Bunny Care Guide

This Bunny Care Guide is meant to help you and yopur pet rabbit adjust to the new surroundings it finds itself. When you bring your new bunny home, it's best to leave it alone for the first day so it can adjust to its new home.

Always make sure it is eating and drinking as a stressed bunny will refuse to eat and drink.

When they're young, they should eat rabbit pellets and timothy hay. If they have carrots or lettuce, it can cause diarrhea. At four months old, you can feed your new bunny fresh greens such as:

• parsley
• spinach
• broccoli
• leaf lettuce
• Boston lettuce
• Beet tops
• Kale
• Collard greens
• Carrot tops

Start slowly with one type of greenery with a serving of 1/4 cup every second day and every week introduce something new. Slowly reduce the amount of rabbit pellets and increase the quantity of fresh greens, until six months old you are at 1/4 cup of rabbit pellets and two cups of fresh greens per day and a 6 inch carrot every two days.

Choose a rabbit pellet sealed in a bag and dated that is high in fibre and low in protein and calcium, that does not contain seeds. nuts or have starch-rich cereal kibble mixed in.

Gourmet blend rabbit pellets are a good treat, but only one to two tablespoons once a week. Honey bars are good once in a while, but for only one hour at a time and should not be left in the cage.

It is normal for your new bunny to eat its feces. These "special droppings" are essential for their digestive tract.

If your Bunny is to explore your home, it is important to eliminate areas that it can get wedged in or escape through. Give them a box, stick or a phone book to chew on to keep them away from electrical cords and carpeting.

The cage should be big enough to accommodate the Bunny, litter box and a food dish. Once it becomes acquainted with its new home, you can litter train.

Replace shavings with a low pile carpet and place a litter box of wood pellets or recycled newspaper pellets at one end. Eventually it will start to go there on its own.

At 4 - 6 months old, it should be spayed or neutered because it starts to mark its territory.

If you would like to take your bunny outside, use a harness and leash to help control where it is going. They do like being picked up, but if you do, always pick up your rabbit from underneath their body, holding their feet.

Should you have any questions further regarding this Bunny Care Guide or the caring of your new Bunny, come to Centre D'Animaux NATURE Pet Centre and consult with your NATURE salesperson and ask about NATURE's vast selection of books and magazines. We are here to help you with your new pet.

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