Keeping Company With Rabbits

Are rabbits soft and fuzzy? Most definitely. Are rabbits as cuddly as they look? Not necessarily. Is a rabbit more like a cat or a dog? Neither. A rabbit is like a rabbit.
Are you expecting your rabbit to come running when called? They seldom do. However, having a carrot in hand may help. I have learned to call my rabbits out from under the bed about 10 minutes before I need them. They seem to show up "on time" this way.
Are you expecting your rabbit to curl up on your lap and sit with you? He probably won't. He may nudge your leg while you sit on the couch, expecting you to move over or pet him. Perhaps he will jump up and sit with you, allow you to pet him, and then scamper off just moments later.
Do you want to hold your bunny for hours? Well, most don't want to be held for hours. Most prefer you to be on the floor and meet them on their level. The floor is where your rabbit will allow you to snuggle with him and show your affections. This is where he is most comfortable.
The first rule in communicating with a rabbit is to get down on the floor. The second rule is also to get down on the floor. Rabbits need to be approached at their level–the floor. Spend time getting to know him where he is comfortable. If he seems to avoid you at first, spend time just sitting quietly on the floor, not approaching him, not trying to pick him up. Rabbits are naturally wary, but also naturally curious. Eventually curiosity will win out and your rabbit will come over to investigate you.
Try snuggling close, face to face. When he feels comfortable with you, he may allow you to pick him up. Do not rush this introduction. Remember, a rabbit is an animal of prey, and it may take time for him to gain trust in you. The first time he nudges you or grooms you, the process of trust has begun and a special honor has been bestowed upon you: He is communicating with you as he would communicate with a fellow rabbit.
As with any animal, or humans for that matter, each has his or her own personality. Some are active and crave attention. Some are shy or aloof. If a rabbit is shy, you need to make the effort to interact with him. Although shy rabbits may become more sociable with time, do not expect a different personality. This seemingly reserved behavior is actually more common and "rabbit-like" than the interactive rabbit of folklore who plays with the children.
Most important, love your rabbit. Whoever he or she is, whatever the color, markings, direction of ears, habits or personality, all are of value and deserve our love and companionship. Each will enrich your life in his or her own special way.

Common Rabbit Problems......

Bunnys don't always mean to be naughty. With some gentle persuasion you can change most bad rabbits into polite, tidy rabbits. This may take some time, but is well worth it.


Pooping and peeing everywhere
Rabbits CAN be litter trained. Rabbits are naturally tidy animals when it comes to the toilet. In the wild, rabbits will use one spot as the toilet, as leaving poops everywhere will let predators know that there are rabbits around, and may lead them to the warren. Most rabbits will poop in the same place if you provide them with a toilet in safe place. Put a few litter trays around to help your rabbit become accustomed to using the litter tray. Place some hay or pellets in the tray to make it a good place to visit frequently. If you give rabbits too much space to roam around in initially, they seem to forget how to use the litter box. Restrict the area your rabbit can roam around in until he/she is using the litter box, then slowly extend the area. Once rabbits are litter trained, they may leave the odd poop around just to let everyone know that this is their territory.

If your rabbit is not spayed or neutered, it can be part of the problem. Unneutered/unspayed rabbits tend to mark territory much more than altered rabbits.


Why do rabbits dig up the carpet?
Rabbits love to dig. Your carpet just happens to be between the rabbit and the dirt... Try getting your rabbit some dirt to dig in instead.

Why do rabbits nip/bite?
Rabbits can bite for several reasons:

• Rabbits nip to say "I love you". This is usually accompanied by the bunny circling you, often grunting gently. What your bunny doesn't realise is that bunny nips hurt!
  
• Rabbits can also bite to get your attention, as in "Hello up there!! I'm down here !!! I need snacks NOW".
  
• If you are in the bunny's way, he will bite you to get you to move.
  
• If you are holding a rabbit and it nips you, it probably wants to be put down on the ground.
  
• Rabbits will attack with their teeth and claws. If you are on the receiving end of this, you are offending and/or intimidating your rabbit. Back off. Bunny bites can be very very painful.
  
• If you reach your hand out to pat a rabbit's head, the rabbit may bite you in self defence. Rabbits can't see what is in front of their noses, and not being able so see what is touching them, they will bite you. This is why rabbits will sniff something before taking a bite. Its good manners to put your hand out so your rabbit can see it's not threatening, then stroke your bunny.
  

To stop your bunny nipping you, try squealing when you are bitten. Rabbits associate squeals with severe pain/fear. Hopefully the rabbit will understand that biting hurts.


Why do rabbits bite each other on the backside?
This is their way of saying "I'm the boss, get out of my way". Now you know this, you can use this to your advantage. To get your bunny to move out of the way, try giving him nudges in the backside. If you are the boss then the rabbit will take your orders and move out of your way.


Why does my rabbit eat fluff and dust?
We don't know. If you find out, let us know. Fuzzy loves to eat dust. Its a novel way to keep the house dust free :-)


Why do rabbits chew cables?
Rabbits living underground often get roots growing into their burrows. This annoys them as it blocks access. The roots get nibbled off by the rabbits to keep the burrows clear. The cables in your lounge room are roots. If they get in your rabbit's way, instinct takes over and they get nibbled... The best way to deal with this is to restrict your rabbit's access to the cables. The best way to do this is to obtain some flexible plastic tubing to cover any exposed cables. If you slit the plastic tubing the whole length, you can put the cables inside. Be sure to pick a hard plastic, as a soft plastic tube is quite edible by bunny teeth.


Why does my rabbit poop in the food bowl?
Rabbits will poop in their food bowl just to show you (and other bunnies) that it is their food bowl. Its basically a territory marking exercise. Fuzzy does it every day, and she is very possessive of the food bowl. If we reach in to get the bowl out, we get grunted at.


Help, my rabbit is chewing furniture/skirting boards/anything it shouldn't be!!!
Rabbits have teeth that continue growing throughout it's life. For this reason, rabbits need to chew things to wear their teeth down. Unfortunately this is often wooden furniture or skirting boards. The first thing to do is buy your bunny something else to chew on. You can buy bunny safe toys from many online rabbit shops. An untreated wicker basket works well too. They also enjoy chewing on sea grass mats. To deter rabbits from chewing on the naughty things, try putting some double sided sticky tape on the area that is being chewed. Rabbits will not like their whiskers getting stuck on the tape. You can also try putting vinegar in the area too, as rabbits find the smell and taste very very offensive. Bitter substances tend not to deter rabbits as they enjoy eating bitter foods (ever tried eating endive? very bitter.)

Panduan Penjagaan Arnab

Panduan Penjagaan Arnab

Pemakanan Arnab

Penyediaan atau pemilihan diet untuk arnab memerlukan pengetahuan agak terperinci mengenai sistem penghazaman dan nutrisi yang diperlukan oleh arnab. Perkara paling asas perlu diingati ialah diet arnab tidak memerlukan kandungan gula dan protein yang tinggi atau sejumlah makanan yang banyak sebagaimana arnab pedaging. Jika anda memberikan makanan campuran yang pelbagai mengikut anggaran keperluan dietnya, pastikan arnab memakan semua makanan yang diberikan. Biasanya arnab akan memilih sendiri makanan yang digemarinya dan mengabaikan bahagian makanan yang kurang digemarinya menyebabkan ia tidak mendapat jumlah khasiat yang diperlukan. Fiber atau serat merupakan khasiat makanan yang amat penting bagi arnab supaya sentiasa sihat dan amalan penggunaan gigi arnab dengan betul. 

Diet Arnab Dewasa

Diet asas arnab dewasa yang sihat sepatutnya terdiri dari rumput kering beku atau rumput ternakan yang berkualiti seperti meadow hay, timothy hay, alfalfa dll bersama pelbagai sayuran segar. Diet ini perlu diperkenalkan kepada arnab secara perlahan-lahan dan hadkan makanan pelet kepada lebih kurang 2.5 oz sehari. Obesiti biasa berlaku kepada arnab dan mengurangkan potensi kesihatannya. Elakkan pemberian makanan yang terlalu berlebihan. Arnab memerlukan vitamin B dan bakteria sihat untuk menghazamkan makanannya. Kegagalan sistem penghazaman inilah penyebab kepada penyakit diarrhoea atau biasanya disebut cirit birit.

Diet Anak Arnab

Berikan makanan arnab (pelet) dengan kadar 2.5 - 3 oz sehari mulai usia anak arnab mencapai tiga minggu. Rumput kering beku / hay perlu sentiasa ada dengan jumlah yang tidak terhad untuk anak arnab dalam usia ini.

Hay / rumput kering beku / alfalfa sangat berpengaruh terhadap kesihatan arnab kerana kandungan fiber / roughage yang mana amat membantu dalam penghazaman, mencegah g.i.stasis dan gumpal bulu (hairballs) serta menjaga bentuk gigi arnab yang sihat. Hay / rumput kering beku / alfalfa perlu sentiasa diberikan kepada semua jenis arnab tanpa had.

Makanan (pelet) arnab mestilah sentiasa dalam keadaan baik. Menyimpan stok makanan terlalu lama (melebihi 3 bulan) akan menyebabkan kualiti makanan menurun dan kehilangan nilai khasiat makanan.

Arnab bergantung kepada populasi bakteria sihat yang stabil dalam perutnya. Perubahan diet perlu dibuat secara berkala bagi mengelakkan perubahan jenis bakteria perut yang mengejut kerana fenomena ini menyebabkan diarrhoea (cirit). Diarrhoea boleh menyebabkan kematian dalam masa yang singkat.

Air

Arnab minum tidak mengira masa. Oleh itu air perlu sentiasa mencukupi untuk arnab. Air perlu sentiasa bersih. Pastikan air minuman tidak bercampur dengan tumpahan makanan atau tinja arnab. Gunakan botol dengan niple (sipper) sebagai kemudahan membekalkan air minuman untuk arnab.

Penjagaan Gigi Arnab

Gigi arnab berbeza dengan gigi manusia. Gigi arnab setiasa bertumbuh. Masalah utama gigi arnab ialah pertumbuhan molar berlebihan dan tonjolan enamel. Fenomena ini berpunca dari diet arnab yang tidak sempurna terutamanya tidak memakan jumlah fiber yang cukup. Pemakanan bahan makanan berfiber akan mengakis permukaan gigi arnab yang sentiasa bertumbuh dan mengekalkan bentuk gigi yang sesuai.

Vaksinasi & Penjagaan Kesihatan

Penjagaan arnab sepatutnya termasuk vaksinasi cegahan VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease) setiap tahun, Myxomatosis 2 tahun sekali dan rawatan kecacingan 2 kali setahun.

o    Vaksinasi cegahan VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease) tidak boleh diberikan dalam tempoh 2 minggu daripada Myxomatosis.