Common Mistake to Avoid as a Rabbit Owner
Rabbits are among the best pets you can have in your house. They are quiet and enjoyable to watch as they run around. Besides, they are very friendly and smart because they know how to relate with their owners and get what they want. As you keep your bunny, it would be best to buy a suitable rabbit cage to give them a space of their own to rest, sleep and even have some calmness.
Unfortunately, rabbit owners make some mistakes when keeping these beautiful pets, and may make them uncomfortable, unhappy, or even lead to their death. This article looks at some of the errors that rabbit owners commit.
Sheltering the Rabbits Outside
Traditionally, people kept rabbits outside in hutches, but some studies have shown that it is not the best way to keep pet rabbits. Keeping the bunnies outdoors reduces their lifespan by half because they face extreme cold and heat, possibilities of illnesses, experience anxiety and stress, and risks of predators. With the enemies that attack rabbits lurking outside, the rabbits have to contend with smells and sounds from the predators, causing them chronic anxiety.
Sometimes, the predators can break into the hutches and attack the rabbits. Also, the pets encounter disease-spreading parasites and other things. It would help to keep them in indoor enclosures, say cages, or areas set aside for them. It would help if you treated them as part of the family because they are so social and can be great companions like dogs and cats.
Bathing the Rabbits With Water
Some people are misinformed that rabbits should be given a bath and even check out the videos posted online by uninformed people about bathing bunnies. You should not bathe bunnies at all using water since baths can cause them several problems. If these pets live in sanitary environments, they know how to keep themselves clean without bathing. As such, it is crucial to ensure proper cleaning of their cages and other areas they use.
Bathing rabbits could subject them to extreme shock, which is dangerous because it makes their bodies shut down. Their coats also tend to keep moisture for long, which may lead to hypothermia because the fur is no longer keeping them warm. If need be, give your bunny a dry bath.
Feeding Your Rabbits the Wrong Diet
Many bunny owners feed them large bowls of pellets as they would do to dogs or cats, which is wrong. It will lead to obesity. Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system and need a balanced diet comprising of leafy greens and grass-based hay. They need constant fodder throughout the day to graze on and a cup of fresh green every day. You ought to give them about a quarter cup of pellets daily.…
Just like other small pets, hedgehogs need access to water and food. You should, therefore, have food and water dishes in the cages. In addition to this, they should be regularly cleaned to prevent them from illness. There are low food dishes designed for small animals, and they make it simpler for the hedgehogs to access the food. Water can be placed in bowls, or a water bottle can be attached to the side of the cage. The choice of dishes is significantly determined by personal preference, the size of the cage and what the hedgehog is used to.