When you are planning to adopt a rabbit, one of the most important things to do is to choose it. If you take care of it properly, preventing it from getting sick or injured, it will live with you for at least 9 years. It is a big commitment and, therefore, you will have to choose your sweet friend very carefully. This article will tell you how.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Deciding where to Buy the Rabbit
Step 1. Decide which type of rabbit to adopt
A boy or a girl? Adult or small? With pedigree? Which breed? Decide how many rabbits you would like to have. It would be great if you could be in good company, but if you're unsure, it's best to take at least two. This article mainly deals with rabbits as pets.
Step 2. Decide where to buy the rabbit
Below you will find the most common solutions, with their pros and cons.
- Pet Shop. It will likely give you a huge variety of rabbits (bunnies and adults) to choose from. However, you will need to go through the entire store (not just the rabbits) and make sure it respects hygiene standards and takes care of the animals it sells. You don't have to smell bad. It might be a good idea to prepare a list of questions to ask your manager to make sure he or she knows how to run his business properly.
- Animal shelter. You will be able to give a poor abandoned rabbit a new life and the staff will almost certainly continue to help you if you have a problem with your new friend. However, most of the rabbits it hosts will be adults and, therefore, it may be difficult to find one with a pedigree.
- Rabbit breeder. It may be the best solution. If he is good, the breeder may have already started socializing his bunnies and will be able to give you information on how to take care of the specimen you are going to choose. As with the pet shop, it would be best to prepare a list of questions to make sure the breeder is trustworthy.
Step 3. Investigate
Ask friends and family, read newspapers wherever you are. Word of mouth is usually quite reliable, as people are not as likely to advertise good stores with which they have had bad experiences. Go to the best places and focus on the ones you prefer. Ask a few questions. If he is capable, the manager will be willing to answer all your questions.
Step 4. Reduce your choice to two resources, at most three
Go to each of them, examine them carefully, look carefully at the rabbits (and other animals if necessary). During this stage you can afford to be choosy - you are trying to select the best place your rabbit's choice will fall.
Step 5. Choose one
Go for your favorite. If you're having trouble, ask other people's opinions. Choose carefully!
Part 2 of 2: Choose the Rabbit
Step 1. Evaluate the specimens according to your needs
If you simply want a small rabbit that doesn't grow over a certain size and has (or doesn't have) a certain length or type of hair, the choice should be easy. Just find a litter whose parents resemble the kind of rabbit you want.
Step 2. Check your physical condition
It is vital that it is healthy. If you find some who are not in good health, check the others more carefully. If you find that your favorite rabbit is sick, it would be wise to reconsider the choice of adopting an animal from a particular litter or group. If you find several sick rabbits and / or if one or more rabbits are not in good health, it would be best to reconsider buying from a particular supplier.
- The ears must be clean and free of bad smells. Look for excessive earwax production and for foreign bodies. If the ears go limp and fall on touching the body or the ground, it is a good sign: it means that it is a ram rabbit, a very well known breed.
- The eyes should be clean, free of foreign bodies, not red or bloodshot. Make sure he can see. Ask the breeder to check. Even if the eyes have different colors, that's not a problem.
- The coat and skin must be clean and free of bad odors. The coat must not be matted. Run your hand up to the skin, checking for ticks, fleas, and other parasites. You will be able to spot them if you see small beige, black, red or cream colored spots moving around. Check the rabbit of your choice thoroughly, paying particular attention to the tail and under the tail.
- The nails should not be excessively long. If they are, check to see if any other signs indicate that they are in good health. If it's all right, take it. Just ask the vet to trim his nails when you take him for a checkup (which should happen as soon as you take him).
- The mouth must be clean and have no bad breath. There must be nothing inside but what one expects to find in a mouth (i.e. teeth, tongue, etc.).
Step 3. Choose your favorite
If all the rabbits you've evaluated are happy and healthy, the choice is a matter of taste. Just do not opt for the rabbit that remains more secluded, away from the others. You will probably be sorry, but it may cause you problems later on.
Advice
- Get a transport cage (a carrier for cats or small dogs is sufficient). You will not only need it on this occasion, but also when you need to take it to the vet, in the event that you have to move house and in many other circumstances.
- Take him to the vet immediately after purchase if you can, otherwise as soon as you get the chance.
- Ask the breeder if you can bring the rabbit back within 24 hours in case of problems. If that's not possible, reconsider your decision to buy from him.
- Choose a veterinarian who specializes in rabbit care!
- Sterilize or castrate the rabbit as soon as possible. You will be able to decrease the health risks, bad behavior and unwanted puppies, as these animals can reproduce several times in a single year.
