Frequently Asked Questions about Rabbits

What can I feed a new baby bunny?  Stick to pellets and Timothy Hay for the first 3 months to avoid diarrhea.  Slowly introduce new foods in small amounts, such as vegetables, fruit, wheat bread or crackers, nuts.  Avoid lettuce or watery foods.

What size cage do I need?  For dwarf breeds, 18x24 is the minimum, mid-size 24x24 minimum, large breeds 36x36 minimum.

When do they start breeding?  Small breeds have been known to breed as early as 3 months of age.  Large breeds can take 9 or 10 months to mature.

Do rabbits need a house in their cage?  They don't need one, but they often like a house or a box to sit in.  If they use the house or box as a litter box, remove it.

Can rabbits be litter box trained?  Yes, as it is natural for them to "do their business" in one particular place.  Just figure out what corner that happens to be in and plop your litter box there.  It may take a little time.  There are many good resources on the internet about litter box training for rabbits.

How do you trim nails?  Bunny nails can grow long and can break, so monthly trimming is recommended.  Use a cat nail trimmer, or an emory board on tiny rabbits.  Hold the nail up to the light so you avoid cutttting the vein.  If you cut too short and it bleeds, use Styptic or Blood Stop (available at feed stores and pet stores).  In an emergency you can use cornstarch to stop the blood flow.

Are pet store rabbit toys OK to use?  Some are OK and some are not recommended.  We avoid dyed toys or chewies, which can stain your rabbit's fur.  The best toys are in your home, garden or grocery store: nuts, measuring spoons, twigs, corks, rings from canning jars, chunks of wood (untreated), cat balls with bells inside....

Will my bunny get lonely all by itself?  Yes, it will.  If you have a single bunny, keep it inside where everyone is around, not hidden in the yard with little interaction.  If you have your bunny outside, make sure it has a friend.

Do rabbits get along with other pets?  Rabbits do well with most cats, but avoid dogs bigger than they are.  Never leave a dog alone with a rabbit.

Do bunnies make good pets for small children?  If you supervise bunny time, rabbits make excellent pets for small children.  However, don't leave a young child alone with a rabbit or let him/her drag the bunny all over the house.  Bunnies will quickly learn to bite in order to be put down, so don't let the situation get out of hand.  Short, sweet, frequent petting sessions will work best with kids.  Both your children and your bunny will thank you for a great relationship.

My rabbit has a twisted neck, what do I do?  This condition is generally known as Wry Neck, and we have found it to be fatal over 90% of the time.  It gets worse and worse until the bunny can't eat or drink well, and eventually is overcome with spasms and an uncomfortable death.  Unfortunately, it can be caused by many things, so it is hard to single out any one cause.  Dehydration can sometimes cause it, and giving a dish of water can clear it up in a day.  If caused by an ear infection, antibiotics might theoretically help, but I have never personally seen antibiotics clear it up.  If it is caused by siomething else, it's anyone's guess and vets don't usually have any more idea about it than you do unless they are rabbit specialists, but they will be happy to charge you several hundred dollars if it makes you feel better.  Our advice:  if you can't afford high vet fees for an unlikely recovery, let your bunny live as long as he is comfortable, then have him humanely put down.

My rabbit has diarrhea.  Is that dangerous?  Diarrhea in a rabbit can become very dangerous and can kill your rabbit in as little as a few days, or can go on for months if it is not serious.  Diarrhea in rabbits is known as Enteritis, or inflammation of the intestinal track.  It is often caused by a change in food, especially to a high protein feed, or by giving watery vegetables like lettuce.  Medicines such as antibiotics often cause it, as well.  If your bunny has diarrhea, you may try any  or all of the following: a small amount of diarrha medication such as Peptobismal or Children's Immodium (figure out the amount by the weight of the animal), feed Timothy Hay, or feed the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast).  Keeping your bunny dehydrated is the most important things with diarrhea.  They can last a long time with no food as long as they have water.  Try giving him Pedialyte or Gatorade for the electrolytes.  If he won't drink, try giving it to him with a syringe.  If your bunny has not had fluids for several days, have your vet give him an IV or subcutaneous bolus of fluids.

My bunny was on antibiotics and now he is better but doesn't eat well and/or has diarrhea.  Rabbits don't handle antibiotics well due to their delicate intestinal system.  After a dose of antibiotics, give your rabbits probiotics (available in feed stores) or yogurt or acidophilus milk to build up the "good" stuff in their intestines that were killed off by the antibiotics.

My rabbit has weird sore stuff going on inside his ears.  It's likely your rabbit has ear mites.  You can easily treat this with Advantage for Kittens or Cats (depending on weight).  It will clear it up in a few days.  Be sure to sanitize his cage afterwards with bleach.  I do not recommend any other brand than Advantage, and definitely do not use Frontline, as it has ingredients that could kill your rabbit.  If you don't want to use a medication, you can manually clean out the ears with mineral oil and a Qtip several times a day for a week or so.  Vets can also prescribe eardrops for mites.

My bunny has sore spots/bald spots on the bottom of his hind feet.  This is called Sore Hocks and should be addressed quickly to avoid infection.  It is caused by a poor bottom on your cage, or a heavy rabbit on a wire cage with no foot pad.  To prevent it, use heavy weight 1/2" by 1" floor wire that doesn't bend or warp and make sure you have a board or other flat surface for the bunny to sit on when it feels like it.  Our bunnies generally like wooden boards or plastic pads in winter and the cool wire floors in summer, so the breeze can flow around them easily.  To cure sore hocks, use triple antibiotic ointment like Neosporin several times a day and make sure you fix the cage floor and add a board or pad.

What can I do to fatten up my skinny bunny?  Bunny may have worms.  Try some pelleted Goat Dewormer (available at feed stores) and feed according to weight.  It should help in a few days.  Your rabbit may also have parasites (see below).

What can I do to improve  my bunny's fur?  Bunny may have parasites.  Try Ivermectin Pour On (available from the feed store) and administer by weight.  You just pour the liquid on the back of the neck (using a syringe is pretty easy for this)  This med controls a number of nasty parasites and is very effective.  Additionally, feeding some black oil sunflower seeds, peanut butter, or a little olive oil can also improve fur.  Last, you can increase your feed protein to 18%, but be sure to switch over gradually so you don't give your rabbit diarrhea.

What is Pasteurella and do I need to worry?  The House Rabbit Society has an excellent articule about this common disease.  Most rabbits do carry the bacteria, and most rabbits don't have a problem unless they are stressed by heat, poor nutrition, or unclean housing.  Click here to read the article.