a rabbit for me?

Question
Hello, I am intrested in getting a single rabbit as a pet and have a few questions. Firstly Do rabbits stink I mean you can smell something in the petshops by the cages is it them or there pee? Is there anyway to keep the house from smelling or rabbit pee or is it impossible? I would have to keep the rabbit caged my dogs are small pet friendly but couldnt be trusted unsupervised around a rabbit. Is there a type of rabbit that is calm and isnt prone to being nippy...I perfer a rabbit with pointy ears if possible. Does a single animal Really need to be altered and also would a single pet be ok in a large cage or would it become depressed do to lack of rabbit company? thank you

Answer
Hi

Ok I will try to give you a few opinions from different perspectives and hopefully it will help you with your decision.

Rabbits do have a slight odor.  They are very clean animals but their urine really does have a foul smell.  You have to make sure their litter box is cleaned daily and completely changed every 3 - 4 days.  There will always be a small smell but you won't notice it because you will be around it all the time.  Anyone else that comes in your house will know immediately that you have animals of some sort.

I really don't believe that rabbits should live their whole lives in cages.  They are loveable and playful little creatures.  They crave constant love and attention whether it be from you or another animal.  If you have the right rabbit and your dogs are small they can form a bond.  It takes time and effort but it can be done.  You are right about leaving them alone together.  The rabbit would always have to be put away when you are not home.  

If you really want a rabbit that is docile and will get along with just about anyone or anything you might want to consider getting a flemish giant.  They can grow to be over 20 pounds.  They have extremely docile temperaments but are hardy and are usually easier to keep around dogs.  They still have very fragile spines and can very easily have their backs broken.  If your dogs are small the rabbit would probably be larger than the dogs.  This breed is absolutely amazing.  They are the size of a medium size dog when full grown.  The downfalls are that they have to have a cage that is at least 6 - 8 feet long and as high as a large dog crate so that they can stand completely on their hind legs.  They absolutely can't live on a cage with a wire bottom.  Their feet can't handle the constant pressure of their weight pushing down on the wire.  They would develop sore hocks if kept on wire.  Once a rabbit gets sore hocks it is extremely difficult to treat especially if it gets infected.  They are an expensive breed.  Even a pet quality flemish can cost anywhere from $50 - $100.  They eat 2 or 3 times as much as a small rabbit.

If you want a friendly docile rabbit then it is really important to have it altered.  If it is a boy and it isn't altered it may spray and stink up your house more.  If it is a girl and not altered it has as much as an 80% chance of developing uterine or ovarian cancer before it reaches its 3rd birthday.  Both boys and girls can get extremely hormonal and be downright pests if they aren't fixed.

If you want to read more about getting a pet rabbit and to make sure you are ready please check out this site.  It gives you all the information you will need to know ahead of time...

http://www.rabbit.org/care/living-with-a-house-rabbit.html

If you are really sure you want a bunny you might want to contact an HRS or shelter near you.  The initial adoption fee might seem expensive but most of them are required to have the animal spayed/neutered before it comes to you.  Rather than buying a $50 rabbit and then having to pay for the surgery, sometimes it is better to adopt a loving animal and pay the 2 or 3 hundred bucks up front and have it all out of the way.

Good luck and I hope that you find a great rabbit.  

Pam