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High fiber, high quality hay is essential for the digestive health of rabbits. Hay will be picked through and no longer desirable within 6 to 8 hours, so it is ideal to add fresh hay to the litter-boxes 3 to 4 times per day. By offering hay in a very large litter-box, your rabbit’s natural tendency to eat and poop simultaneously will be satisfied and she will consume more hay overall - approximately 5 pounds per week, depending on the individual rabbit and the overall diet offered. You can expect 25% of the hay to be wasted, soiled, or simply not wanted by your bun, so never wait for the box to be empty before offering more hay. You will know your buns are eating enough hay when their droppings are consistent in shape and size, and crumble to powder at the slightest pressure. Droppings that are strung together indicate a build-up of fur in the digestive system; “stringers,” or poops that are small, dark, and hard indicate a need for more hay, grooming, hydration, and exercise. A variety of high-fiber, low-protein grass hays is best. Oat/barley/rye, and timothy make great staples and Bermuda, orchard, and brome are all suitable for most adult rabbits. For babies and geriatric rabbits, add protein-rich alfalfa hay to the mix. Leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, endive, escarole, parsley, cilantro, Swiss chard, carrot tops, and herbs, including basil, mint, watercress, and dill, are excellent sources of nutrients, cellulose, and flavor. Offer a variety of at least 3 to 5 of these per day and keep mineral-rich veggies such as kale, collard greens, broccoli, and dandelion greens to a minimum. Timothy hay based pellets are ideal for teen and adult rabbits. Molasses-free pellets (available at BunnyLuv Essentials) will eliminate many of the problems that can come along with sugar-rich options, and will also allow you to offer treats that contain sugar such as a thin slice of carrot each day or a small cube of apple, pear, strawberry or other fruit. (Avoid fruit that is overly ripe as the sugar content is increased.) If your bun cannot tolerate sugar at all, save her favorite veggie from the mix and offer it as her treat. Avoid cereal, crackers, nuts/seeds, corn, commercial treats, and bread. For a great selection of premium quality hay, our very own vegetable mix, molasses-free timothy hay pellets, fun treats, etc., visit BunnyLuv Essentials, or for more specific information regarding diet and care, contact us at (818)988-4488. |
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Unlimited Quantities: |
Limited Quantities: |
Never Feed (unless young and unaltered or Angora):
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Never Feed at All:
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Start your spayed or neutered rabbit in a fairly small area, up to 4' x 6'. Provide an assortment of litter-boxes. The most important box will be a large (at least 18" x 24") box with deep sides. The idea is to make the litter-box appealing to your rabbit so s/he will want to get in the box and follow his/her natural tendency to graze and eliminate simultaneously. Place 1"-2" of CareFRESH, or another absorbent, rabbit-safe litter, in the large box. Cover the litter with high quality grass hay. Every 6 - 8 hours, add fresh hay, equal to double the size of your bun. Since your rabbit will either waste/discard about 25% of the hay, this will still allow him/her to eat six times his/her size each day. Every other day, discard the hay from the litter-box, check the litter underneath, removing any heavily soiled portions, and continue adding fresh hay. Once per week, empty the entire box, rinse with water, and spray/pour white vinegar over the inside and outside of the box – wait a couple of minutes, scrub if necessary, and then rinse and dry the litter-box. The box should stay looking and smelling brand new for years. Once the box is clean, start over, or to prevent accidents during cleaning, have two sets of litter-boxes available for trading out. For many humans, the idea of the dinner table and the toilet in the same location is very shocking, but your rabbit needs to graze. You do not have to worry - your rabbit will not eat soiled hay, as long as you provide fresh hay three to four times a day. Do not be discouraged if your bun does not take to the new routine instantly; experiment with larger litter-boxes, or different hay and/or litter. To make things easier for your bun, provide lots of litter-boxes, especially in corners, until s/he lets you know which locations are preferred. Also provide smaller boxes of plain bedding/litter if possible. As your rabbit's litter-box habits improve, s/he will earn more freedom and you can gradually increase his/her space. Eventually you will be able to remove any unused boxes from the area. |
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We are still hearing stories of buns injured during car travel. Recent reports include a bun sitting in the passenger seat who was covered with splinters of broken glass that entered his skin when the windshield was shattered, as well as a baby bun was saved by a tow-truck driver and a police officer who had to corral her out of the street and into a retail store where she could be caught after her human’s car was hit and she was bounced into the intersection, unprotected. Hard sided travel carriers can often prevent unnecessary tragedies from occurring. Keeping Bunny safe and comfy in her carrier while driving can help to keep you from becoming dangerously distracted and will also provide a much safer way to get your rabbit from the car to your destination. One of our favorite carriers for buns is the top-opening style, which allows you to lift and lower Bunny in the way you normally would, without being restricted to the smaller front door. |
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| San Fernando Valley and Glendale Dr. Charles Misetich—Arden Animal Hospital (BLRRC vet) Conejo Valley Dr. Karen Martin—East/West Veterinary Clinic |
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