Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Rabbit Diseases - Common Ailments Suffered by Bunnies

One of the top concerns for any pet owner are the diseases that they can get, and how best to prevent them from happening. In this article I'll be talking about common rabbit diseases, signs to watch out for and how to treat them at home.

Colds:
Rabbits can contract colds just like us, and the physical symptoms usually consist of a lot of sneezing, and runny noses. Colds aren't serious, but if you have more than one rabbit you should put the one that's ill in a different cage than the others so it doesn't spread. It will usually last only a few days and clear up on its own.

Coccidiosis:
This disease is contracted by rabbits from licking dirty fur, eating or drinking contaminated food, and is generally caused by poor cage maintenance. This means that it hasn't been cleaned adequately and is one of the most common reasons for premature death in rabbits. Be sure to clean the cage at least once a week.

Symptoms include, diarrhea, sudden weight loss, and your bunny will sit with in a hunched position with their feet forward. Coccidiosis can be treated by introducing a coccidiostat with your rabbits food source. If you feel your rabbit has this disease, make sure you take it to the vet so it can get proper medication.

Red Water:
Red water is reddish urine that is caused by cold temperatures or feeding it too many greens. Move the bunny to a warmer area, and give it plenty of water while lowering the amount of greens he is fed. Keep an eye on him and it should clear up in a couple of days.

Heat Stress:
If your rabbit is lying at full length and panting heavily, chances are good that your bunny is suffering from heat stress. Always keep a bottle of frozen water in your freezer, so that if any of your rabbits show signs of heat stress you can take the bottle and place it near or in the cage to help lower the temperature. It can come on fast which is why it's important to be prepared for it at all times.

Ear Cankers:
Small mites enter your rabbits ear and will cause a crust to appear around the outer edge. If your rabbit is constantly shaking his head or trying to scratch his ear, he may be bothered by mites. You can treat the cankers with any canker lotion to help with discomfort, and be sure to do a full cleaning of its cage so that you can eliminate all mites that are dwelling within.

Pet Rabbit Supplies - What Should You Buy For Your Bunny

Trying to figure out which pet rabbit supplies you need can be difficult. There are many different types of toys, and gadgets all claiming to be something you absolutely need, when the truth is, that isn't the case. We'll look at some supplies that I recommend and hopefully you'll be able to walk away knowing you know just a little bit more about what is needed to raise your own pet rabbits.

Rabbit Cages:

There are two types of cages you can choose from depending on where you'll be keeping your furry friend. Indoor and outdoor cages are not the same, and you won't be able to simply cover an indoor cage when it starts to rain. If you plan to keep your bunnies outside be sure to get an outdoor cage. They are built to withstand the different things mother nature will throw at you.

For an indoor cage be sure to place a washable rug underneath. This is because bunnies can and will make a bit of a mess outside of the cage. As well, if the bottom of the cage is shallow then you'll need to be cleaning fairly often as the mess can build up very quickly. So try and choose a cage that fits your lifestyle.

Outdoor cages will need a more solid design and should be raised a fair bit. This will protect your rabbits from predators. Be sure to fill it with hay, and use a securely tied tarp during winter months or stormy nights for the best protection against the cold.

Rabbit Litter:

Did you know rabbits can be litter trained? It's true, and they're very easy to do so. However, unlike cats, rabbits require a specific type of litter box, one where they actually stand on wire over top of the litter itself. This prevents them from eating it, and getting sick. There are specialty rabbit litter boxes, so be sure to check your local pet store.

Pet Rabbit Feeding Supplies:

There are three basic options when it comes to feeding rabbits. Bowls, water bottles or feed systems. My personal choice is using bowls for feeding solid food, and bottles for water. Bowls are very easy to clean and rabbits have no problem eating out of them. As well, it's important to be sure to give your rabbits fresh water every day even if the bottle isn't empty.

Baby Rabbit Care - What To Do If You Have Bunny Newborns

he phrase "multiply like rabbits" isn't just a saying, rabbits are known for breeding a lot and quickly. Baby rabbit care is especially important in the first couple of weeks because they are very vulnerable to many outside factors even in a domestic environment.

It's important to check on your baby rabbits fairly often. It can be quite an exhausting chore, but is really important in the first few weeks of life. Mother rabbits generally feed their young in the early hours of the morning. A good time to check on these little guys is around 3-4am. Be sure that they're feeding well.

If it looks as though they are not, Kitten Milk Replacer (which you can find at your local pet store) is a very good substitute. However, KMR is not quite a caloric as rabbits milk, so you may want to add a tablespoon of cream per can, to raise the caloric level a bit.

The best way to feed baby bunnies is to use an oral syringe, which you can pick up at any pharmacy. This will allow you to measure adequate amounts for feeding as well as to be sure the rabbits are actually ingesting the food.

If one of the young manage to get away from the litter be sure to put them back as gently as possible. If they stay away from their brothers, sisters and mother for too long they will get cold, and it is extremely important that they stay warm during this time.

Sadly, one thing to keep in mind is that baby bunnies are very fragile creatures. Even those with the best baby rabbit care may not necessarily make it through infancy. Do not blame yourself if you lose any from a litter if you have tried your best. In some cases, there just isn't anything that can be done.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

What Do Baby Rabbits Eat? A Guide to Raising a Young Bunny

If you have a baby rabbit that doesn't have access to its mother, you might be wondering "What do baby rabbits eat?". This is a good question to ask, because the bunny digestive system can be very delicate at first.

Rabbits milk is the most caloric of any mammals milk and can be difficult to replicate. The best replacement milk you can find is Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) which can be bought at pet stores, and some times even your local supermarket. Even so, this milk is not as caloric as the rabbit needs, so a good idea is to add a tablespoon of cream to each can. This will mix well and raise the caloric content to a level that baby rabbits need.

You should only be feeding baby bunnies twice a day. I suggest using an eye dropper or oral syringe. Oral syringe works best because you can measure how much you're giving them. You can find these at any pharmacy.

In addition to the kitten milk replacer, I also highly recommend adding acidophilus to the mixture. Acidophilus comes in capsule form and can be found at a health store, or pharmacy. Acidophilus is the general name for a group of probiotics that can help the digestion process greatly.

How much should you be feeding the bunny?

Here are some daily feeding guidelines you should be using for a 5-6 pound bunny:

As a newborn, start with 5 CC's of KMR and half a capsule of acidophilus.
1 Week move onto 10-15 CC's of KMR and half a capsule of acidophilus
2 Weeks move onto 25-30 CC's of KMR and a full capsule of acidophilus
3 Weeks and until weaned stay at a good 30 CC's of KMR with a full capsulte of acidophilus.

If you're raising a pet bunny it's important to understand all that goes into taking care of these furry creatures. That's why I recommend investing in a bunny care guide that will teach you everything you need to know about taking care of rabbits.

Bunny Care - What Do Rabbits Eat?

If you're thinking about adopting a rabbit and are wondering what do rabbits eat, then this article is for you. Lots of people take on the responsibility of owning a rabbit but don't actually know what it takes to make sure that they're healthy and happy. This can lead to illness and even premature death. That's why it's important to be as educated as you can be about what to feed your new pet.

Rabbits are vegetarians and love all things that are green, but perhaps the most important food source you can provide is hay. Not only does hay contain all the nutrients a rabbit needs to stay healthy, it also provides other benefits like keeping a bunny busy. Unfortunately these cute little critters love to chew, and will chew on just about anything you put in front of them (unless you train them not to). Hay gives them something to keep there mouths full of things that is safe for them and makes you a much happier owner.

Grass is also an important nutrient source. Rabbits in the wild feed off of just about every type of grass that's available to them. This is generally why there are so many found around universities and golf courses. These places have an abundance of grass, and bunnies love it.

For a healthy snack, you can feed your pet chunks of vegetables and fruit, such as, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower stems, and apple cores. In addition to the above foods, it's very important to make sure that they have water at all times. Bunnies that are on a more green diet won't need to drink as much, however, it's important that when they are thirsty, there is a ready supply of water available to them.

So if you've been wondering what do rabbits eat, I hope you found this article informative. Bunnies can live for a long time, if they're taken care of. Unfortunately, most people don't know how best to take care of their pet rabbits and as a result lose their furry friend far earlier than needs to happen.

That's why I recommend investing in a bunny care guide that will teach you everything you need to know to keep your bunny happy, healthy and safe. In addition to making sure they're getting the proper nutrients they need, these guides will also teach you how to train, solve behaviour problems, and much more.

Welcome To My Blog!

Hi there and thanks for stopping by!

My name is Rick and I'm an avid lover of different types of pets, and I love to write about all sorts of different tips and ideas for taking care of them.

My goal for this blog is Bunny Care and how best to take care of your pet rabbits. Rabbits are great companions that can live for a very long time, if they're taken care of correctly. Sadly, not enough people know how to properly care for their furry friends, and this leads to premature death or illness.

That's why I've made it my goal to educate as many people as I can about how to properly raise a bunny so that they live happy and healthy lives.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you all soon!