When choosing a rabbit, looking at a few simple things can help ensure that your new pet is a healthy one.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 10 minutes
Here's How:
- Look at the overall body condition - the rabbit should be neither fat nor skinny, with no swellings.
- The rabbit's coat should be well groomed, with no bare patches. Check for soiling aroung the rear end, as this may indicate a problem with diarrhea.
- Look at the ears, they should be pink, not red, and free of discharge. The ear flaps shouldn't be damaged.
- The eyes should be bright and free from discharge. Check the coat around the eyes for signs of wetness or tear staining.
- Check the nose - it should also be free of discharge.
- Try to get a look at the teeth, they should not be overgrown and should be well-aligned. Also check for wet or matted fur on the chin.
- Observe the rabbit's breathing, which should be quiet and not labored.
- Watch the rabbit move around - it should have no signs of lameness, stiffness, or reluctance to move around.
- Look at the rabbit's surroundings - a rabbit kept in clean conditions, without crowding will have less exposure to stress and disease.
- Observe how the rabbit reacts to people - ideally pick a rabbit that is relatively calm about being approached and petted
Tips:
- Although babies are cute, there are many adult house rabbits in need of homes, so consider visiting a shelter or rescue.
- It is wise to resist the tempation to adopt a sickly rabbit unless prepared for the possibility of expensive treatment and possible heartbreak.
- When buying from a breeder, make sure they are breeding for a specific goal (e.g. temperament and health).