rabbits on walks

Question
hello
Can you take rabbits and guinea pigs on walks,
if you can how long and how far should you go for and is ther any special harness to use?

thankyou

Answer
Hi Steven,

you can, but only if the rabbit can tolerate wearing a special harness.  You have to get a harness that goes around the shoulders and also around the abdomen (looks like a vest).  You can't use neck harnesses on rabbits.  they will brek their necks or back if they strain against it.  And if they get tangled they could get strangled.

I would also really only walk him in your yard.  I would not take him to parks or on the sidewalk or anywhere there is a busy street.  I would nottake him anywhere near neighborhood dogs and cats, or strange dogs and cats.  you need to be able to get him off the ground to you quickly (and no, you can't yank him up by the harness off the ground to you - you have to bend down quickly and scoop him up properly).

You will have to be very careful about what they eat outside.  Domestic rabbits have lost the ability to know what plants are poisonous.  Also you will need to take them to the vet more often to get checkupsto make sure they have not eaten outside items that had parasites or eggs of something on them and now they have a health problem.  You'll have to get their fecal pellets tested more frequently than once a year.

Another suggestion I offer to rabbit folks is there are covered pet carriers you can more safely walk through a neighborhood with your rabbit in.  they look like strollers but they have a zippered mesh that zips up and your pet is safe but can see out.  My mom has one and the rabbits really enjoy it.  She has a little hidey area in the carrier they can go to (and you need it if they need shade) if they are afraid - there are many animal smells outdoors that cna sppok them.

Lee