infected. Please keep all scratches and bites clean. Never  lash out at bunny in anger.


So who is the boss? You or bunny?

my beautiful lil' devil

Walks, Swimming, and Baths

I'm sure that at one time or another you've seen a person walking their pet rabbit. Maybe a friend had a party with their bunny in a lil' kiddie pool. So, is walking bunny bad? Is it OK to let bunny have a dip in the pool or in the shower with you?

WALKING--  Walking bunnies has become a little more common in the past few years. However, it has also become even more hazardous. Why? Well, dogs for one thing, animal diseases, loud noises, and even people can sometimes be a bit of a hazard. Bunny can also very easily catch fleas, ticks, and other bugs. A dog could easily attack a bunny while you are walking her or if she is not being properly watched. Heatstroke, cold wind, rain, hail, or sudden thunderstorms can lead to a sudden panic attack. (VERY dangerous.) I personally don't recommend walks for bunny, but if you want to-with adult supervision-you may walk her. REMEMBER: Bunny should have all her shots and should be on a HARNES. NOT A LEASH. Always have bunny on a leash that is attached to a harness. Always. Take bunny out on nice days. Don't let young children walk her (6 years or younger). Don't let friends that are little walk her. Don't run with bunny. Hold her if you see a dog.

SWIMMING AND BATHS. No lie, bunnies can actually be pretty good swimmers! So does that mean that bunny should get a dip in your big/kiddie pool? How about sprinklers? NO. DO NOT EVER take bunny into the pool with you. Bunny will not like you for it. She could end up sick, or drown and then die. Bunnies are very susceptible to the cold and could get sick. She could also get water in her mouth and get germs from that.

"But she loves the pool", "But I'm having a pool party. Come on." Sorry, no. It is not a good or safe idea. It may be a good idea to avoid sprinklers too.

Heat Strokes

Bunnies can get very hot in the summer so it is not to rare to have bunny get heat stroke.

Heat Stroke: What is it?

Heat stroke (we'll just do HS for now OK?) is when bunny gets too hot and gets overheated. This can make bunny pass out and possibly die! 

Prevention:

Bunny should never be outside in over 85 degree weather. However, 80 is a better limit. Don't let her do heavy work outs in 82 degree weather.

If it is very hot inside fill up a plastic soda and/or water bottle, freeze it then put it in bunny's cage. 

NOTE: It is a good idea to not put bunny's cage  in direct sunlight. (Not in complete shade)

What would I see if bunny gets heat stroke:

.Rapid breathing

.Panting/gasping/raspy sounds

.Limp and/or unresponsive 

.Feeling oddly hot

.Laying flat (which bun may do to cool off. This does not always mean he has HS)

.Slow/No Heartbeat

.Fast heartbeat (bunnies do tend to have a faster heart rate then people)

First-Aid:

Get bunny into shade ASAP! Wrap a cool, damp- not wet!- cloth around bunnies ears, not her whole body. Keep bunny in an air conditioned room. Offer her cool water. If she is unresponsive for over 15min. take her to the vet.

Chilling out, Snowberry?

Bunny's Health:Cuts and Limping

I've never had to deal with a cut or with limping in Snowberry. With a cat yes.

The first thing you must remember is to stay calm!!!  Of course that is much easier said then done. When faced with a situation that is scary you need to breath deeply and focus on the issue. Your family should also be trained to know what to do. As should you bunny sitter.

REMEMBER:

To help bunny stay calm you must stay calm. Always have an First Aid Kit (more on that later).

Contact your vet ASAP!!! Only help bunny with her injury. Don't try to take a severe situation into your own hands.

BLEEDING:

A cut in bunny can be scary. It may be hard to keep infection away from bunny which is why you should see your vet afterward. Rabbit Proof your home to prevent it and don't let bunny near any sharp/heavy objects. Check bunny VERY CAREFULLY to see how deep the wound is and how much blood there is. In any cut always apply direct pressure. Use a damp cloth and hold against bunny. Call your vet and take bunny there depending on the severity of the cut. A cut from a torn nail (due to long nails) is VERY common. Keep bunnies cage floor and litter box clean. Bunny can lick her cut if she wants. 

LIMPING:

Limping can be from a cut foot or broken leg. Bunny should never be on high places that he may jump off of. If bunny is limping from a minor cut make sure that her cut is not infected. If it is a major cut then take bunny to the vet. If bunny cannot stand and/or has a funny lump sticking out (which could be a bone) then take her to the vet.

Zzzzzzzzzzz