Rabbit advice please

TomandBarbara

emweaver wrote: »

My 3year old DD has a rabbit, had it a year and she loves it. Of course shes to young to clean it etc so we do that. They are not expensive at all, we spend about £8 a fortnight and that includes bedding and food. You can b uy toys for them but this is a one off expesnse so again not expensive

They need injections yearly which cost us £48 a year. Much cheaper than a cat or dogs vet bills.

Initial outlay in my opinion IS expensive. Hutch and run are a necessity, many of the ones in petshops are far too small and the ones on ebay (2nd hand) are shocking! And what happens if the rabbit falls ill? I used to have a rabbit who had to go to the vets once every fortnight because she suffered ongoing with snuffles and another used to always have dentals because her teeth grew so quickly!

I think this is one of the problems surrounding rabbits, people think they are cheap and thats what makes many people choose them as a pet.

emweaver

They very rarely need to go to the vets, had mine 2 years now and only been for the yearly injections. I have two.

Then initial expense is no more than a dog, you can get a hutch and run for about £80.

I had rabbits as a child too and mum said they were not expensive to keep.

I really dont see why so many of your rabbits have huge vet bills, with proper care youll have a healthy happy bunny.

emweaver

before someone points out sarcasitcally realised I put a year in 1st post but we had it when she was 10 months old so actually 2 years

bevvy

this is a really good website, should give you everything you need to know
http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/

bevvy

emweaver wrote: »

They very rarely need to go to the vets, had mine 2 years now and only been for the yearly injections. I have two.
I was on the understanding that the VHD was yearly and the Myxi was 6 monthly?
Then initial expense is no more than a dog, you can get a hutch and run for about £80.
I would be interested to know where you can get a decent, large enough hutch and run for £80.
I had rabbits as a child too and mum said they were not expensive to keep.

I really dont see why so many of your rabbits have huge vet bills, with proper care youll have a healthy happy bunny.
Many rabbits will need vet treatment, even with proper care.

Rabbits need proper time and care, how many rabbits are stuck down the bottom of the garden in a tiny hutch and forgotten about just because the child got bored. I wouldn't consider getting a rabbit unless you are willing to look after it as your daughter will soon get bored aswell.

ClareEmily

emweaver wrote: »

They very rarely need to go to the vets, had mine 2 years now and only been for the yearly injections. I have two.

Then initial expense is no more than a dog, you can get a hutch and run for about £80.

I had rabbits as a child too and mum said they were not expensive to keep.

I really dont see why so many of your rabbits have huge vet bills, with proper care youll have a healthy happy bunny.

You have just been lucky that your bunnies have not had teeth problems etc.

Also it is recommended that the best combination is a male and female both neutured (which is expensive).

I have had my bunny (house) for just over a year, and no she hasn't had any huge vets bills she is very happy and healthy, and compared to a cat or dog, her food and hay costs aren't too bad.

I do have her insured though as rabbit savvy vets can now treat bunnies for a whole range of illness's which year's ago they wouldn't have bothered about.

emweaver

Weve got two males, had them neuteured as they fought which cost us £49

emweaver

bevvy wrote: »

Rabbits need proper time and care, how many rabbits are stuck down the bottom of the garden in a tiny hutch and forgotten about just because the child got bored. I wouldn't consider getting a rabbit unless you are willing to look after it as your daughter will soon get bored aswell.

Our rabbit has proper time and care, we go out every evening weather permitting. They are put into a lareg run in the day and at night go into their hutch with underneath run.

My daughter hasnt got bored as yet but depends on the child as most these days are stuck infront of the tv, spoiled with toys and computer games so of course a pet isnt going to enterain them long.

bevvy

emweaver wrote: »

Our rabbit has proper time and care, we go out every evening weather permitting. They are put into a lareg run in the day and at night go into their hutch with underneath run.

My daughter hasnt got bored as yet but depends on the child as most these days are stuck infront of the tv, spoiled with toys and computer games so of course a pet isnt going to enterain them long.

I wasn't trying to say that your rabbits are stuck in a hutch, just saying that it does happen, rabbits seem to be looked upon as cheap and easy pets, I was just trying to state that they are more work and more costly (in some cases) than people imagine.

bevvy

If you do decide to get a rabbit I would reccomend that you visit a rescue, that way you would be able to get a pair of rabbits that are already bonded, vacinated and neutered and the rescue would be able to tell you about the temprement (sp) of them aswell as give you loads of advise. There are hundreds of unwanted rabbits in rescues that are just waiting for a lovely home.
there is a list of rescues here
http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/centres.asp#England