Ten Ways to Make Your Bunny’s Day

 

In This Chapter

• Adding a healthy dose of fresh foods
• Having a good time, bunny style
• Trying bunny massage
• Spending quality time together

Sure, the demands of life can be overwhelming, but not so much that you can’t take a few moments to do something special for your rabbit. Not only will you strengthen the bond you have, but you’ll show her just how much you appreciate her as a source of joy, comfort, and companionship.

In this chapter, we list some ways to put a hop, skip, and a jump in your bunny’s step. None of the things on this list require a great deal of money or time, but they pack a big punch in terms of bunny rewards. Give them a try and see for yourself.

Get Fresh

Feeding your rabbit the best, freshest diet of grass hay and greens is one of the most important things you can do to prevent a whole host of health problems. On top of that, fresh foods simply make bunnies happy!

Hay is probably the most important part of your rabbit’s diet, and not just any hay will do. Be sure to give your rabbit an unlimited supply of fresh, grass hay (Timothy, for example). Chapter Stocking Up on Carrots describes how you can tell if hay is fresh or past its prime.

Fresh, moist greens, such as kale, parsley, endive, cilantro, and dark leaf lettuces, do a great deal to maintain a healthy rabbit intestine. Experiment to see which greens are a hit. Try a new vegetable, whether it’s one you’ve grown in your garden or one from the market. Better yet, plant an organic garden devoted entirely to your bunny and let him graze as he chooses (safely, of course).

Remember

Speaking of fresh, don’t forget to give your rabbit fresh water every day.

Take a Peek

It may not be pretty, but your rabbit’s urine and waste droppings can tell you a lot about what’s going on with her health. (See Chapter Nipping Common Health Problems in the Bud for more information.) For example, changes in urine color or urination habits may be sign of dietary changes or disease.

Changes in size and consistency of droppings can indicate a gastrointestinal problem. Soft stools (not the normal cecotropes) are often caused by a diet too low in fiber and/or too high in carbohydrates. Diarrhea, with no formed droppings and watery feces, is a different story, most likely a serious or even fatal condition. Call your vet right away.

Get Fit

Your rabbit needs plenty of exercise and free time out of her cage. She needs at least three to four hours of time to hop, run, and play. Not only is exercise a fun diversion for your rabbit, it also helps prevent obesity, sore hocks, poor muscle tone, problems with gastrointestinal and urinary function, and even behavioral problems.

If your rabbit is like many humans and doesn’t seem naturally inclined to exercise, take a look at Chapter Playing Around Isn’t Just for Dogs, which describes a bunch of games and homemade toys that may help bring out the athlete in your bunny.

Breathe Some Fresh Air

This book makes it clear that outdoor living is not ideal for domesticated rabbits (cold, heat, predators, disease, and so on), but a bit of fresh air does wonders for us all, including house rabbits. (Before you embark on any sort of outdoor excursion, check out the safety precautions outlined in Chapter Making Fitness and Fresh Air Fun for Your Bunny.)

Once you’ve provided a safe (and supervised) outdoor environment, you’ve opened up a whole new world of sensory experiences for your rabbit. Think about the fun your rabbit might have in a patch of garden, an outdoor run, or a portable exercise pen. New smells? Yes! New snacks? Yes!

Check on Health

Make it a part of your daily routine to handle your rabbit and check for any unusual discharge, lumps, sores, or skin problems. (Chapter Nipping Common Health Problems in the Bud includes a checklist for home exams.)

Tip

Make a point of taking your bunny to a great veterinarian at least once a year for a check up. Don’t balk at the cost; there’s a good chance that an annual check up may prevent you from an emergency (and costly) situation.

Make Time for Playtime

Rabbits of all ages need playtime, both for mental and physical reasons. Not only will playtime keep bunny muscles strong and bodies limber, but it will keep their minds stimulated and engaged.

A bored bunny is an unhappy bunny! Rabbits love to play games and play with toys. They’ll play with you, other rabbits, and other pets (safely, of course). Experiment with different games (see Chapter Playing Around Isn’t Just for Dogs) to see which ones tickle your bunny’s fancy.

As for toys, it won’t take long to figure out what your rabbit likes. (The toys he destroys or throws around the house are his favorites!) It can’t hurt, however, to rotate toys into the mix or try something new.

Listen to Your Rabbit

In nature, rabbits communicate with each other using sounds and body movements. Listen to what your rabbit may be saying to you: clucks, purrs, and snorts all have meaning (“that was delicious,” “I’m feeling good,” and “I’m so annoyed”).

Watch her body language for subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages. Chapter Thinking Like a Rabbit describes many of the common moves and what they might mean: chinning, leaping, presenting, kicking, and head butting. Enjoy!

Schedule Spa Time

Squeeze in an extra grooming session. Brush out loose hair, check and trim nails, and check ears for mites or other problems. Short (or long) grooming sessions are great for bonding as well as another way to stay in touch with what’s going on with your bunny’s body.

If your rabbit appreciates petting, consider a gentle massage in the morning or evening. It may take some time to find the best location; I’d suggest a fluffy towel on a table or the floor. In the same way, you may need to experiment to find the technique that best suits your bunny, but here’s a start. (Begin with a few minutes and work up to longer as he becomes more accustomed to the routine.)

1. Wash your hands and gather up a towel and small spray bottle of water.

2. Point your rabbit’s face away from you and move your hands down his body, from face to hind end; repeat this step up to four times.

Tip

Keep one hand on the bunny at all times to help him feel secure and safe.

3. Stroke gently between your rabbit’s nose, around the eyes and down the back of the head and then softly stroke the ears from the base to the tips.

(Remember to always be mindful of any sensitive areas.) By now your rabbit should have relaxed.

4. Start making small circles with your thumb along the right side of your rabbit’s spine (never on the spinal bones!), working your way down from the shoulder area to the hip; repeat on the left side.

5. Finish with another three or four sweeps of your hand from the head to hind end.

6. Spray your hands with a mist of water from the bottle, then sweep down the body once again, removing the loose fur.

Tip

Offer a fresh veggie treat as a reward!

Clean Up

Get serious once a week about cleaning. In addition to your daily chores, thoroughly clean and disinfect your rabbit’s digs and accessories once a week to keep her in good health.

Spend Quality Time

Your rabbit craves a social life, so do what makes her happy. For some rabbits, happiness means petting on the couch; for others, a mutual grooming session on the floor, or just sitting near each other while you read or talk on phone. Whatever her fancy, make time for these special moments during each day.

Connie Isbell and Audrey Pavia