If you have made these mistakes, don’t feel too bad. We’ve all been there (including me) and started off making any number of bad decisions based on false marketing and an inaccurate perception of rabbits as pets. Instead of feeling guilty about all the mistakes I have made in the past, I choose to learn from my mistakes and help people like you have the resources you need to make changes and take better care of your beloved pet rabbit.
In this articl we will talk about the six most common mistakes that rabbit owners make.
1. Not getting the rabbit spayed or neutered
Pet rabbits need to be spayed or neutered once they reach maturity. It’s one of the added expenses of adopting a young rabbit, but it’s crucial to your rabbit’s health and for keeping peace in the household.
Rabbits who haven’t been spayed or neutered have a high risk of developing reproductive cancer. Female rabbits, in particular, are in danger. They have an 80% chance of developing uterine cancer by the time they are 6 years old if they have not been spayed. Sadly very few rabbits are able to recover from this type of cancer.
Spaying and neutering also help with many rabbit behavioral issues that arise once they reach maturity. Many rabbits will become increasingly territorial and aggressive. If they haven’t been neutered, they’ll be more likely to spray urine around the house and attack other people who invade their space
2. Feeding them too many carrots and fruits
In the wild, rabbits don’t naturally eat root vegetables or fruit.
Carrots and fruit are high in sugar and should only be given to bunnies as occasional treats in small amounts.
As a rule of thumb, an approximate amount of fruit to feed your rabbit is one teaspoon per 2 pounds of body weight per day.
And believe it or not, some light-colored lettuce, like iceberg, contains lactucarium and can be harmful to your rabbit
Darker, fibrous and more leafy varieties of lettuce, like romaine lettuce should be fed, as they are higher in actual nutrients and fiber.
Likewise, muesli should never be fed to rabbits as it can cause health problems in bunnies.
3. Bathing your rabbit
Rabbits are very clean animals and they never need a bath.
If your rabbit doesn’t clean itself properly, it could be a sign that they need a visit to the vet.
Bathing your rabbit can be harmful because rabbits may panic and fracture their spine or a limb if they thrash around. Bathing is very stressful for most rabbits and can cause respiratory infections and even heart attacks. And your rabbit may develop hypothermia
And remember, a rabbit’s skin is very sensitive and delicate. Bathing them strips away the natural oils on their body and irritates their skin.
If your rabbit needs to be cleaned, you must only spot-clean them, or give them a dry bath.
4. Keeping rabbits outside
The outdoors is full of dangers for pet rabbits. Not bunny proofing your house Some rabbits can be trouble makers. They may chew on the objects around your home, or dig into carpeted floors. Rabbit-proofing your home is a must for protecting both your pet and your belongings.
Make sure to cover your exposed wires with plastic sleeves or flex tubing. Seal off spaces behind and beneath furniture and cabinets, and wrap your wooden table or chair legs with flex tubing.
And it is important to keep any houseplants out of the reach of your bunny. Many plants are toxic to rabbits, and rabbits’ instincts don’t always guide them about what plant is safe for them.
5. Not Spaying or Neutering Your Rabbit
Spaying or neutering your bunny also lowers the risk of reproductive cancer and urinary tract infections. In particular, female rabbits are in danger. If they have not been spayed, they have 80% chance of facing uterine cancer by the time they are 6 years old.
6 . Eye catchy pellet mixes
Many eye-catchy pellet mixes marketed toward rabbits contain sugary pieces, seeds, peas, and other ingredients that often lead to an unhealthy rabbit digestive system and obesity. Instead, give your rabbit just those plain, boring-looking pellets, and your rabbit will love you for it.