C o m p a n i o n s

Hopping Into Spring

by gerri reid, dvm

Spring is always a favorite time of the year for most people. Flowers begin to blossom, trees come alive and the birds begin to chirp. We get to spend more time outside in the sunshine with our friends and family and of course, our pets. Time for Easter egg hunts, baby chicks and bunnies! This is the time of the year people tend to purchase baby bunnies for their young children. And trust me, nothing is as cute as a picture of young children with a bunny. But caring for a rabbit is not exactly easy.

Rabbits are great pets! They are smart, loving and at times entertaining. And of course, they are so cute! But what people don’t realize is having a rabbit is a 10-yyear commitment. Whether they are kept indoor or outdoors, the level of care they need can be time consuming and expensive. So, if you are thinking of getting a rabbit, let me offer you some advice before you JUMP to make that decision.

First, you will need to get a housing for your rabbit For outdoor rabbits, choose a hutch or enclosure that is spacious for your rabbit depending on its size/breed. As for an indoor rabbit, like my own, you can either have them free roaming within a destinated room or also provide a hutch, bunny condo or large rabbit cage. The ones in most pet stores are rather small so be sure it’s big enough for your rabbit to hop around a bit. Place your cage in an area (Family Room) where you are often since rabbits are very social animals

Now that you have chosen a housing setup, it is time to Bunny proof your home! Rabbits like space to run and explore. They are very curious and mischievous at times. To provide them with a safe area and to protect your belongings such as cords, you will need to cover them up or put them up away from your rabbit’s reach. Rabbits love to chew! Be sure to provide your rabbit with lots of toys to chew. A good cardboard box castle is perfect for them to chew on, fun to make and offers hours of entertainment for your rabbit.

A rabbit’s diet mainly consists of fresh hay which should be given daily. Baby rabbits should eat alfalfa hay and adult rabbits should be fed Timothy hay. Supplement your rabbit’s hay diet with fresh vegetables, fiber-rich pellets and fresh water. Remember to limit the quantity of pellets you give to adult rabbits. For those with a Green thumb, planting a garden for your rabbits is a great idea. Plant herbs such as basil, parsley and mint which they just love!

The one advantage rabbits have as pets is that they can be litter-ttrained since they use the bathroom in one area. Place a litter box near the food/water/hay feeder. Rabbits like to eat hay and use the bathroom at the same time, so placing the hay in the litter box will promote good bathroom habits. Recycled newspaper litter is best as clumping litter is not recommended.

My 2 Lionhead bunnies, Bun Bun and Smokey Hare are a joy! I sit in my office in the mornings and watch them run and jump around feeling so happy. I think free roaming rabbits are the best. But I do realize that caring for my bunnies takes time and effort. They love to see me coming and greet me with lots of snuggles. If you are thinking of getting a rabbit, trust me, you won’t regret it.

Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. She can be reached at 540-623-3029 or reidmobilevetservices.com or facebook

@ReidMobileVetServices