Caring for Your Bunny
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Life expectancy: 8-10 years
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Herbivore
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Solitary pet, usually gets along well with other small pets
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.
Spay & Neuter
We recommend that you spay or neuter your pet bunny. The benefits of altering your bunny are many. Fixed 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 themselves will reinforce using the box, as well as having hay accessible because they eat and poop simultaneously.
Additional boxes should be placed in their favourite spots when they are outside the cage.
Handling
Like humans, every rabbit has a distinct personality. Some enjoy being handled more than others. 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.
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 living quarters, your guinea pig will need physical and social stimulation, which no cage can provide. Rabbit-proof the area, as bunnies love to chew cords and household items, or use an exercise pen for safe play. Never leave your rabbit unattended.
Hiding Place – Every creature needs an area to call their own. Hiding places are necessary to reduce stress and help them feel secure. Grass, wood, or pet-safe plastic hide outs are all popular choices.
BEHAVIOURAL
Chew Blocks – A rabbit’s teeth grow continuously, so provide safe chew toys to keep them worn down. Check regularly for malocclusion (an improper bite) that can affect eating, often seen when the lower teeth extend over the upper. If you notice this, consult 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
When choosing what food to purchase for your new pet, keep in mind that small animals often get diarrhea when new foods are introduced too quickly or during stressful events like adoption. Stick to familiar foods, including the same pellet brand, to support digestion. When adding new items, especially fresh foods, introduce them one at a time and watch for changes in behavior, appetite, or stool.
Hay – Grass hay should make up most of your rabbit’s diet and is essential for digestive health. It helps prevent obesity, dental disease, diarrhea, and boredom. Rabbits under one year can also have alfalfa hay for its extra calcium and protein, but after six months it should only be given as a treat.
All grass hays, timothy, orchard, oat, and botanical (timothy with herbs), are nutritionally similar, differing mainly in taste and texture. Offering a mix helps prevent picky eating, especially since flavor and texture can vary with the seasons.
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.
Night Droppings – Cecotropes are soft, grape-like clusters that rabbits produce daily. Rich in nutrients, they are re-ingested, usually at night, to support good health.
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). Treats encourage interaction between you and your pet, and build a bond between you.
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!
Keep water bottles clean to prevent bacteria and sediment buildup from supplements. Use a bottle brush with dish soap and water to clean both the bottle and the inside 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 three: 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 and/or a pet mat is recommended for your bunny. Use a litter scoop to spot clean the cage regularly.
Litter Box and Litter – Your rabbit will need a litter box both in and out of the cage. Line it with litter and add grass hay (or hang hay above it), as they naturally eat and poop at the same time. Use a non-toxic pelleted litter like wheat straw or recycled paper. Choose a box large enough for them as an adult.
Cage Cleaner – Use a pet-safe cleaner, ideally one that is enzyme-based to break down stains and odours. Clean the cage weekly with the cleaner or hot water and mild soap, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Avoid bleach and other household cleaners, as they can irritate your pet’s respiratory system or cause even worse problems.
Brush and Comb – 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.
Cleanliness and Safety
All pets can potentially carry diseases that may be contagious to people. Hygiene procedures, such as washing your hands before and after handling your pet or its habitat, are necessary. Children should be assisted with hand washing and always have adult supervision when interacting with pets.
CHECKLIST
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Enclosure
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(Optional) Exercise pen
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Hiding place
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Chew blocks
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Harness and leash
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Hay
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Pellets
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Treats
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Moss Hollow Adapt
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(Optional) Vitamin and mineral Supplement
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Water bottle
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Bottle brush
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Ceramic dishes and hay feeder
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Substrate
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Litter scoop
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Cage cleaner
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Brush and comb
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Nail clippers and coagulant