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Choosing a Healthy Rabbit
Rabbit Hutches, Rabbit Food, Indoor Rabbit Cages
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When choosing a healthy rabbit, common sense should be applied. But since common sense
is not so common or at least a little different from person to person, we have to make things
clear.
Here are the tips that can help you select a pet rabbit:
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Select a rabbit that is neither too skinny nor too fat. You can easily judge whether a rabbit is
healthy or not by just looking at it, similar to the way you judge other people (although I do not
recommend it).
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Rabbits are generally clean so if the ones you see are not properly groomed, look somewhere else. There
are other pet shops nearby. Bare patches on the coat are a red flag. Also, look for soiling at the rear
end of the rabbit as this is a sign of diarrhea.
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The coat around the eyes should not have tear stains or signs of wetness. The eyes of a healthy rabbit
are bright and free of discharge.
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Ears should be clean and not damaged. They should not be red but should be pink and free from
discharge. The nose should also be free from discharge.
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The rabbit's breathing should be normal and not labored.
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The rabbit's teeth should be aligned and not overgrown.
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Observe how the rabbit reacts when being handled by people. As a rule, a good rabbit should be calm
when approached and picked up from its cage. Any sign of panic or fear is not good.
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Observe the way it moves around the cage. Stiffness, hesitancy, lameness, and reluctance are not
a good sign.
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See if it's surrounding is clean, not crowded and free from stress and infection.
Other tips:
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While your instinct tells you to go to a pet shop, there are other places where you can get a rabbit.
Consider going to a breeder, an animal shelter or an animal rescue.
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If you are planning to adopt a rabbit, make sure that you still observe everything that is mentioned
above. If you plan to adopt a sickly rabbit, know the health risks and prepare for the possibility of
expensive treatment.
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If you are bringing home a rabbit for the first time, prepare to spend at least $150 for a cage, a
carrier, and a litter box. Also, make sure that you have the budget for food, toys, treats,
accessories, veterinary care, and litter materials.
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