"For a long time, domesticated rabbits have been cared for incorrectly, and with their growing popularity as house pets, it’s even more important to know how to give them a happy, healthy life"-- Calliope Dean - 8th GRade
According to Discover Magazine, “After dogs and cats, they’re the third most popular pet in the U.S. In 2012, a survey by the American Pet Product Association found that 2.5 million households now share space with domestic rabbits.” Rabbits are slowly becoming popular pets, and so many rabbits are still treated poorly, however not always on purpose. In an article on Newsweek by Alice Gibbs, she states, “An estimated 6.2 million households own small animals as pets. Among small pet owners, the three most popular types of small animals owned are rabbits (28 percent), guinea pigs (27 percent), and hamsters (27 percent).”
“The world is geared up to do research on dogs and learn about them — and cats, to a lesser degree. With rabbits, it’s really only in the last decade or two that people have started to do much work on them,”according to Discover Magazine. With so little scientific knowledge about rabbits it’s difficult to know how to care for them properly.
Rabbits have a wide spread diet containing all kinds of vegetables and hay. They can eat certain fruits such as apples and bananas, and many others. In an article from VCA Animal Hospitals, by Laurie Hess and Rick Axelson they write that, “Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet.” Carrots and certain fruits are fed more as treats than meals, “Carrots should be fed sparingly, as they are very high in carbohydrate and may upset GI bacterial flora."
Rabbits have a wide spread diet containing all kinds of vegetables and hay. They can eat certain fruits such as apples and bananas, and many others. In an article from VCA Animal Hospitals, by Laurie Hess and Rick Axelson they write that, “Rabbits should have a daily diet of mostly hay, a smaller amount of fresh vegetables, and a limited number of pellets. Hay is the most important part of a rabbit's daily intake. Unlimited, high-quality grass hay, such as Timothy, orchard or brome, should make up the bulk of a rabbit's diet.” Carrots and certain fruits are fed more as treats than meals, “Carrots should be fed sparingly, as they are very high in carbohydrate and may upset GI bacterial flora."
While vegetables are good for rabbits there are also some that shouldn’t be fed all the time, VCA Hospital states. “Some leafy greens, such as collard and dandelion greens, parsley, kale, Swiss chard, and escarole, should be fed in limited quantities, as they are high in calcium and may contribute to the development of calcium-based bladder stones if fed in excess. Other acceptable vegetables include broccoli, green peppers, brussel sprouts, endive, wheat grass, radicchio, and squash. Iceberg or head lettuce should not be fed, as it is mainly water and contains few nutrients.”
Rabbits need a big environment to run around in, toys, and other things to keep them stimulated, which is something people don’t account for when getting a rabbit. Contrary to common belief, rabbits can’t live in a really small environment like a small cage from the pet store. They need space to run around, whether it’s in the pen or a yard to run around in. In an article from nidirect.gov.uk, it states, “A rabbit requires a resting area and an exercise area. Your rabbit’s resting area should have at least two compartments. A darkened sheltered area for sleeping away from noise and another for eating/relaxing. All areas should be well ventilated, dry and draught free as damp, poorly ventilated, hot or dirty environments can cause illness.”
Rabbits need a big environment to run around in, toys, and other things to keep them stimulated, which is something people don’t account for when getting a rabbit. Contrary to common belief, rabbits can’t live in a really small environment like a small cage from the pet store. They need space to run around, whether it’s in the pen or a yard to run around in. In an article from nidirect.gov.uk, it states, “A rabbit requires a resting area and an exercise area. Your rabbit’s resting area should have at least two compartments. A darkened sheltered area for sleeping away from noise and another for eating/relaxing. All areas should be well ventilated, dry and draught free as damp, poorly ventilated, hot or dirty environments can cause illness.”
Rabbits need a lot of exercise, even though they’re small animals. A rabbit who doesn’t get enough exercise can become bored and depressed, they might become destructive and irritable as a result. This is another common mistake in rabbit care, many people keep rabbits in cages all day when they need exercise to stay happy and healthy. It’s hard to know how to exercise your rabbit but there are many things you can do. If letting your rabbit run around outside or inside isn’t a possibility at the moment, you can give them toys to keep them stimulated. In an article from thehealthypetclub.co.uk it talks about ways to exercise your rabbit if you don’t have a lot of space, or during the winter time, “Place toys in the area. Boxes and pipes are great for chasing and hiding. Hanging baskets (the type sold in garden centres) make great hay racks that your bunnies will stretch and reach to get at. Put in wooden balls made of wicker for them to chew and push around – all great exercise!”
Even though it’s easy for your rabbits to get exercise inside a large cage, pen, or hutch, they should also have an area to run around, especially if their living space isn’t too big. This running area can be outside or inside, as long as it’s something different than the cage and large enough for them to run around in.
Even though it’s easy for your rabbits to get exercise inside a large cage, pen, or hutch, they should also have an area to run around, especially if their living space isn’t too big. This running area can be outside or inside, as long as it’s something different than the cage and large enough for them to run around in.
Ava Ford, 6th grade Literary Arts student at OSA, has one pet rabbit named Leo. He is currently five years old. “He mostly eats hay, I don’t know the brand of the food since my dad gets it, but usually carrots, kale, lettuce the love organic stuff, from gardens. And green apples, they love green apples,” said Ford. Rabbits love all kinds of greens and can eat most fruit and vegetables, but there are a few they can’t including apricots, peaches, plums, and mangos due to their pits. Although you could maybe give them those without the pits, it’s best to avoid them altogether. This is because many fruits with seeds or pits contain trace amounts of cyanide, which rabbits can’t eat.
Leo gets a lot of exercise from running outside in the garden. “I have a really big backyard and he likes to dig in it,” shared Ford. “He gets a pretty good amount of exercise, I’d say.”
Ford has been a rabbit owner for a long time and it started when she was really little, “I don’t know why but when I was younger I really wanted a rabbit, and on Easter my dad got me one.” And she has a little bit of advice to share with new rabbit owners. “Don’t carry them on their backs, you want to always give them a lot of support, or they’ll get scared. Also, don’t give them baths.”
Leo gets a lot of exercise from running outside in the garden. “I have a really big backyard and he likes to dig in it,” shared Ford. “He gets a pretty good amount of exercise, I’d say.”
Ford has been a rabbit owner for a long time and it started when she was really little, “I don’t know why but when I was younger I really wanted a rabbit, and on Easter my dad got me one.” And she has a little bit of advice to share with new rabbit owners. “Don’t carry them on their backs, you want to always give them a lot of support, or they’ll get scared. Also, don’t give them baths.”
Hayley Schoeneman, a 6th grade Literary Arts student at OSA has two rabbits, named Waffle and Pepper. They are both still very young and Schoeneman has had them for less than a year. “ We got them because my mom had a rabbit when she was a kid and we decided we wanted them,” said Shoeneman. Waffle and Pepper have a large outside house where they can run around outside. “We used to have chickens so they have the chicken’s old coop, which was adapted to be a bunny mansion. They have an outside space next to the coop, under and inside.”
Their diet also consists of hay and vegetables, “They have Timothee Hay, not carrots too often, carrot are like a dessert for them.” Schoeneman’s advice for new rabbit owners is, “They don’t like to be held that much, they will sometimes it depends on their personality. And a lot of people think that carrots are really good for them but they’re more like a dessert, like a cupcake.”
With rabbit’s growing popularity, it’s vital to know how to care for them properly. They’re a very mistreated animal and deserve a happy life, with the right food, enough exercise and general proper care and love.
Their diet also consists of hay and vegetables, “They have Timothee Hay, not carrots too often, carrot are like a dessert for them.” Schoeneman’s advice for new rabbit owners is, “They don’t like to be held that much, they will sometimes it depends on their personality. And a lot of people think that carrots are really good for them but they’re more like a dessert, like a cupcake.”
With rabbit’s growing popularity, it’s vital to know how to care for them properly. They’re a very mistreated animal and deserve a happy life, with the right food, enough exercise and general proper care and love.
WHERE TO RESCUE A RABBIT IN THE BAY AREA
There’s been a heartbreaking amount of rabbit dumping in the Bay Area
lately and rescues are extremely overwhelmed. If anybody you know wants a
rabbit, tell them to consider rescuing one.
Other Ways To Help: https://patch.com/california/dublin/east-bay-rabbit-crisis-how-help
There’s been a heartbreaking amount of rabbit dumping in the Bay Area
lately and rescues are extremely overwhelmed. If anybody you know wants a
rabbit, tell them to consider rescuing one.
Other Ways To Help: https://patch.com/california/dublin/east-bay-rabbit-crisis-how-help
