I just got a rabbit about a week ago. This is my first time having one, so I have a few questions about them.
My (rabbit) is [pooping an aweful lot]. I let him out of his cage about 2 hours ago and he usually goes on the side of my couch in the corner. I checked on him and there was around 30 pieces of poop there. It wasn\'t there before I let him out. Is this normal?
Can someone suggest what is the best way to potty train him and is it ok to give him baths?
One more question: When I brought him in to my new apartment I started to notice that he was scratching. I checked and it looks like he has fleas. He either got them from the last tenants cats, or he had them when we got him. Is there anything I can use that is safe as flea control? I read that a lot of things kill or really hurt rabbits.
Don\'t worry about your rabbit\'s droppings as long as they are firm and round. In the early morning you might notice soft droppings reminiscent of grape clusters. These are normal too. They are called cecotropes and the rabbit consumes them directly from the anus (cephrophagy) as a means of gaining extra nutrients from it\'s feed.
As for litter box training, an older rabbit will train much easier than a young one. Also, rabbits that are spayed or neutered respond better to litter training as well. Begin with a box in the cage, and one or more boxes in the rabbit\'s running space. If he urinates in a corner of the cage not containing the box, move the box to that corner until he gets it right. Don\'t be concerned if your bunny curls up in his litterbox--this is natural. The key to success is supervision. Don\'t let your rabbit out without you watching him like a hawk. If he heads to a corner where there\'s no box, or lifts up his tail indicating he\'s about to urinate, cry \"No!\" Gently herd him back to his cage and his litterbox, or into one of the boxes in his room. A handful of hay in the box makes it a more welcoming place. After he first uses the box, praise him and give him a treat. Don\'t hurry this process. As he becomes more confident and uses fewer boxes, you can start to remove some of the early, \"training\" boxes. Get your rabbit into a daily routine and try not to vary it. Rabbits are very habitual and once a routine is established, they usually prefer to stick with it.
Concerning fleas, most cat flea powders work well on rabbits. Stay away from
Frontline, however - that can be lethal. I like to use
Ivomec, but it is rather pricey. I give it as a subcu injection - .01 cc/lb.
Good luck.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Thank you very much for the response. :>
About the fleas though: I was in my local pet store, and I saw some flea spray for hamsters. But it contains some pyrathin which I read might be dangerous. Do you think it would be? Or might there be something that is more readily available in store?
My guess is that if the powder is safe for hamsters it
probably would be for rabbits, but I have not seen or used the product so I couldn\'t tell you for sure. The main ingredient in cat flea powder is Tetrachlorvinphos, which is relatively safe.
Pyrethrins (the main ingredient in your hamster powder) and carbaryls are considered safe, but too high of a dose can cause seizures, tremors, and death. They can be toxic over time. The key to look for on the label is that the powder contains
15% or less of pyrethrin.
Just remember NEVER to use a flea dip or bath (even if it is labeled safe for cats).
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com