Rabbits, Leeds

This page has been moved to : Rabbit Caresheet

Caring for your Rabbit

Congratulations on purchasing your new rabbit from Paws for Thought. We hope it will bring you lots of fun, happiness and companionship for many years to come. We pride ourselves on being voted Best Independent Pet Centres in the U.K by “Which” Magazine. We take our animal welfare very seriously and if in the first few days of your rabbit coming home you are concerned about its health or well being, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are open seven days a week and often a quick phone call to one of our experienced staff may alleviate any minor problems, and put your mind at ease.

HANDLING
Your new rabbit may be nervous at first so you must talk to him and handle him gently. Do not leave him on a table of other high places where he may fall. Support his weight with both hands and do not squeeze him around the tummy.

HOUSING
As with all animals the bigger the better. This will be determined by where you intend to put the hutch and also by how many you are keeping. If the hutch is to be outside (as most tend to be) then you will need to ensure that it is weatherproofed and free from draughts. During the evenings in the winter months it is advisable to cover the front to stop any snow or bitter winds, (also extra hay and shavings will needed to be added for extra warmth.) A piece of polythene or pondliner can work wonders (just make sure it can`t be nibbled). Alternatively turn your hutch to face the wall in the evenings or put it inside a shed if possible for the duration of the winter months. Another idea is to purchase an indoor cage, the downfall being they are quite large and finding a place big enough could be rather tricky, although they are so easy to keep clean and fresh. Your rabbit will also require a run for exercise and fresh air.

You must also provide some kind of shelter to hide from both wind and rain, but also from the sun as heat-stroke can kill. Make sure the hutch is not in full sunlight during the summer. If you are unable to let you rabbit out then move the hutch to a shady area as he will need some escape from extreme heat just as we do.

The floor of the hutch should be covered with a generous amount of shavings, along with a good handful of straw in the sleeping compartment for both eating and sleeping. Fresh water should be supplied every day.

FEEDING
There are now a good range of complete rabbit foods available. We do however stock our own excellent mixes, one of which is for rabbits under 6 months old, as it is not so rich on such a delicate tummy. Plenty of hay is a must to make sure your rabbit is getting sufficient fibre. It is advisable to add Vitasol vitamins and minerals liquid to your pets water to ensure a complete balanced and healthy diet.

Unless you know for sure that your baby rabbit has been brought up with grass or greens in his diet you should always air on the side of safety, and NOT give grass or greens to rabbits under 6 months of age, as it can give rabbits diarrhoea which can be very serious and even life threatening!

As your rabbit comes up to 6 months old it will be possible to introduce gradually a small amount of grass, greens or carrots etc. into his diet. Eventually your rabbit will become accustomed to greens and grass and will be fine to go out in his run all day.

GENERAL HEALTH
All our animals are given a health check before going on sale. If properly fed and cleaned, he should remain healthy for many years and give you lots of pleasure.

Your rabbits teeth are growing continuously and it is very beneficial to provide wood gnaws for them to chew on and keep them under control.

It is not unusual for your rabbits nails to need trimming, We would advise, that you contact the store to arrange a time to bring your pet in for this service to avoid having to wait in busy periods.

N.B. In the first few days of your rabbit ownership, and the unlikely event of a medical problem occurring, we would advise you to inform us immediately as often we can prevent the situation from becoming worse. Or in the more serious cases, return your pet as soon as possible to the store where it was purchased. We do work very closely with a local veterinary surgery and therefore can quickly arrange a check up for your pet.

VEGETATION AND RABBITS
Rabbits in the wild may live off wild plants but your bunnies are domesticated. While finding out the basic history of your future pet, please ask for details of its current diet and keep it the same.

WHAT CAN I FEED MY RABBIT?
All must be in small portions, fresh, raw and washed thoroughly, making sure it is clean and free from herbi/pesticides.

WHAT SHOULD I NOT FEED MY RABBIT?