- April 24, 2024
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by: Amy Wade-Carotenuto
Director of Philanthropy and Activism, Flagler Human Society
Pets of the Week
Camera is a sweet mature girl but still real playful. A spayed female at least ten years old. A large terrier mix. Her owner passed away and she ended up here. She is housetrained and just the dearest soul you will ever meet.
Mama is about 4 1/2 years old. She is litter trained & a sweetheart. So well behaved that she earned a spot up for adoption at PetsMart. Go check this little girl out.
Odin is about 3 years old. Absolutely loves people & wants lots of attention. He would rather have you to himself than share you with any other animals. A healthy, playful, neutered boy.
Adopting and caring for a rabbit
Years ago animal shelters would discourage people from acquiring rabbits around Easter, concerned that once the novelty wore off, the animals would end up brought to a shelter or worse yet, abandoned. With a little education and thought, the novelty of having a really cool pet like a rabbit will never wear off.
Rabbits can live up to 14 years, so if you get a baby bunny, hope that you aren’t afraid of commitment. There are nearly 50 breeds of domestic rabbits. Just like dogs, smaller breeds of bunnies tend to live longer. Dwarf rabbits and other little bunnies typically live to be ten or more, while large breeds usually live shorter lives. If you’re adding a bunny to the family, research breeds. Some are more docile and some can be livewires. Pick one that will adapt well with your lifestyle.
Rabbits need mental stimulation and space to hop and exercise. Unfortunately, many people still keep rabbits in cages their entire lives. If you cage a rabbit at all, never use cages with wire flooring as the wire can damage their feet and cause pain.
Decide whether your pet rabbit will be housed indoors or outdoors and read up on what to do during inclement weather. Rabbits should not be kept in an environment above eighty degrees, so that eliminates several months of Florida weather. If keeping indoors understand that rabbits need large areas, such as a bedroom, as well as toys, things to chew on and play on. Rabbits that don't get enough space and enrichment often are not as healthy as those that do. Lack of exercise may even shorten their life.
Rabbits can be easily litter box trained. The box should be big enough for them to turn around completely. You can use a cat boxes or a small plastic tote. Use rabbit-safe litter such as equine pellet bedding or recycled paper pellets.
Rabbits should have constant access to Timothy hay. Also, rabbits need quality pellets, vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Pellets should not be more than 30% fiber and no more than 15% protein. When purchasing veggies for your rabbit, make sure you don’t buy Iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuce has lactucarium which is a substance it secretes that has a sedative effect on rabbits and can lethargy. Vegetables should be about 10% of your rabbit's daily diet.
Rabbits thrive in a calm environment. Rabbits can even die if severely stressed. Make sure pet rabbits are never taunted by other pets or mishandled by children.
Rabbits need regular grooming – not baths (remember the stress) -- but rabbits should be brushed to avoid matting. Watch that their ears stay clean and free of mites.
Rabbits need their nails trimmed. You can learn to do that yourself, but have a professional teach you to avoid stressing your rabbit and to avoid clipping nails too short which causes pain and bleeding that is slow to stop.
Just like humans, some rabbits have dental issues. Rabbit teeth continually grow so they can develop points that irritate the gums and tongue. If your rabbit’s teeth aren’t wearing properly, they’ll need to be filed by a professional periodically.
There are no recommended vaccines for rabbits in North America. Not all veterinary hospitals see rabbits, however, you should still have a veterinarian who knows your bunny. Check around to find a bunny friendly hospital near you.
Pet rabbits should be spayed or neutered. This helps prevent uterine cancer in female rabbits, aggressive behaviors and spraying in male rabbits and unintended breeding.
So before you jump into rabbit ownership (pun intended) do your homework and be ready to live a long, hoppy, I mean happy life together.
