Basic Bunny Care : Keeping Your Bunny Healthy, Happy, and Alive

Congratulations on choosing a bunny to join your family. As an experienced bunny owner myself, I'd like to share some valuable, need to know information with you. This basic care information will help keep your bunny healthy, happy, and most importantly alive.

Feeding:

You should feed your bunny high quality pellet food which is alfalfa based. The food should be a minimum of the following: 16% protein, 1.5% fat, and 17% or more fiber. Designer "pet store" feed which has colorful cheerios and treats in them contain sugar, and a higher fat content. I do not recommend feeding your bunny these type of feeds. The only time you want to increase the fat content, or feed larger amounts of feed is during the winter months, if your bunny is outdoors. The fat that your bunny gains will help protect them from the cold. You shouldn't worry about this if your bunny is indoors.

Store bought treats can also be high in fat, and include sugar. You can feed your bunny healthy treat that they will love, and save money by using what you have. Treats such as cabbage, kale, carrots, turnip greens, parsley, red apples, and Romaine lettuce all make great treats. Your bunny would also love some Alfalfa hay, which can be bought at any feed or pet supply store. Remember your bunny is getting plenty of Alfalfa from his feed, so only give him a little hay at a time. To much Alfalfa will cause your bunny to become constipated.

NEVER feed your bunny potatoes, Iceberg lettuce, or tomatoes. These can all be fatal to a bunny. If your bunny should start having diarrhea from accidentally feeding them the wrong thing, you should add 1 tablespoon of uncooked oatmeal to his food. If it still doesn't clear up then you need to take him to a vet.

Grooming:

Do not bathe your bunny. Bunnies hate, and I do mean hate water. You will find that your bunny is for the most part grooms itself. If you have a bunny with light colored fur, you might notice some yellow staining on their feet, and belly. This is urine stains. To remove the stains use a cloth dampened with peroxide to wipe the fur down. You will also need to keep their nails trimmed. You can do so with regular nail clippers. Try not to clip into the quick. If you do, then use styptic power to stop the bleeding. To clean your bunnies ears simply use a baby wipe or diaper wipe wrapped around your finger. Do not use a Q -Tip. Other then that just brush your bunny weekly to keep his coat shiny, and tangle free.

Playtime:

Again those bright colors you find at the pet store draws you in when looking for toys. However your bunny needs toys that are natural. This means no jumbo exercise ball. You should also avoid anything cloth, as your bunny will eat it. Parrot toys such as the wooded blocks that hang from a rope, are great. Your bunny will head butt it, and chew on it. Paper towel rolls are also fun for them. Chewing on the cardboard, and wood will also keep their teeth healthy. Their teeth are always growing, so by chewing they naturally keep them worn down. You can also buy a special leash that will allow you to take your bunny outside. No he will not walk around like a dog, but you will have fun watching him hop through the grass. Plus bunnies love grass, and outside play.

Bunnies are not that difficult to own, and they make great quite companions. The more time you spend with your bunny, the more fun you will have with him. Bunnies can be lots of fun for an entire family. The trick is, you must take time up with it. If you don't then your bunny will become wild acting. Have fun with your bunny.