careing for baby bunny

Question
Dear Sarah,

 I have a baby dwarf rabbit. He is 2 months old. I don't know how to take care of a baby dwarf rabbit. Could you please give me some suggestions.  Thank you!

Jennifer

Answer
Right now he should be getting all the pelleted food he wants. He should always get all the grass or timothy hay and water he wants, even when he is older. Wait to start introducing fresh vegetables and fruit until he is 3 months old, and then slowly introduce one kind at a time, to make sure he doesn't have any bad reaction to a particular kind.

Handle him often to get him bonded to you. That way he will be calmer as an adult, too.

He will need some toys to play with. Dwarfs are one of the more hyper and curious breeds, so he will need plenty of things to keep him busy. Plastic cat toys and wooden parrot toys are good, as are most small animal toys. Simple things like tree branches (apple, peach, apricot, cherry, orange, lime, grapefruit, maple, and pine branches are safe), pinecones (cut off any sharp parts), empty thread spools, and empty toilet paper rolls are also often well-enjoyed.

I am assuming you already have a cage, so just clean that fairly often (once or twice a week). If you can smell it, just remember that he is sitting right in it and can smell it a lot more. If the cage has a wire bottom with a pan underneath, you can use pelleted cat litter. If he sits in the litter, make a brand called Carefresh is good. Most pelleted cat litters have chemicals in them, so they are not good to use if he sits in the litter. A few do not have chemicals, and those can be used.

Rabbits should see a good rabbit vet once a year for a check-up. You can take him to a vet as soon as you are able, to get him his first check-up. Make sure the vet is knowledgeable in rabbits and has had experience with them, as many vets have little experience with vets. If you cannot find a good rabbit vet, the next best thing is an experienced rabbit breeder. They will know signs of a healthy or unhealthy rabbit, so they can look him over for you. You can also have a vet or breeder show you how to trim his nails, as they will need trimmed every few weeks.

Have fun with your new baby. :) Rabbits are such amazing creatures, and they make wonderful pets, if cared for properly.