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Rabbits - Nutrition and Care

As it has already been mentioned, rabbits are utterly herbivorous. There should be ready stock of grass, clover and alfalfa. These are the items that are most preferred by these animals and should be given to them every day. Fresh water is also absolutely necessary, and there must be a dish heavy enough to prevent overturning of the dish by the rabbit. That is because rabbits are brisk and mobile and tend to poke right into the dish while eating and eventually they spill their water. The dish should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected at least three times a week.

Drastic changes in nutrition regime are very dangerous. Before alternating ratio, one should necessarily consult a specialist. There are examples of rabbits' sudden deaths caused by changing from one type of food to another. Thus, abrupt transition from grasses to oats is likely to cause fatal intestinal trouble.

Rabbits - Keeping

Rabbits are usually kept in special cages. They should be fixed in certain places. Roaming of the apartment by rabbits should be limited to a certain degree. The floor in the cage must be covered with some soft material. The cage must be spacious enough and should be equipped with all necessary feeding facilities and a litter box. The top of the latter should be covered with a wire mesh.

In outdoor conditions rabbits are held in big, wired enclosures with all the items mentioned above. There should also be a shelter and a runway for the rabbit to hide in case there is a threat. Rabbits are easily scared, and there must always be a place to hide. This will help to prevent the rabbit from getting an occasional trauma.

Rabbits are highly sensitive to weather changes and temperature fluctuations. For instance, Cottontail rabbits in unfavorable weather conditions die, a mortality factor that substantially contributes to drastic drops in populations. Therefore, hiding places must be so well prepared as to provide reliable protection against precipitation and other environmental hazards.

Rabbits have a very fragile skeleton. It comprises only 8% of their entire body weight. Improper treatment and mishandling may result in fractures and dislocations. This is particularly common to the spine. Its lower section is more prone to traumas, which brings on paralysis of the hindquarters. For that reason, rabbits should be regarded with extreme caution and, if you are holding a rabbit in your arms and it is struggling to break loose, let it go immediately!

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A rabbit fact sheet may be obtained from a breeder; breeders will also provide care information.