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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
› Forum › THE LOUNGE › Your best advice for first time bunny owners
This is just for fun because I’m bored today
After reading a number of threads from first time bun owners, it seems like some of the same questions are asked and we give the same advice. So, if you had a friend who just got a bunny, what insider bun advice would you give them? What tips have you learned from owning bunnies that aren’t obvious to someone who has just adopted their first bun (even if they have done all the research)? I know I’ve learned a *ton* in the 6 or so months I’ve had Otto and I remember how overwhelming it all seemed at the beginning even though I tried to read everything available before I brought him home. There’s good info out there about diets, bonding, etc, but what other things have you picked up along the way?
Here are some of mine:
– Your bun may take a year to bond with you. Don’t worry if he acts like he doesn’t like you for months. Just be very patient and spend lots of time sitting quietly with him and he’ll come around. The results of being patient are so worth it! Buns are usually not “in your face” pets like dogs and cats, so you have to be more subtle in your approach.
– No bedding is needed on the bottom of a cage. In fact, most buns prefer laying on a hard surface! (this was a huge relief to me; I hate cleaning my gerbil’s cage and I couldn’t imagine cleaning one like it that was 4 times bigger)
– Your bun will not play with the majority of the toys you buy. He will prefer free items like boxes and paper bags, your books and magazines, and your carpet, much to your annoyance. However, you will continue buying him toys because you love him and hope that some day he will decide to play with them.
– It is impossible to stay mad at a bunny. They just go up on their hind legs and give you that “I sowwy Mum, I pwomise to be good” look that just makes you melt. Then you give them treats and everything is happy.
Haha. Good one Monkeybun. So so true. Otto’s even learned to pull this trick with his pet sitters and they give in to him every time.
I think it’s important for new bunny owners to realize that rabbits are intelligent and need things to occupy themselves. I’ve so often seen bunnies in a cage with just bedding, hay and nothing else! It’s so important to offer bunny a variety of activities to chose from, be it paper or carboard box to shred, rattles, etc. and that not all bunnies enjoy the same things.
Also, I advise them to do some research on bunny first aid and illnesses because when bunny is sick or hurt is not a good time to search the net to see what you should do. After my first statis episode, I made a “Statis Emergency To Do List” which really takes some of the stress away to have all the info right there, ready to go when needed.
Good advice, LPT. I learned the first one when we left Otto with some friends. We spend a lot of time with him, but they’re busy and have a dog, so he spent most of his time alone in their furnished basement and we didn’t think it would be a big deal for just a week. When we went to pick him up, he had destroyed everything in his pen! Including the mat under the pen protecting the carpet. He’s never destructive at home, so I realized how much he really enjoys our interaction and that he needs it to be mentally healthy. That’s definitely something new bunny owners often don’t realize.
What about….”Don’t bother with those triangle shaped litter boxes”? Seems so many people start with those then have to replace them.
You know I was thinking earlier about how Bucks can still impregnant Does for a period of time after being neutered. I was wondering if that is common knowledge – it shoud be. Has anyone ever been told this direct from the vet or is it just something to be discovered from rabbit specific resources?
I think it’s extremely important to tell new/potential bun owners about the importance of spay/neuter, that bunnies are not cheap or short-lived pets, that bunnies can be littertrained, about safe housing and diet, “bunnyproofing”, the importance of run time and good toys for bunnies.
Jersey, ditto on the triangle litter boxes! Especially when people get young buns they seem like a good idea, but then the bunnies quickly outgrow them. I picked my litter box pretty randomly (not a corner one though) and I’m lucky that it’s still a good size for Otto. Seems like most first time owners end up with at least 2 boxes after a few months.
FluffyBunny, all good points! So many people are so surprised that I got Otto neutered. They had no idea that was even an option for bunnies let alone recommended.
Also let peple know about the possibility of making a cage out of NIC, I bought a commercial small cage and ended up only using it for litter training because I like my NIC cage a lot better. Although truthfully I am glad to have bought that small cage because it really is wonderful for litter training.
Hmmm
BIG ONE: Find your vet first thing. Do not wait until they are sick to go sampling vets who may or may not be good. Best thing I ever did was sift out and quiz all the vets in the city who took buns. ALSO (if you have any pet) get the number to an emergency vet (or your vet’s on call number) and animal poison control on your fridge. You can’t be searching the phone book or google in an emergency.
Give up on having a clean house. There will be fur, and other bunny ‘items and junk all over. Also forget having money ever again-you will be spending all disposable income on bunny toys and treats and veggies and accessories, and bunny themed things for yourself.
Give up trying to explain rabbits as a pet to other people. If they don’t have em-they don’t get it; and they’ll probably tell you some story about how they had bunnies when they were a kid and they were kept outside, and their bunnies didn’t need hay and loved bread *eye roll*
You’ll know learn what vegetables like swiss chard and cilantro look like. Guaranteed nobody eats things like radicchio or collard greens-they are in supermarkets for bunny owners. ( hahah)
Get a first aid kit: Plastic thermometer, neosporin, preperation H, ovol, cornstarch, critical care and flashlight (At least).
The cage idea is great Moonlightwolf!! I often see people posting on kijiji or craigslist looking for a bigger cage for their bunny. I always email and give the BB link to condo’s and tell them where in the city they can buy them and to ask me if they need help-I’ve got a lot of ‘thank you I had no idea’s”
That’s all I can think of…
be prepared for an addiction!!!
I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned bunnitude yet! That was the biggest shock for me… to find out that these creatures that have such a reputation among the world at large for being sweet, docile and timid are actually independent, stubborn creatures with their own agenda, and God help you if you try to get in their way!! lol I was amazed at how complicated and fascinating my little Xiao Pang’s personality was… with Calypso and Echo, I had a better idea of what to expect.
Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 11/20/2009 07:31 PM
HmmmGet a first aid kit: Plastic thermometer, neosporin, preperation H, ovol, cornstarch, critical care and flashlight (At least).
What is a bun’s normal temperature supposed to be? I know dogs have a naturally higher temp than humans. Also, how do you take their temperature?
lwayne, Binky Bunny covered this in a post recently but I cannot recall where. This should cover it though. http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html
Ditto Ditto Ditto on triangle litterboxes!!! So often we get members asking, “Why won’t my bun littertrain?!” and it’s almost inevitable that they’re using a 6 inch wide and 2 inch deep triangle litterbox. If you want them to USE a litterbox, one way to make it happen is to give them one where it’s IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS IT!
I’m not a fan of manufactured cages, I’ve used them in the past, and I just don’t think they’re a great idea LONG TERM. If you’re going to use one, it has got to be the biggest one available (typically about 2×4 feet) but I’d rather spend the $60-100 (or more!) on an xpen and a scrap of linoleum. New bunny owners don’t realize that the “starter cages” might work for a short while, but they are not a permanent housing solution. Cages have to evolve as the bunny grows.
Try to find low-cost alternatives from the beginning… hay and litter can be bought inexpensively… without compromising on safety or quality.
Definitely get your first bunny “squared away” (spayed or neutered) BEFORE getting a second bunny! One step at a time, people!
hah! speaking of missing it… I totally bought bigger litterboxes once I saw Remy get into his old one, squat down, and pee right over the side.
Poor little lamb! He thought he was doing the right thing… lol
– It’s not uncommon for urine to be red.
– They should be eating hay, hay, hay and take it easy on the carrots and raisins.
– It’s alright if they eat a remote button or two.
– If you don’t want it eaten, keep it off the floor.
– All wires need to be blocked or covered with thick wire covers.
– DON’T PURCHASE A BUNNY FOR YOUR 6 YEAR OLD FOR EASTER.
– If you are wanting a dog or a cat, get a dog or a cat and not a bunny… They are a much different animal.
the checklist i would recommend would be in this order:
#1 – first and foremost… can you afford the vet cost, habitat and regular food / litter costs? do research, find a vet, price spay/neuter and yearly exam. price emerg exam $$ and know what is a possibility.
#2 – next and equally as important… is a rabbit the right pet for you? research behaviour and life span (don’t expect to train like a dog or independance of a cat), cleaning and maintenance responsibilities, and consider the social time you’ll have to spend with bun.
#3 – be prepared to be shocked and awed at how smart those little wee brains can be
They can jump! And if you think they can’t jump that high, they probably can.
NEVER leave your rabbit outside unattended for more than a few minutes, and that is only if they are in a secure enclosure!
If this is your first rabbit, skip the leash! While some people use them and have huge success, if you don’t REALLY, REALLY know rabbits then you don’t have the knowledge to train them to accept the leash.
Most things sold for rabbits in pet stores are not good for them at all. They are trying to make money, not keep your pet safe and happy.
Rabbits normally don’t like to be held. While your rabbit might seem sweet as a baby, or at the shelter, once you get him/her home and they are more comfortable they will probably ditch you in favor of running around and ignoring you.
If you go away they will probably snub you when you get back. They are not dogs, they are not going to make it seem like they are happy to see you.
Learn to read rabbit body language! Rabbits can inflict serious damage with both their teeth and hind legs, enough to send someone to the ER. This is why they are NOT sutable pets for children.
The smaller the rabbits, the more hyper they tend to be. Don’t think that just because they are small and cute that they are sweet and docile!
If I want to quickly pass on some house bunny info- I give them this website! I have had some of my co-workers call me to ask me questions like “what is the name of the comb that you recommend for shedding bunnies?” etc.
I usually try to mention that I learned some great money saving tips like using Woodstove pellets as litter, and buying hay by the bale to encouarge people to come here and LEARN about their pet. It amazes me how many people own bunnies and don’t bother to read about them- granted with the internet there is good and bad info- but still the info is there and FREE.
I so sometimes wish people would read some of the posted care info and then ask a detailed question about their bunny/situation if they need to figure something out though.
Give up on having a clean house. There will be fur, and other bunny ‘items and junk all over.
K&K- That made me laugh! My bf is always complaining that he misses having a “living room”. It’s pretty much “Binky Land” now. I don’t usually bother cleaning up all the toys, tunnels, boxes and stuff unless company is over cuz I’m just gonna have to haul it all back out anyways.
Buy a dust buster.
So true about your house never looking clean or put together ever again. Half of our dining room is taken up by a bunny cage! For one little 4lb lop! Haha. No one mentioned that the whole place would turn into bunny land. At the moment my living room has a maze haven and a torn up phonebook right in the middle. *sigh*
Hubby said that when we buy a house, he wants to make some sort of nicer looking enclosure, but I argue it will still be covered in hay and bits of cardboard no matter how nice it looks.
Elrohwen, I have convinced the hubby we need a couple extra rooms or even another FLOOR in the house for bunnies when we buy a house He’s becoming as smitten with them as I am
Although its been hard as heck convincing him to buy a dust buster O.o
I have to say that Rex rabbits dramatically reduce the amount of fur that a rabbit sheds. Normally I’m not partial to a certain breed (other than admiring a unique look like the French Lop), but I think I’ll always have a rex/rex mix. I am so much less allergic to Eclipse than I am Nova and Hubble. So like dogs, it could be advised that one looks into different rabbit breeds. Even though I’m a mutt lover in both the dog and rabbit world, a Rex does suit my lifestyle best due to a lack of fur/allergies on my part. Regular rabbit fur really sticks to my nose!
I just want to add on the litter tray I got a SUPER LARGE (that is what it was called) corner litter tray and my guys love it (granted Bugz is small and Anya is still little) it is about 3 times the size of the standard corner ones. They have access to that and the square large cat one and they perfer it. Will try and get a picture for you, I had to special order it but it was worth it, protects the walls so well!
From a newb to other newbs:
The “Floor Ignore” works.
› Forum › THE LOUNGE › Your best advice for first time bunny owners