| Do you have any useful tips on rabbit care to share with others? Email your tips to bunnytips@mahouserabbit.org. Selected tips will be included on this page. |
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| Harvey S., Medford, MA |
| If you use newspaper as litter (under a bedding of hay, of course) try The Wall Street Journal. It's a better quality of paper and more absorbant. [Editor's note: And it's much more educational for the buns than the tabloids.] |
| Melanie B. |
| Do you use Pedialyte solution to help rehydrate your rabbit when he has gastro-intestinal shutdown? If you use this often, consider freezing the Pedialyte in ice cube trays after opening it. Once it's frozen, put the cubes in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the freezer. This helps prevent them from being dehydrated in the freezer. When you need some Pedialyte just thaw a few cubes. |
| Linda B., Boston, MA |
| Do your bunnies track hay and litter onto the floor when leaving their cage? Just purchase one of those plastic boot trays from a hardware store and lay it like a doormat in front of the cage door. |
| Debbie Z., Beverly, MA |
| If your bunny tends to pee over the edge of the litter box, there are a couple of things to try. A litter box with a raised rim might help keep his bottom inside the box. One with a lid would fix the problem (but some bunnies are opposed to lids). You can also protect your floors or carpets by placing a plastic bag on the floor with a heavy towel that matches your carpet or floor (so it blends in) over it and then put the litter box on top. Instead of cleaning your floor or carpet constantly, you can just throw the towel in the laundry. |
| Harvey S., Medford, MA |
| My modest contribution at this time would be in giving pills to a bunny. I found that if I mashed it up and pressed an apple over it so that the crushed pill stuck to the fruit, she gobbled it all down. |
| Debbie Z., Beverly, MA |
| To save money, buy hay by the bale at a local farm supply store. It is usually much cheaper (and typically fresher) than buying it in small bags. Always make sure it is fresh and of good quality. |
| Peter R., Chelmsford, MA |
| Everytime you rearrange any area of your house, no matter how small, reevaluate your bunny proofing by getting down on the floor and looking at the area as your bunny will. Even small changes can create opportunities for bunnies to get into things that are unsafe. |
| Mary L., Worcester, MA |
| To create a positive association with grooming for your bunnies, you can give them a healthy treat following each grooming session. This might make those who are initially uncooperative start to look forward to it. A bit of a favorite green or a spoon size shredded wheat (no frosting) after grooming might be appropriate. Just don't overdo it with the treats- make sure they fit into the overall diet. |
| Pamela N., Derry, NH |
| Hay storage areas must be dry. Damp areas can lead to mold growth which can lead to very sick bunnies. |
| David D., Carlisle, MA |
| For the bunny's litterbox, I find that wood stove pellets make excellent litter. These are the "Stove Chow" that you can buy at the feed and grain store or at Home Depot (in the winter). There's no dust, non-toxic, and they absorb like crazy. A 50 pound bag is only a few bucks-- lasts a long time. |
| David D., Carlisle, MA |
| Does your bun dig up the hay and litter in his litterbox? Try this: cut a piece of wire mesh from an old cage (or buy some mesh at the hardware store). A 1-inch square mesh works fine. Put down a layer of litter in the litterbox and place the wire mesh on top of it. Then add the hay. Mr. Bun can dig the hay, but he won't disturb the litter. (This works great with the wood pellets described above.) |
| Debbie Z., Beverly, MA |
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Remember that if you travel, you can not just leave your bunny safely at home
with a big bowl of food and bottle of water for a couple of days. Many
bunnies will simply overeat the first day you are gone and will have no food
for the remainder of your trip. They also need fresh greens, fresh hay, etc.
They will need to be cleaned up after.They also may get stressed, lonely
and bored without you at home. Make sure that if you travel, you have a reliable sitter who can visit your bunnies often (a couple of times a day at least). Always leave your number, your regular and emergency vets' numbers and all health information and care information with your sitter. |
| Pat F., Melrose, MA |
| To get rid of the calcium buildup on the bottom of the litterbox, keep some vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray on the vinegar full-strength, let it sit a few minutes, and then scrub and rinse. |
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