Page 41 - DoggieRescue E-Magazine April 2015_Neat

APRIL 2015 DOGGIERESCUE.COM MAGAZINE 41

• Bites from sharp teeth

When a rabbit turns 5-6 months of age, a bunny will change from that fluffy,
cute and tolerant rabbit that they once were as a baby bunny. Once a bunny
hits 6 months of age, they are now a teenager. Their personality emerges and
they start to make their own decisions on how they want to be treated by their
human friends. Rabbits have very strong personalities and if they do not want
to be handled or picked up as they did as a baby bunny, or are frightened by
chasing or loud noises, they will start to lunge and bite the children.

A rabbit's bite is very sharp and
hard. A rabbit's front teeth need to constantly grow and grind down to
the sharpness of a razor blade to ensure they can chew hard fibrous
foods.

When a rabbit bites human skin, the incisor teeth plunge deep into the
skin. Rabbits can hold their bite in fear for quite a long time and the pain
is intense. (See a rabbit bite on hand at left.)

4 IMPORTANT things you need to know about rabbits...

1. Rabbits HATE loud noises and will attack if threatened: Rabbits are not fond of
loud noises, being chased and are very territorial and aggressive if threatened. Most rabbits that are
surrendered to shelters were bought for small children. When the bunny hits the age of around 6 months,
they start to mature and become their own little personality. This is when the bunny decides that they will not
tolerate being picked up or handled roughly. Rabbits can start to growl, lunge, bite or chase whoever is the
threat. Once a bunny starts to show these signs, most families ditch the bun instead of learning how to adjust
and interact with their maturing rabbit.

2. Do you have 10 years to dedicate to a rabbit? Rabbits live for 10 years or more if looked
after properly. Rabbits need regular veterinary visits, desexing & yearly vaccinations. Desexing helps with
behaviour and long term health issues. Calici vaccinations are yearly and this is a good opportunity to have
your bun’s health checked. Rabbits age 8 years to our 1 so a yearly check up is vital to keep up with any
health issues.

3. Rabbits need good food: Rabbits need good quality vegies that you would eat yourself, not
freebies from a bin. Rabbits need good quality hay from a stockfeed store, not dried up pet hay from a pet
shop or inedible straw.

4. Rabbits need to know they are safe: Rabbits need a safe space to run, not cooped up in a
box in the backyard or left outside to fend for themselves. If inside, they need a safe bunny proofed room
and a safe place to sleep. If they live outside, their enclosure needs to be BIG and INSECT/PREDATOR
PROOFED.

All this requires money.

Rabbits need a mature person to look after them. They are not a toy for a small child.
PLEASE don’t buy a rabbit as an Easter present unless you can care for it…