Rabbits : Rabbits As Pets

rabbits The character, intelligence, liveliness, inquisitiveness, affectionate and playful nature of rabbits and their relative ease of care and the wide range of breeds, colours and coat types make rabbits a popular pet in many countries today.

As with any pet, keeping a rabbit requires commitment to caring for it during its life, including veterinary treatment if it becomes ill. Rabbits should also be vaccinated against Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and Myxomatosis annually.

Rabbits are sociable and therefore best provided with company, especially if the owner is away during the day or the rabbit is to be kept outside. Male rabbits (bucks) kept together will most often fight once sexually mature, although neutered bucks will live happily together. Female rabbits (does) will also live happily together if introduced at a young age or carefully introduced at an older age. A buck and doe should not kept together as this will result in continuous breeding. Even if the intention is to breed at some point, the buck and doe should only be introduced for a short period for mating to occur and kept separate at other times.

Although rabbits and guinea pigs will "accept" each other as companions, the habit of a rabbit to playfully jump when happy means that its powerful hind legs can cause unintentional serious internal injury to a guinea pig companion, that could result in death of the guinea pig. This is the case with even the smallest of rabbit breeds. Rabbits and guinea pigs also have different dietary requirements and different means of communicating. Therefore rabbits should not be housed with guinea pigs and the best and most natural companion for any pet rabbit is always another rabbit.

Rabbits are very affectionate and enjoy human companionship but most often prefer to sit beside their owner to being handled. However, their playful and trainable nature means they also enjoy play.

RABBITS AS PETS

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