I would highly recommend spaying or neutering your pet. Here are a few reasons why I feel this way:
1) Getting your female bunny fixed, prevents unwanted pregnancies and big litters.
2) Better for your rabbit's health. Rabbits that are spayed/neutered have a better chance of staying alive longer because it greatly lowers the risk of cancer.
3) A fixed rabbit has a calmer and happier life. Your rabbit will behave and train better once its been spayed/neutered due to the lowered sexual aggression. This is a big plus because your rabbit won't have as much of an urge to dig, chew, growl, bite you and destroy your household!
4) Once your rabbit is fixed, your bun will make a better companion for you and other pets in your home.
Due to major improvements in the surgical field for animals, rabbits are really safe to have this procedure done. Do though make sure your vet has experience in the spaying/neutering procedure. Most vets feel comfortable if you bring your pet in when it's about 6 months old (males can come in about 5 months). If you think your rabbit is too old to be fixed, bring your pet in to be checked out. Usually vets have a cut off line at about 6 years old, but your particular vet might feel differently. If you can't tell if your pet has been neutered, chances are your bun hasn't, and you should bring it in for a check up.
Panasonic proclaimed June 14 "Neuter Your Bunny" Day.
Have any questions or comments? Feel free to leave your comments here!
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
The Benefits of Spaying/Neutering Your Bunny
Rabbit Talk 101: Deciphering and Communicating With Your Pet
Welcome to Rabbit Talk 101! If there is one thing you should know about your pet rabbit, it's that it is a very communicative animal. Yes, I know your bunny doesn't bark or meow, or wag its tail for that matter, but there are other gestures for how your furry friend can talk to you. I will first discuss the symbols and then cover how to talk back to your bun:
Grooming: Your rabbit grooming itself and you grooming your rabbit are very important elements to having a happy social life together. Not only is grooming a sign of hygiene but it also establishes dominance. Even though you take care of your rabbit, your most likely going to be the inferior one in this relationship. No worries though, you can still train your rabbit to do things. Pet your rabbit starting from the nose area to the forehead, and let your hand continue to flow to the back.
Nose Wiggling: That nose just keeps going and going! Yup that bunny's nose looks like a beating heart, and it acts as one too. Pay close attention to that nose! Based on your rabbit's body position, and your rabbit's nose wiggling rate you will be able to tell what kind of mood your rabbit is in, or its personal interest in you. Your bun is an inquisitive animal, so for example: if you are moving around the house a lot, and your bunny's nose is moving quickly, that means your bun is curious or might find something bizarre about what you're doing. If you upset your bunny, then your bun's nose is going to move very quickly. When your bunny is relaxed, it will slow down its nose tempo and display its calmness. If your bunny stops moving its nose all together its either one of three things, its either really confused, too interested or really scared. Of course all this depends on what the bunny's environment is and what the bunny's posture is.
EXERCISE: I, myself, can flare my nostrils in and out. If you find that hard to do, then practice rolling your upper lip under your top teeth and keep rolling back and forth. Look in the mirror to see if your nose is moving. Okay so your nose is moving, lay down next to your bunny and wiggle your nose in front of your pet. Try moving your nose gradually from fast and slow or vice versa. If you're doing a good job, you may find out that your bun is mimicking you!
Relaxed Gazing Postures: There will be many times when your bun just wants to chill. Depending on how comfortable the atmosphere is, determines how your bunny is going to look like when it relaxes. The usual look for a bun is lying on its belly with front and rear legs tucked under and with its ears up and facing forward. As your bunny gets more comfortable, you'll see that it gets flatter to the ground. You may also witness your rabbit being so comfortable that it will kick its legs out to the side or to the back while remaining very flat to the ground - some refer this as the lambchop, I call it the kickback. Take a look at this picture:
Curiousity: The curious pose is one of the cutest behaviors I've seen. When rabbits find themselves comfortable with their surroundings they begin to investigate what's around and what's new. My rabbits tend to "crawl" around instead of hop, with their necks stretched out a little. The rabbit's ears should be in the shape of a "V" (T.V. antennas) sticking out a bit, and ears should also be facing forward (turned inside). The periscoping move, is another form of curiosity. Rabbits will pop up onto their back limbs and stand tall to look around. I usually see this when I open the top of their travel carrying case.
Annoyed: There will definitely be times when you annoy or upset your bunny. Your pet won't be afraid to show you too! Anytime your bun turns its back to or deliberately turns to the side, you know you offended your bunny. If your bun has its back to you, but looks over his shoulder, then there is hope to settle the "argument." My suggestion is to start acting like a bunny. Yup, starting grooming yourself and then pet your rabbit. Instantaneously your rabbit will become your friend again.
Anger: Anger shouldn't be a surprise stance. There is usually a good reason why your pet would become so mad. When you see your bunny sitting bunched up with its ears lowered and facing backwards, give your pet some space before you get bit!
Depression: Rabbits often become sad due to low stimulation. They are usually seen close to the ground, with their ears hanging low. Bored and agitated rabbits also chew a lot of objects that they know they shouldn't be chewing, as well as urinating on "no no" spots to get your attention.
Pain/Fear: When rabbits are in extreme pain, or really scared, they will scream. It is one of the most painful screams I have ever witnessed. It's an awful cry and I hope many of you never hear it in your lifetime.
Begging: Much like a dog or cat, rabbits beg by circling your feet and stand up pawing you when they know there is food or a treat out.
Good Times: If you let your rabbit run around a bit, you could witness your bun doing binkies! A binky is when your rabbit jumps in the air and twists its body around. It is really quite cool. Check out this youtube.com video of a rabbit doing a binky (as well as other rabbit habits)
Stomping/Thumping: When a rabbit stomps its foot, that usually means its warning you that it is uncomfortable with its surroundings or to warn predators to back off. Over zealous bunnies stomp their feet all the time and then run off to prove how fast they are.
Believe it or not, there are many other expressions that rabbits come equipped with. If you are interested in knowing more, I recommend reading up on the website, The Language of Lagomorphs.
Is My Rabbit Sick? Checking For Signs and Choosing a Doctor
Rabbits by nature are animals who are always on the defense. They can never show that they are sick, in pain, or injured for fear that a predator would take advantage of their disability and kill them. So, how are you, the bunny parent, able to tell if your pet is ill? It is not easy but that is why you must pay attention to your rabbit's behavior, eating habits, and hygiene.
For starters, I want to suggest that you take a look online or in a phone book to see if there is a local 24 hour emergency animal hospital nearby. While you're at it, check to see if there are vets around you that specialize in rabbits. Many places will say that they have an "exotics" pet doctor, which supposedly includes rabbits in their field of expertise. I personally feel that you should find a place that actually has a rabbit doctor though. It's nice and settling to know that someone has thorough knowledge of your bunny's body and health. Once you find a doctor, schedule an appointment and bring your bun in for a check up, even if you don't think your rabbit is sick. Building a relationship between your rabbit and it's doctor is helpful because your doctor's office will file any info about your bunny. This includes, any health problems, spay/neuter appointments, previous medicines the rabbit took, teeth and nail clipping appointments etc. If there is ever an emergency, call ahead before taking your bunny to the office to make sure your doctor or another "small animals" doctor is present.
• Okay, so let's talk about your bunny's behavior. I've heard a few pet owner's tell me that their bunny acts "weird" sometimes. They'll tell me that their bunny isn't eating, they are pooping different looking poops, chewing everything, etc. My answer to them is usually this response, if your rabbit is acting weird then its one of a few things; it's either bored, sick, annoyed, or just being goofy. I'm going to help you differentiate your bunny's behavior and make sure you're not ignoring your pet's needs for medical treatment or playtime.
• When your rabbit isn't eating or drinking, chances are that its gi-tract/digestive system is slowing down. Sometimes if you put your ear to your bunny's belly you can hear stomach sounds. If you don't hear much movement, then your bun is in trouble. It's very important to make sure that your rabbit's teeth are not mis-aligned. Poor teeth alignment make it hard for your rabbit to chew and swallow its food. Bring your rabbit to the vet immediately. If you aren't able to do this right away, make sure your bunny continues to get water. Get a little syringe and fill it up with water. Push your bunny's cheeks back and squeeze the syringe into your bun's mouth. A little water goes a long way with keeping your bunny alive. If you don't know how to snip your rabbit's teeth, then don't! You could risk splitting them and causing more damage. Do stay by your rabbit's side until you can get an appointment. I would also recommend you visiting this pet education site to better understand and to see illustrations of healthy and poor rabbit teeth.
• Changing your rabbit's diet can cause weird poops, but that doesn't necessarily mean your rabbit is sick. If your rabbit has runny poop or diarrhea then your bunny is sick, and needs to see a doctor. Same thing goes for really smelly thick urine, your bun could have a kidney problem, so get your bun to the doc if your rabbit's health isn't improving.
• If your bunny is chewing everything, then it is either trying to file down its teeth so it can eat, or tell you that you need to play with him/her.
• Rabbits are always seen scratching and grooming themselves but if your bun's head is tilted and it keeps scratching its ear, then it might have a problem. Check your bunny's ear for ear mites. I recommend taking your bun to the doctor if you see mites and feel uncomfortable squirting in some ear drops.
• Check your bun's bottom for "litter rot." If you have an over weight or old bunny then you need to make sure it's bottom is clean or groomed. Litter rot can happen when a rabbit can't reach its behind to groom itself. If you do find some litter rot, I recommend you carefully cutting off some of your bun's hair, and again if you are uncomfortable bring your bunny in to the doctor for a trim.
• Fly strikes are important to watch out for as well. Flies lay their eggs in rabbit feces and then the baby larvae use your bunny as a living host. So be sure to clean your bunny's cage often to avoid fly strikes!
These are only a few problems that rabbits have. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment!
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
About Me
I have 20 years of experience taking care of rabbits. Without a doubt they are my favorite pet. In the past, I have been able to get some of my pet rabbits to perform tricks such as rolling over (like a dog) and responding to certain sounds. I am dedicated in showing you how you can understand the language of rabbits and what you need to do to take care of your pet.
I am very excited to share my love, knowledge, and experience with a world full of rabbit lovers. The following posts will cover material such as how to check to see if your rabbit is sick, communicate, play, litter train, and many other ways to take care of your bunny. If you are looking to purchase products for your rabbit, please do check out the Rabbit Whisperer Store.
Litter Training Your Rabbit
Yes it's true, you can litter train your rabbit! It's a tedious process, but if you are persistent and patient your bunny will be ready to use its litter box on its own. Okay, so let's get started!
1) Just like the picture, you need to get a litter box for your bun (if you haven't done so already from the "making a home" post). I prefer to have a box like the one shown because it shields urine from spraying up. If you can't find one like that, don't worry, there are many shapes and sizes of litter boxes that you'll most likely find in the cat aisle of a pet store. I like to find something that my rabbit can hop in and out of with ease, make sure the height is no more than 3 inches, you don't want to deter your rabbit from going to the bathroom.
2) Let your bunny decide where it wants to pee! Your bun is going to have a preference on which corner or section it wants to do its business. Once it decides where it wants to excrete, place the litter box there.
3) Once you place the litter box down, I would suggest lining the bottom of the litter box with either newspaper, recycled paper mulch (preferred), or both. Then, throw in some of your rabbit's poops in the box. I'm not kidding, this will help your bunny become more comfortable and familiar with using the litter box because it will smell its "markings" there.
4) Make sure your rabbit is in its cage for the most part. Before you go ahead and give your rabbit plenty of independence, your bun needs to feel safe and secure in its home. After a week or so, gradually let your bunny out and see if it will go back in its home to urinate. If your rabbit does, then you have been successful! If not, be patient!
Side Note: For the most part, your bunny is going to poop where it pees but there are times when it is going to excrete poop anywhere. Scatter poops usually means that its just marking its territory. Don't forget your rabbit also excretes cecotropes for it to eat and it might just want it separated from the other poop and urine wastes.
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
"Gross! Why Is My Bunny Eating Its Poop?"
"Why is my bunny eating its poop?" is a question I often hear from pet owners. Before you knock your rabbit's dung out of its mouth, I'm going to assure you that your rabbit is normal and is just adding another practice to its diet, an essential practice.
Your bunny excretes two kinds of poops, one is for wastes and the other is called cecotropes. If you want a detailed description of cecotropes click on the link and you will be forwarded to a wikipedia site with the definition listed. To put simply, cecotropes, also called "night feces," are the material resulting from the fermentation of food in a part of the digestive system called the "cecum." The cecotropes have plenty of nutrients that your bunny needs, and that can't be supplemented by anything else on the market. It is very important that you look at your rabbit's stool and pay attention that your rabbit is producing the two kinds of poops. I should point out that rabbits usually produce cecotropes at night, but if you see a soft wet looking poop (not runny poops - that indicates your bun is sick), most likely then it is cecotropes.
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
What Your Rabbit Should Eat
Your rabbit's diet is very crucial to the longevity of their health. It is absolutely necessary to feed your rabbit with fresh water and Timothy Hay, not alfalfa. Alfalfa is okay to give to young baby rabbits, but only for a very short time because it contains such a high concentrate of calcium. Too much calcium thickens a rabbit's urine and causes bladder infections, kidney stones, and other urinary tract infections. So, Timothy Hay is the way to go and should be available at any pet store.
The next thing to put on your bunny grocery list are pellets. I can give you a few suggestions, but it is also up to you to read the packaging and make sure you're not buying "candy" pellet food. I recommend you not buying any sweets, and sugary toys for starters, instead look for a brand like KayTee, (available at the Rabbit Whisperer Store). Kaytee has come up with some healthy gourmet pellets for small animals. Take a look at their nutrition label if you want to compare and supplement it with other generic versions.
So pellets and hay are the basics. Now, anytime you introduce your rabbit with other foods like carrots, apples, lettuce, and bananas, please keep in mind that a rabbit's stomach is very delicate. Having sporadic new foods is not a healthy meal unless you introduce it to your rabbit slowly, regularly, and with very small portions for starters.
Make sure not to over or under feed your bunny, however it is fine to replenish the hay tray regularly. I cannot stress enough that hay is a necessity in a rabbit's life. Rabbits are constantly grooming themselves and since they do not cough up their fur like cats do, it is imperative that they have hay to help push the hair through the digestive tract.
So let's recap: give your pet a balance diet, introduce new foods in small proportions regularly, and be sure the bun has plenty of hay and water.
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
Pet Sitting Services Available to NYC Area
Ask and you shall receive! I am offering pet sitting services (small mammals and dog walking) in NYC. As a pet sitter, I take care of pets in their own environment so that they are at ease, as well as the owner. To avoid having last minute fees or not having me as your sitter, please request my services at least 4 days before your trip. This allows me to get familiar with your pet/s, surroundings, fill out necessary paper work and give you references (upon request).
There is NO CHARGE for a first time meeting (rabbit training being the exception). I want to be sure that the client, client's pet, and myself are all comfortable before providing any services. Daily dog walking and pet sitting availability depends on location & time! Please check out the rates and fill out the form below (if you have any problems with the form, you can email me).
RATES*
Daily Pet Sitting for small mammals (M-F, Sign up for at least 3 months and your rate will not change if you go on vacation NEW!):
RESERVE A SPOT TODAY!!
Everyday visits - $10.00 per day
2 visits a week - $12.00 per day
Vacation:
1 half hour visit a day - $15.00
2 half hour visits a day - $30.00
Dog Walking/Sitting:
$20.00 per 45 min. ($15 - price varies depending on length of time spent with your dog)
Schedule open for: morning walks, afternoon walks (Bronx only), and evening walks. Reserve your spot soon!
Additional Services:
• If you are away and I am already caring for your pet, house sitting and other services are provided as well (ie: plant watering, mail/newspaper retrieval, and trash disposal).
• House Sitting/Overnights for other pets (dogs, cats,) - $60 per night
• Grooming Pet (Clipping Nails) - $5 per pet
*Additional animals are 1/2 price each. Please contact me for rate information on other services (types of animals, training, grooming)
Have questions? Check out my F.A.Q. page. Or email me at: therabbitwhisperer@gmail.com
Other Alternatives:
Lors Paws Insured Pet Services - Pet sitting for a wide variety of animals in the Brooklyn, NY region.
www.lorspaws.zoomshare.com
Photo of "Penny" - J.V.
Making a Home For Your Bunny
I love rabbits because they're soft, cuddly, quiet, intelligent, and really cute. I want you to enjoy your bunny as much as possible, so let's hop to it! For starters, it is very important for your rabbit to feel safe and comfortable. The first thing to do for your bun is to set up a proper home. If you don't have any other pets living in your house, then I recommend having your rabbit live inside rather than outside where it could be prone to predators and poor climate conditions. If you have to keep your rabbit outside you should plan on getting a rabbit hutch that elevates off the ground. The picture below is a smaller version of a tall hutch, but it still is applicable for an outside rabbit, especially if you plan on letting your rabbit run around your yard. The little ramp aids the rabbit going in and out of the cage as it pleases. You can purchase hutches at any major or small pet stores or online. This particular hutch is available at Greg Roberts Quality Pet Supplies. You can find most of the necessities, such as cages, food, and water bottles at the Rabbit Whisperer Store as well.
Like I stated before, it is preferable to have your rabbit live inside. In addition, it is also important for your rabbit to have some stretching space, so be sure to look for rabbit cages that compliment your rabbit's size. The picture below displays a plastic cage with a door that can serve as a ramp for your bunny. I have house broken my rabbits, if you plan on doing the same then having a ramp is pretty crucial for your pet. Again, you can get this plastic cage at any big or small pet store, (Rabbit Whisperer Store, Petco, PetSmart, etc.)
After you buy a cage you have to set up the rabbit's new home. First, place the cage in a place where the rabbit is against a wall, preferably in a corner where the rabbit feels safe and can see what's going on in the room. Second, I would suggest lining the bottom of your cage with either recycled paper mulch or newspaper, this is to protect your bunny's feet. Make sure you have a food bowl, hay tray, and a water bottle inside the cage. Set up your bunny first, and then we'll worry about the litter training a little later. When you're done, your cage should relatively look like this, notice that all three of the major components are there inside the cage.
Congratulations you've completed the first stage for making a home for your rabbit! Stay tuned for more information on what to feed, how to litter train, and "speak rabbit" to your bunny!
Looking for a topic? Check my blog archive on the white sidebar!
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
PET SITTING QUESTIONS:
Question: What are your rates?
Answer: My rates vary depending on how many rabbits I will be caring for, whether or not the rabbit needs special care, and if I need to to perform any grooming procedures to your pet. Additional services, such as watching other pets (dogs, cats,), and house sitting are available. You can look over the estimated pricing structure located on the contact form page. Please fill out the form (preferred) or send me an email and I will give you a personalized quote.
______________
Question: Can you come to my house or do I have to bring my rabbit to you?
Answer: As a pet sitter, I take care of pets in their own environment, so that they are at ease, as well as the owner. I would provide you with references, to prove that I am trustworthy, reliable and sincere about my job.
______________
Question: Do you take last minute pet sitting requests?
Answer: This all depends on my schedule, but there is an extra fee involved. To avoid not having me as a sitter or a fee, please request my services at least 4 days before your trip. This allows me to get familiar with your pet/s, surroundings, and give you references.
______________
Question: Do you provide litter training services?
Answer: Yes, I do, but I will also be teaching you how to as well, so that your rabbit can stay litter and house trained.
______________
Question: If my rabbit becomes ill while in your care, what veterinary do you use?
Answer: If you already have a main vet for your pet, I would use that doctor. In case of an emergency and you do not have a selected vet, I will contact the closest animal hospital depending on your location.
_____________________________
FOOD QUESTIONS
Question: What do you think about Kale? I can't get my bunny to eat any of the other greens. He LOVES Kale and eats it daily. I read something somewhere that didn't have a high opinion on Kale, but it hasn't seemed to hurt my bunny.
Answer: Kale is okay to give to your bunny, but it shouldn't replace hay or pellets. Kale has a high dose of calcium, but because Kale contains a lot of water, your bun is okay to eat it regularly. I would like to point out you're the pet's owner/mother/caretaker and therefore you have to be a disciplinarian when it comes to your bunny's eating habits. For example, my rabbit Buhk Buhk is obsessed with eating his gourmet pellets and picks and chooses what he wants to eat leaving much of his Timothy hay and pellets behind. Naughty bunny! What I do in this case is not give him a fresh load of gourmet pellets until he finishes his whole meal first. This is a similar scenario to what parents do with their children, otherwise, kids would be eating candy all the time, right? So my advice is your bun can eat Kale, just make sure he still eats his hay and pellets too, in moderation!
_____________________________
BEHAVIOR QUESTIONS
Question: My rabbit and I were having such a good time with each other (well at least I thought so) and she bit me! Why did she do that?
Answer: Well if you were pretty sure you and your bun were having a good time, then you probably were! She bit you to show you she loves you! I call them "lovebites." When my rabbits do this, which isn't often, I turn my back to them while looking over my shoulder to show them I am offended but forgiving. This is just to show them, "I know you love me, but that hurt, please don't do that again." You have to address it then, so your bunny understands why you're upset and that biting is not okay. Never hit your bunny when disciplining!!
______________
Question: My bunny isn't eating or pooping, but is constantly chewing, what could be wrong?
Answer: The problem might be that your rabbit has a blockage in its mouth from overgrown or misaligned teeth. This is quite serious because your rabbit needs to be eating and drinking constantly. If there isn't an emergency 24 hour vet hospital nearby, I would get a syringe and squeeze water in your rabbit's mouth. Water is crucial to keeping its body moving. You can usually hear "belly" sounds when you put your ear to your rabbits stomach, if you don't hear anything, that's a big problem. If you know how to clip your rabbit's teeth then do so, if you don't, then don't attempt for you may do more harm than good. Be sure to get your rabbit to a vet A.S.A.P. Sometimes vets will show you how to clip rabbit teeth, which is valuable info to have, for rabbit's teeth never stop growing, hence the reason why they are always chewing. If you are uncomfortable even after knowing how to clip teeth, just be sure to bring your pet to the vets when your rabbit's teeth start getting long, don't wait until your rabbit can't eat again!
This subject, among other sick related issues can be found on my "rabbit sick" page.
_____________________________
STORE QUESTIONS
Question: If the rabbit whisperer store is powered by amazon, can I use my own amazon account to purchase products from the rabbit store?
Answer: Yes, you absolutely can use your Amazon.com log-in info to access the T.R.W. store. You can do this by selecting the T.R.W. store link and selecting products then logging in when purchasing, or you can log-in at Amazon's site first and then return to the T.R.W. store.
Pet Sitting Services
Bunny Books and Films
