Outdoor Rabbit Safety

Safety is key for any rabbit, whether indoor or outdoor. Outdoor rabbit safety is highly important because of the exposure to the elements. Rain, wind, and extreme heat or cold can cause bunny to get sick or die if he is not properly protected while he is outside. He must also be protected from poisonous plants, and parasites and other wild animals like wild rabbits, raccoons etc.

OUTDOOR RABBIT CAGE/HUTCH SAFETY:
If bunny is a rabbit that will remain outdoors for the majority of his time then you need to make sure that he can access a safe, enclosed place to hide/play/rest in. Having a good, strong hutch is essential.
Make sure that his hutch is dry and cleaned daily, has no wire flooring, has a minimum of 3 levels, and a completely closed off hide away area. This will give him a safe place to hide should a raccoon or other animal come for a visit and begin to poke at bunny. Make sure that you can access his hiding spot in case you have to get him for whatever reason. Your hutch should also have good ventilation while keeping him safe from too much wind and rain. The cage should be placed in an area that gets at least 4-5 hours of sun a day. A good place to put the hutch may be on a shady patio, or back porch. It is not a good idea to put bunny on a non-enclosed front porch. A sun porch is OK though. A bunny pen is a fairly safe place to let bunny hop around in in your yard. Just because bunny is in a pen though doesn't mean she is 100% safe from wild animals. Watch her when she is playing outside her hutch. Put toys, a hiding spot and water/hay in the pen.

WEATHER SAFETY:
Having bunny outside in bad rain, freezing cold, high winds, or sweltering heat is not only dangerous for bunny, but quite silly on your part. If the temperature reaches over 80 degrees outside without a good breeze, and there is med-high humidity then bunny should be taken inside. If the temperature goes below 50 degrees, with med-high winds, and there is snow, then bunny should be taken inside. Bunny should also come inside during chilly, wet, or really rainy/stormy days. She should also be taken in if you leave the house or it's night time so have a temporary indoor hutch for bunny.

YARD SAFETY:
If you live in a highly wooded area with many deer, wild rabbits, raccoon's, etc. then take extra precaution to keep bunny in a safe bunny pen and hutch. Be aware to keep these critters away since their poop/saliva/pee that gets on the grass that bunny may nibble on can give her deadly illnesses that can be fatal in 24hrs if not treated ASAP. Keep garden greens, poisonous plants, etc away from bunny. Watch her closely and take care of bunny.

A Nice Brisk Walk

Unlike dogs, rabbits don't need to be walked. As fun as walking bunny sounds for you, it really isn't for bunny. There are too many risks in taking bunny for a walk than good things. Bunny will enjoy playing in a fun yard than walking outside.

Why it isn't always good to walk bunny:
1.If you live in a big city all the noise from people, barking dogs, trash, cars, planes, and construction work can all be very chaotic for bunny. Even a brave bunny can be spooked.
2.If bunny is being walked on the grass (or sidewalk) the poop and pee from birds and other animals as well as germs from peoples shoes can make bunny very sick.
3.Leashed dogs that see bunny may bark at her which will scare her and people who may want to touch bunny can be frightening for her.

While I don't really encourage the idea of bunny being taken on walks there are some bunnies who do just fine and like it. However, most bunnies don't like it and do better off in a more quiet suburbian setting. Not really in a city or forest preserve.

But there are some things to consider if you choose to take her out:

.Use a harness never a leash!

.Keep an eye out for dogs. If you see an over excited, loud dog then pick bunny up.

.Don't take her on grass covered with bird/animal poop or sharp objects or lots of trash.

.Take the heat into consideration. Don't take bun out if the temperature is over 80 or under 50. (Consider the "real feel" temperature and the humidity. Bunny also gets easily scared in stroms.)

.Don't use bunny as an exercise partner. This is not safe for her!

.People may want to touch bunny ( who wouldn't?). Don't take her our if she is afraid of people. You can let people touch and pet bunny, but not hold her.

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.