Once you dip your toes into the rabbit world. You’re hooked. Rabbit health becomes a hobby as you set up a life with your furry friends. But where do well-meaning rabbit parents go wrong?
It’s usually not a big mistake but likely something that falls by the wayside or doesn’t get the attention it deserves. We’re talking about little mistakes that make a big difference when it comes to rabbit health.
Because when it comes to a rabbit, the little things are the big things!
What To Avoid When Creating a Thriving Rabbit Home
When you welcome new furry family members into your home, your routine changes and you make room for new daily rituals. As you work through the checklist of things you need to buy, you also need to think about what your rabbit’s daily life will look like for the next 8+ years.
Consider what your role is in maintaining that. Here are 5 common mistakes that bunny parents make and how to correct them!
Keeping A Rabbit in a Small Space
You see this mistake all the time in pet stores. Sadly many rabbits grow up in enclosures that are too small for them to thrive. Adequate space gives a bun room to explore. Plus, rabbits need room for toys and other goodies to keep them busy during the day!
It’s also important to provide additional time and space outside of their primary enclosure to really get their zoomies out. Rabbits have a lot of energy and they’re happiest when they have the opportunity to run around and binkie with their friends.
Time outside of their cage lets them bond with their human friends as well. But since it’s unlikely you can spend all day with your bun, make sure their primary space where they spend their unsupervised time is as big as it can be.
You want at least 8 sq. feet for a single rabbit. The bigger the better though! One way that rabbit parents create custom cages for their rabbits is with storage panels like these. Connecting the panels with zip ties allows you to create an enclosure to fit a specific area in your house.
Providing a Low-Fiber Diet
Rabbits need high-quality hay available 24/7 like Timothy hay or orchard grass hay. This is what should make up 85% of your rabbit’s diet. The mistake some rabbit parents make is providing too much additional lower-fiber food so that their rabbit doesn’t eat enough hay!
Rabbits can be given ⅛ a cup of quality rabbit pellets per 5 lbs. of body weight. When you give your rabbit too many pellets, they might spend less time with the hay! This is because there’s work involved with chewing up hay all day and pellets are softer/easier to chew.
However, the work is what keeps their teeth healthy! Rabbits have teeth that need to be continually worn down so they don’t become overgrown.
So while they need lots of fiber to keep their digestive systems healthy, they also need the roughage of hay to help wear their teeth down as they chew.
Rabbits can be given 1-2 cups of fresh leafy greens a day as well. Too many treats or sugary foods like carrots and fruit not only mess with their gut microbiome but it also distracts from the hay they need for a high-fiber diet.
Not Enough Foraging Opportunities
Rabbits need mental exercise just as much as physical exercise! Rabbits in the wild spend their days searching for new plants to try. Domestic rabbits are fed on a silver platter.
Okay, okay, not usually silver. But we’ve certainly taken the work out of their day. This is why it’s important to have enough toys in their cage so they can explore new tastes and textures. As well as give them a bit of a challenge.
Maybe today they’re working on getting the stick out that’s wedged in the corner of their enclosure. The next day they’re trying to get bits of a hay cube off of a mobile as it swings away from them. As they go to bed they find a treat hidden in their hideout. These things give them something to think about! Rabbit health includes physical, social, and mental well-being.
Forgetting How Important Friends Are For Rabbit Health
Rabbits are very social animals. Although they love their human friends, nothing replaces the companionship of another rabbit. When you get a rabbit it's best to get two at a time if you can. That way you can properly bond them as they get to know you and their new environment.
Having a rabbit friend helps a rabbit feel safe and loved. They’re able to look out for each other and warn of any dangers coming through the door!
It’s also important to give your rabbit plenty of time to interact with you! If you have the space and food figured out, don’t forget about the love and care that you bring to the table!
Not Having A Rabbit-Savvy Vet
Not every vet is experienced with rabbits and rabbit health! Make sure you pick out a vet with plenty of rabbit experience before you think you need a vet. If your rabbit gets sick you want to have somewhere to take them in an emergency!
When rabbits get sick things can go downhill fast, you don't want to waste your time with a vet that isn’t equipped to jump into action.
If you’re here reading this article, that means you’re doing your best for your rabbit, and if your rabbit has a parent trying to do their best, then things will definitely go alright for them!
At some point, we all make mistakes. We’re all growing and learning how to be the best pet parents we can be.
We are not veterinarians, and none of our information should be construed as veterinary advice.
Before adding any new product, please consult your exotic veterinarian. If your pet is acting unwell and you have concerns for their well being, please contact your vet immediately.
