Category: Rabbit behavior

Exercise is important for your rabbit.  It promotes good overall health and prevents obesity.  Providing your rabbit with exercise will ensure proper respiratory and cardiovascular function, as well as promote muscle development.  In addition, exercise aids in preventing boredom and unwanted behaviors.  Some experts recommend two hours a day of exercise time outside of the cage environment.  If your rabbit lives in a large cage, less exercise may be adequate.

Indoor versus outdoor exercise:

When exercising your rabbit indoors, ensure …

Introduction

Biting is an unwanted behavior that some rabbits display. Because rabbits naturally live in social groups, they have a need to establish a social hierarchy. In the wild, rabbits use many methods, such as biting, lunging, and snorting, to develop a dominance order. Domestic rabbits still have the tendency to exhibit this dominance behavior, but when it leads to the injury of a human companion, there are steps that can be taken to modify the behavior.

Although social behavior …

Your rabbit might have ear canker, which is caused by small parasites called ear mites (Psoroptes cuniculi). Check his ears for a brown discharge and crustiness. Ear canker can easily spread from one rabbit to another, so if you have other rabbits, check their ears also. Ear canker can be treated and cured by using chemical mitacide eardrops safe for use in rabbits or an injection obtained from your veterinarian. A few drops of light mineral oil used …

Introduction

Rabbits are known for their powerful back legs, which allow them to move quickly over short distances. However, rabbits can also use their powerful back legs to kick their human companions, causing injury to the humans or themselves. Kicking in rabbits is a behavior that many rabbit owners observe. Owners should understand that kicking is an indication of how secure a rabbit feels when being held. Proper handling is the best option to help prevent this unwanted behavior.

Predisposing …

Introduction

Spaying or neutering your companion rabbit can have benefits for both the owner and the rabbit. Unwanted behaviors often develop in animals left intact. In addition, rabbits are at an increased risk of health conditions and decreased life span when not spayed or neutered.

Spaying or neutering

Neutering refers to the removal of the reproductive organs, which permanently prevents an animal from breeding. Technically, the term neuter refers to the procedure done in either a male or female animal, …

Rabbit breeding is a serious activity that must be carefully considered before beginning. Breeding rabbits takes a lot of time, money, and responsibility. Before starting a rabbit breeding program, owners must first consider the following:

• Rabbit population: Breeding rabbits for fun can easily lead to the problem of pet overpopulation. Each year thousands of rabbits are destroyed in animal shelters because of a lack of responsible owners. Before breeding a rabbit, you must consider where the kits will be placed

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Introduction

Marking objects or urine spraying is a normal territorial instinct that many domestic and wild rabbits display. Unfortunately, pet rabbits that spray urine create a problem for their owners. Those who own rabbits that spray are constantly faced with how inconvenient and costly this behavior can become. There are a few tips to help prevent this behavior, but the most efficient method is to have your rabbit surgically altered.

It is important to distinguish between urine spraying and …