Experience Level: Intermediate

• Life expectancy: 8-10 years

• Herbivore

• Solitary pet, usually gets along well with other small pets

• Crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), though they often eat at night

Bunnies are quiet, peaceful animals by nature. They don’t bark, rarely bite and respond to attention when handled frequently with gentleness and love. Most bunnies can also be easily litter trained.

The largest rabbit is the Flemish Giant, which can grow as large as 13 kg (30 lbs). One of the smallest rabbits is the Netherland Dwarf, which averages 0.8 to 1.3 kg (2 to 3 lbs). Male rabbits are called bucks and females are does. We recommend that you keep your bunnies separately, since they may fight unless given a large amount of living area.

Handling

Like humans, every rabbit has a distinct personality. Some enjoy being handled more than others. Children need to learn how to hold a bunny, otherwise the bunny can become frightened or injured. The proper way to pick up a bunny is to hold them gently, but firmly, under the front legs with one hand and support their hindquarters with the other. Never pick up a bunny by their ears.

Our pet counsellors are small animal lovers; because they are, they hold and play with all the small animals in our store. Our guests also play a big part in our small animal’s social skills. This is why Petland’s small animals are quick to bond with their new owner.

Spay & Neuter

We recommend that you spay or neuter your pet bunny. The benefits of altering your bunny are many. Neutered rabbits are healthier, live longer, easier to house-train, less aggressive, and less destructive. Your pet counsellor can recommend a veterinarian who is familiar with altering small animals.

House-Training

Rabbits return to the same spot each time nature calls, so litter training is easy. A litter box in the cage where your rabbit relieves themself will reinforce using the box. Additional boxes should be placed in their favourite spots when they are outside the cage.

To provide a happy, healthy atmosphere for your bunny, Petland recommends the following necessary and fun accessories. We have listed them as your new pet’s 4 Basic Needs: Environmental, Behavioural, Nutritional, and Maintenance. When you meet these needs and provide a loving environment, your bunny can live a long and happy life.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Enclosure – Your bunny will need a place of their own where they can find security and quiet time. The cage should be spacious, so they can stand up, stretch out and exercise.

Exercise Pen – No matter how large the cage, this is not a substitute for running time and socialization outside of the cage. Be sure to rabbit-proof the area, as rabbits love to chew cords, and other household items, or consider using an exercise pen to allow them ample room to exercise and play in a safe environment. Your bunny will need physical and social stimulation, which no cage can provide.

Hiding Place – Every creature needs an area to call their own. A bunny’s natural response to danger or an unusual situation is to flee. A hideaway is necessary to reduce stress and help make them feel secure. Petland has many different types of hiding places to choose from.

BEHAVIOURAL

Chew Blocks – Your rabbit’s teeth will grow throughout their life. Give them a variety of safe chewing aids to keep their teeth trimmed. Check your rabbit’s teeth regularly for a condition called malocclusion (improper bite), which prevents them from eating normally. If a rabbit is suffering from malocclusion, the lower teeth will slide over the top teeth. If you suspect your rabbit has this problem, please see your veterinarian.

Harness and Leash – Your rabbit is a fast runner, so letting them roam around in the yard, on their own, is not safe. A rabbit harness should fit snug and be comfortable. This will allow them to hop and jump around while keeping them out of harms way. Never leave your bunny unattended outdoors.

NUTRITIONAL

Hay – Grass hay makes up 70% of a rabbit’s diet, and is absolutely vital to the digestive health of your bunny. It helps prevent obesity, dental disease, diarrhea, and boredom. Young rabbits who are less than one year old can benefit from receiving alfalfa hay in addition to grass hay because of the higher nutritional element. After one year, alfalfa hay should only be used only as a treat. All grass hays, timothy, orchard grass, oat, and botanical (timothy blended with herbs) are exactly the same nutritionally; they are just different in taste and texture. Offer a combination of grass hays so that your rabbit does not become finicky, especially because taste and texture can change throughout the seasons, even if fed the same type and brand.

Rabbits should have unlimited access to grass hay, and eat a pile about the size of their body every day.

Rabbit Pellets – Pellets make up 20% of a rabbit’s diet and are formulated to contain a correct balance of all the essential nutrients your rabbit needs each day. Young rabbits, under one year old, should eat alfalfa hay pellets (legume hay) because of their specific growing needs. Timothy hay pellets (grass hay), which are high in fibre and lower in protein and calcium, must be offered after one year of age.

Adult rabbits should generally be fed about ⅛ cup per 4lbs of body weight daily.

Mixed foods that mix pellets with nuts, seeds, and fruit should be offered as a treat only. Rabbits have a habit of selecting the more tempting, fattening morsels, and leaving the healthy pellets behind.

Fresh Foods – Dark leafy greens and vegetables make up 10% of a rabbit’s diet, and are loaded with nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, as well as water that provides essential hydration to your rabbit. Dark leafy greens include romaine, kale, or green leaf lettuce. Vegetables, like bell peppers and zucchini, tend to be higher in simple carbohydrates and should be provided in smaller quantities. Fruits should be offered infrequently in very small amounts.

Adult rabbits should generally be fed 1 cup of dark leafy greens and 1 Tbsp of vegetables per 2lbs of body weight daily.

Note, that many small animals are susceptible to diarrhea, especially when new foods are introduced too quickly or they encounter a stressful situation (i.e. being adopted). By providing food that is familiar to them, including the brand of pellets, their digestive systems will prevent this type of health problem. When introducing a new food item, especially fresh foods, do so one at a time. This will avoid overwhelming and upsetting your bunny's digestive tract. Monitor for any changes in attitude, appetite, or stool production.

Night Droppings – Cecotrope pellets are softer than regular bunny droppings and look like small clusters of grapes. These clusters are a daily and necessary part of your bunny’s diet. Cecotrope pellets are rich in vitamins and nutrients that are re-ingested by your bunny to maintain good health, usually as a midnight snack.

Treats – Only offer 1 Tbsp of treats daily (about the size of your bunny’s tail). When choosing treats, steer away from ones that have dextrose and sucrose (sugar). Wise treat choices will keep your bunny in prime health and avoid them from gaining excess weight. Offer treats to encourage interaction between you and your pet, but only after your pet eats their staple diet.

Moss Hollow Adapt – Using Moss Hollow Adapt, while minimizing stress, can help your new pet adapt to their new home by promoting relaxation from stress caused by the environment (Echinacea), offering a prebiotic for building gut flora (Burdock Root), easing diarrhea (Psyllium Husk), increasing palatability (Wheatgrass), providing a natural dewormer (Diatomaceous Earth), and nutrient-rich clay (Bentonite). This veterinary health product uses natural ingredients which can aid all small animals before symptoms emerge.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplement – If a bunny’s diet is made up of pellets, fresh foods, and an unlimited supply of fresh grass hay, then a vitamin supplement is not necessary. If your rabbit’s diet is not ideal, then a vitamin supplement should be added to the water or food, according to packaging directions.

MAINTENANCE

Water Bottle – When your rabbit is in their cage, use a large water bottle to keep their water clean and to conserve any liquid vitamins. Fresh water must be available at all times and replaced daily. When your rabbit is outside of their cage, give them water from a ceramic dish. Rabbits love to guzzle water!

Water bottles need to be kept clean of bacterial growth, as well as sediment that may be caused by using nutritional supplements. Use a bottle brush set with dish soap and water to clean both the inside of the bottle and the inner surface of the stainless-steel drinking tube.

Ceramic Dishes and Hay Feeders – Ceramic dishes are easy to clean, cannot be chewed, and are difficult to tip over. You will need one for pellets, one for fresh foods, and one for water during playtime outside of the cage. Hay feeders, like a manger, allow your bunny easy access to their hay while keeping it clean. Hang it above the litter box so the rabbit can eat and poop simultaneously.

Substrate – Aspen shavings, paper-based bedding (i.e. Carefresh® or Eco Bedding®) and/or a pet mat is recommended for your bunny. Use a litter scoop to spot clean the cage regularly.

Litter Box and Litter – Both inside and outside of the cage, your bunny will need a litter box lined with litter and grass hay (or hang the hay in a manger above the litter box) as they naturally eat and poop simultaneously. Because rabbits tend to nibble on everything, choosing a non-toxic litter for their litter box is important. Pelleted litters made of wheat straw or of recycled paper are good options. Consider selecting a box large enough for when they are an adult.

Cage Cleaner – Select a small animal cage cleaner that has a natural enzyme-based formula to permanently break down stains and odours. Clean the cage once a week using a pet safe cleaner or hot water and mild soap. Rinse well and dry. Do not use bleach, or other household cleaners, which will irritate your rabbit’s respiratory system, or even cause worse problems.

Brush and Comb – Rabbits are very meticulous animals; they spend endless hours grooming themselves. Wild rabbits moult their coat twice a year. Domestic rabbits shed throughout the year, and therefore no matter how long their fur is, they should be brushed daily. A small slicker brush will remove excess fur and prevent your rabbit from ingesting fur, which could develop into intestinal hairballs. You also need a comb for rabbits with longer fur. Don’t forget to offer them a treat after a grooming session!

Nail Clippers and Coagulant – Your rabbit’s nails should be trimmed with a small animal nail clipper. Take care not to trim too short or cut into the blood vessels running through each nail. Keep a blood coagulant on hand in case this happens.

Please ask your pet counsellor what other items pertain to your pet’s needs.

Cleanliness and Safety

All pets can potentially carry diseases that may be contagious to people. Young children, infants, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly are at greater risk of infections and should use caution when in contact with pets or their environments. Regular cleaning of your pet’s environment with a pet safe cleaner may help avoid the spread of contaminants. Hygiene procedures such as washing your hands before and after handling your pet and/or after having any contact with their habitat, is a necessary routine. Children should be assisted with hand washing and always have adult supervision when interacting with pets.

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