MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Snowberry and I wish you all happy holidays.

Have safe travels to and from home.

Take care of yourself and bunny.

Be safe, thankful, healthy, and "hoppy".

AS WE GO INTO THE NEW YEAR DON'T FORGET ABOUT 

SOME NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN DO.

Some things you may want to do to take better care of bunny:

.Grooming and playtime

.Cleaning cage 7 days a week

.Feeding healthy food

Think of how you can better care for bunny.

TAKE CARE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I love a white Christmas. So does my Fuzz-butt bunny.

Grooming

Every rabbit should be groomed. Grooming includes brushing, trimming nails, and possible bathing.

Grooming is one of those things that you need to make time for. Grooming can take awhile. It all depends on how long bunny's fur is and what needs doing.

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE DAILY: (15-30min.)

Bunny has to be brushed a minimum of once a day. Really it should be twice a day. If you have a bunny breed with long hair then you may to do it more often.

Check her ears to see if there is gunk in there or ear mites. See your vet if there is anything in there.

THINGS THAT SHOULD BE DONE MONTHLY:(15min.)

Clipping bunny's nails are important. Clipping is hard but it is easy to find tutorials on YouTube. 

You can also have your vet clip them for you.

Please do not, I repeat, DO NOT EVER give bunny a bath or take into the shower or pool with you. Some bunnies can get shocked by it and end up sick or even die. The only case in which you should bathe bunny is when her bottom is covered in dried poop. Even then, never fully submerge her. Just get her tush and then dry her very well. Do not use human shampoo, conditioner, or soap. You can help keep her clean by cleaning her cage often, letting her play outside her cage, and grooming her. 

I'm Bunnysitting

This is one of those things that has to be discussed before you get a bunny. Whose going to take care of bunny while you're away from home?  Bunnies aren't like cats where you can have somebody come once a day to feed and that's that. If you have a bunny sitter then they'll have to clean out the cage everyday, feed them hay that'll last all day long, and give them some playtime. Bunnies don't have an easy time being on the road. Flying on a plane can be traumatic for bunny if she flies in a pet kennel that she could very easily get sick from other animals, and stress. Most airlines wont let you take bunny with you on board.  A trustworthy bunny sitter is the best option for bunny if you are going on vacation. You could board your bunny at a pet hotel, or hire a professional bunny sitter.

A bunny sitter should be a reliable person who reads instructions carefully. It should also be someone you now well (i.e family friend, cousin), or a professional bunny sitter who handles rabbits. The bunny sitter should know how to properly clean out the cage and supervise her while she plays. They will also have to come everyday. It is a good idea to invite your sitter over to your house so you can show him/her how to clean/feed/play/ take bunny out of the cage. If you have other pets like a dog or cat and they don't get along with bunny, then you'll have to tell the sitter to let bunny play in a separate room.

WHAT TO LEAVE WITH YOUR SITTER:

.Your vet's info and the vet clinic directions in case an emergency happens with bunny.

.Instructions on feeding amounts, playtime, and a page on emergency health problems. 

.Leave your cage cleaning supply where they can find it

.Leave food (and measuring amounts) out too.
.Any medicine that bunny needs and how to administer them.
.Do not let your bunny sitter take bunny on walks
.Do not allow bunny to hop freely around the house, if the bunny is only going to come once a day

Bunny's Health: Chubby Bunnies

Being a chubby bunny isn't healthy. She may look cute being plump but she sure doesn't like it. Being a chubby bun can lead to avoidable health issues. It can shorten her life span and make her more lazy. If bunny is already lazy then being chubby wont help. 
If you want bunny to have a long, healthy life then now is not the time to keep letting bunny get chubby or more chubby.

Causes That Lead to Chubbiness:
Bunny can get chubby easily. Being fed the wrong foods or to many treats can make her chubby. If bunny is not let out to hop around a minimum of 1hr a day she can gain weight too. A small cage with no play toys can make her bored and lazy.


What to do if bunny is Chubby:
Let bunny get out and play! She'll learn to like it even if she is lazy. She may just sit there at first, but after awhile she'll get bored sitting and play. Don't over feed bunny or give her too many treats. Get bunny a bigger cage. She'll enjoy extra levels to hop around on. You can also ask your vet for advice. *(Please read the underlined words as they are links to past posts. These will help you keep bunny fit and trim).

Make a few check up trips to the vet to check bunny's health. Ask your vet what bunny's ideal weight should be.

Spaying and Neutering:What is it?

What is it?
Fixing bunny is a surgical procedure that keeps bunny from having babies. It'll keep them from wanting to mate and is important if you have both boy and girl. You should never have one fixed and not the other. If you only have one rabbit then you can probably pass on fixing him. Unless he starts to show signs of aggression, is very territorial, pees everywhere, or you want another bunny should you get him fixed. Also, never go to vets that don't specialize in rabbits. A rabbit needs a special vet that deals with rabbits regularly.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering:
.Keeps bunny from having babies.
.Helps aggressive bunnies to be less aggressive.
.Helps keep bunny from having the need to pee on everything (marking his/her territory)
.Can help keep bunny from types of cancers.

If you take bunny to get her fixed take note that the vets may or may not keep her overnight.
They will probably give you pain medication and you'll have to make sure bunny's cage is cleaned out REALLY well. Avoid picking bunny up around the tummy or allowing her too much exercise. She may be groggy or a bit sleepy the first few days after surgery.

Note for parents:There is always a risk in bunny going into surgery and not coming out. Remember that vets are always very careful about bunny. Sadly, mistakes do happen. Although this very, very rare.

Pain Medicine.

Fuzz-Butt and her incision.

Outdoor and Indoor Rabbit Safety

When you first get a bunny, your family has to decide whether or not you will have an indoor or outdoor rabbit.  Indoor rabbits in general can live longer than outdoor rabbits because they are not exposed to as many elements as the outdoor bun. This lesson will help you know what you need to know about outdoor and indoor bunnies.

INDOOR BUNNIES:

Most people have indoor rabbits. An indoor rabbit will live its life inside the house. An indoor bunny can hop in the yard if you have one but the cage and main living space is inside. A bunny that lives inside the house should have a large cage and a safe spot to play in indoors ( i.e a spare bedroom or an area in a finished basement). The bunny's cage should be in an area of the house that is somewhat exposed to main family areas (like a rec room, office etc) so bunny doesn't get lonely but also in a quiet area so she doesn't get stressed out by noise. One thing that many indoor rabbit owners do is put the cage in a spare room with a few windows, and then make an entire "Bunny Room". The bedroom door would be replaced with a baby gate. Bunny could hop freely around the "Bunny Room" and then be put in her cage overnight. You can find great rabbit room ideas online!

OUTDOOR RABBITS:

Outdoor rabbits live there lives outside. On a back porch/patio, or in the yard. Even so, an outdoor rabbit will need to come inside sometimes (like in bad, hot, or cold weather) so a cage should be available inside your house. If bunny will live outside then you need to make sure that her cage (or hutch as it is sometimes called) is safe and secure. It will need to be very big. At least 3 levels and a safe hiding spot for her safety. Just make sure that you can reach her hiding spot if you need to get her. The hutch should get at least 4 hours of sun a day and she should have an extremely safe rabbit pen to play in. Your yard will have to be rabbit proofed. Make sure that bunny is safe from predators like raccoons, possums, and wolves. She shouldn't play with wild rabbits or be near them as they carry illnesses that can make bunny sick.
You can find rabbit pens and rabbit hutches online as well!

A Healthy Bunny is a Happy Bunny

If you keep bunny healthy then she can live a long and happy life! Bunnies need special care and have many needs. If you know what things can help keep her healthy then you can have her for a long time. Here are ways that you can make sure bunny stays happy and healthy.

ENVIRONMENT:
Bunnies need an environment that doesn't have a ton of noise, no "enemy", and a cage in a good place. Noise can stress bunny out a lot so don't play loud music around her or have a party in the area her cage is in. Try to keep bunny's cage in a place that is not a main highway for your family but so she does have some time around you all so she doesn't get lonely. Put her cage in a place that has sunlight, but no direct sunlight. Also, make sure that if bunny lives outdoors there are no ways for her or anything else to come in or out. If bunny is kept outdoors make sure you bring her in for the night and take her inside if it is above 80 degrees or below 50 degrees. Make sure her cage is safe and secure.

FOOD:
Make sure that bunny gets a small amount of treats and fruit and a good amount of veggies and hay. Certain types of veggies are not good for bunny. Feed her a mixture of some greens 2x a day. Water is also important give her clean water with no chemicals or human water sweeteners. If you feed bunny pellets only give them to her once a day and in a small amount.

EXERCISE:
Bunny needs at least 2-3hrs of playtime a day. Bunny also needs safe toys in her cage to encourage playing. Beware of toys that have lots of dye in them. Some of the chemicals in the dye can be toxic to her. Give bunny some empty toilet paper rolls to chew on. They are safe toys and good for her teeth health. Let bunny play on floor that is not slippery. She shouldn't play on carpet that she could chew. Never give her a box filled with sand, newspaper, or cat litter to dig in. She should also have plenty of things to hop over and climb on to encourage fun play and exercise.

HEALTH CARE:
Give bunny a daily health check to see if anything is wrong. If you notice that bunny seems sick or depressed then take her to the vet. You can also take bunny to the vet once every 3 months for a check up or whenever you feel the need to.