10 Ways to Choose a Healthy Rabbit
When looking at purchasing a new rabbit whether as a pet or show/brood animal, look for some quick signs of illness or other issues. While there is no guarantee; avoiding rabbits that have common signs of health problems can save you a lot of money and heartache. 1). The rabbit's fur coat should look healthy. No bare patches and no matted fur. Check for a soiled bum. A rabbit with diarrhea is unhealthy. 2). Look at the rabbit's overall weight. Does it look too fat or too thin. When you touch it's back, how easy is it to feel it's spine? You can use common sense though to if the animal looks unhealthy regarding their weight. The only exception to this is if it is a doe just coming off a litter. Doe's just off litters, depending on how many kits she had, can be a bit bony. I free feed all nursing doe's and continue to free feed the doe for a few weeks after weaning to bring her weight back up if needed. 3). Lift the rabbit's fur backwards to look for bugs/mites. Sometimes you may not see the bugs, but if the skin is flaky and it looks like dandruff, then there may be a problem. Or if they have bald spots, it could be mites. 4). The eyes should be bright and clear. No hazy spots on the eyeball. The eyes should be free of discharge and the fur coat under or around the eyes should not be wet or matted. 5). Check the nose for wetness. It should be free of discharge and the fur coat under the nose should not be wet. 6). The ears should have a nice colour inside of them. Not too red. Look inside for mites or scabbing. 7). Look at the rabbits teeth. Do they look healthy? The front top and bottom teeth should perfectly align to touch together. This is so that they wear against each other as the rabbit chews. 8). Count the rabbit's toe nails. Are they all there? There should be five on each front paw (including the dew claw), and only four on each back paw. 9). How is the rabbit's behavior? Is it hiding, in a ball, in a corner? Is it relaxed and stretched out for a sleep? Is it happily moving about? Observe the bunny's breathing, which should be quiet. 10). Look at the rabbit's surroundings. Clean conditions reduce stress and prevents disease. Use common sense. Some things that would make me think about finding a different breed would be if they don't want to answer questions or have you look over the rabbit; if they seem rushed or rough with the animal; if they can't guarantee the rabbits health to the best of their ability, they stay away. Most responsible and ethical breeders will guarantee the animals health to the best of their ability. Remember, things happen. Rabbits can get stressed during transportation or from the new environment. Illnesses can hide for two weeks prior to showing, so the breeder may not know. Don't be quick to place blame. Most good breeders will stay in touch and answer questions. Do research and find a reputable breeder. There are a lot of backyard breeders, and unethical/irresponsible breeders now a days who will sell sick animals or pet quality animals that are advertised as show quality and priced too high. If you get a bad vibe from the rabbit or it's owner/breeder than I would not continue with the sale. DON'T be afraid to look around at multiple breeders. If you are looking at a specific breed, contact a few different breeders and get an idea of health, quality and prices first. And if you haven't noticed, I do keep saying 'breeder'. Don't buy from a pet store!!! Buy from a breeder, even if it's only for a pet! Quality and health will be 100% better and you know what you are getting, age, breed, gender and you know their background better if you buy from a breeder. Most pet stores animals were sent from breeders because they are not show quality, and it is their way of culling OR they are a 'rabbit mill'. Most pet store animals are NOT healthy and won't live as long as a healthy animal bought from a responsible breeder. For more information feel free to contact me at [email protected] Remember these things when looking for a new pet or show/brood rabbit, they are very important, basic health things to look for. (courtesy of Mary Grace McNiel, with revisions and additions by myself)
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