Saturday, March 6, 2010

Is your rabbit healthy?

Springtime will be hopping along soon and many children will be receiving Easter bunnies. We want to share tips on how to spot health problems to keep your rabbits healthy. If your rabbits strain to urinate, experience a loss of appetite, or have a temperature these are warning signs of potential health problems.

Pine and cedar shavings are a definite no-no for your rabbit bed. Softwoods produce hydrocarbons that cause liver damage and respiratory health problems for small animals such as rabbits. Organic litter and newspaper is a safer alternative. Red urine is not always a reason for concern. A Rabbit's urine may be clear to yellow colored or brown to a bright red color. The veterinarian can test the urine for blood if the condition continues.

The antibiotic, Amoxicillin, should never be given to rabbits. Penicillin-based drugs are very dangerous for a rabbit. There are rabbit-safe antibiotics that can be prescribed by the vet. A rabbit's teeth can be uneven just like Bugs Bunny. This is because rabbits continually grow teeth. The teeth will need to be clipped if the alignment keeps the rabbit from eating. Usually this condition is only a problem with the front teeth not wearing down properly.

Rabbits get hairballs the same as cats and shedding is how to spot health problems in rabbits. Rabbits shed heavily every three months. A light shedding follows, then back to a heavy shedding, and so on. Shedding is often a cause in what kills rabbits. It is important to brush rabbits when they begin to shed. Rabbits groom themselves, but are unable to cough up hairballs like cats. A constant supply of fresh hay helps the rabbit digest the hair.

Many people do not realize that you can have your rabbits spayed or neutered just like other pets. The risk of fatal reproductive cancer in a female rabbit is nearly 85 percent making spaying necessary in keeping your rabbits healthy. Neutering male rabbits eliminates spraying and aggression. To neuter or spay rabbits is a safe and effective solution to hold down the rabbit population.

Bacterial infections caught early are much easier to cure. For symptoms of a bacterial infection in rabbits, how to spot health problems are runny eyes or nose, high fever, or a rattling sound in the chest. You need to take the rabbit in right away to see the veterinarian if any of these first signs of infection appear.

If your rabbit shows signs of digestive problems, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Diarrhea can kill rabbits. Runny diarrhea is the health problem that requires immediate care. A rabbit's droppings should not be clumpy or soft. Also, watch out for loud stomach growling or no droppings at all.

Rabbits make wonderful pets and it is very important to learn how to spot health problems to keep your family pet healthy for years to come. For centuries, a rabbit's foot has been a symbol of good luck. It is not the feet that are lucky it is the whole rabbit! It would have been too awkward to carry an entire rabbit in your pocket. A pen of furry friends means many blessings for you.

For all of the latest information and to see pictures of our mini lop rabbits please visit Mini Lop Rabbits.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_Isbitt

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