Topics include Signs of a Healthy Rabbit, Signs of Distress, Food & Water Requirements, Housing & Cage Requirements, Cage Maintenance, Handling, Grooming, Exercise, and Safe Toys.

Signs of a Healthy Rabbit

• Clear, bright eyes.
• Alert behavior.
• Clean nose, clear of mucous.
• Clean ears, free of parasites.
• Upper teeth should overlap the lower teeth.
• Smooth, well fleshed body.
• Dry round fecal pellets.

Signs of Distress

• Rabbit is hiding in a corner or unusual place.
• Rabbit is sitting in a hunched position.
• Rabbit is losing weight.
• Rabbit is not eating.

Food & Water

• 16% protein pellets should be fed 1 oz. of pellets per 1 lb. of body weight.
• Small handful of Grass or Timothy hay 3-4 times per week.
• Petromalt or papaya should be fed 1 time per week to prevent fur blockage.
• Fresh water should be provided at all times.
• Pellets should be stored in an airtight container.

Housing & Cage Requirements

• Wire cage 24” x 24” minimum with a 1” x 1/2” wire bottom.
• Place E-Z Mat, plywood, or sheetrock in cage as a resting area.
• Rabbits may be kept indoors or outdoors.
• Cage must be in a draft free, protected area, with adequate ventilation.
• DO NOT place cage in direct sunlight as it can be fatal.

Cage Maintenance

• Clean the cage a minimum of once per week.
• Clean feeders a minimum of once per week.
• Clean water bottles/crocks a minimum of once per week.
• Clean resting mat or change plywood/sheetrock as necessary.

Handling

• To pick up your rabbit, place one hand under its chest and the other hand under its rump.
• Lift the rabbit up to your body and place its nose in the crook of your arm.
• Hold the rabbit with one hand supporting its rump and the other hand over its back.
• Be gentle when handling your rabbit.
• DO NOT hit or tease your rabbit.  Unkind treatment can make your rabbit aggressive and mean.
• DO NOT pick your rabbit up by the ears.

Grooming

• Rabbits need to chew to wear down their teeth. Provide a limb from an apple tree for this purpose.
• Rabbit nails require clipping from time to time. You can use human toenail clippers to clip the tip of each toenail.
• DO NOT use dog products on rabbits.
• Rabbits do not need baths, they groom themselves.
• You can brush your rabbit, especially when they are molting.
• Rabbits do not need shots.

Exercise

• Allow your rabbit time out of the cage daily.
• Provide a safe enclosure.
• Always supervise your rabbit.

Safe Toys

• Untreated wood.
• Rawhide balls.
• Metal jar lids.
• Bells.
• Cat balls.
• Golf balls.
• AVOID toys that can be chewed and swallowed.