Caring for your rabbit

Rabbits are social and interactive, and make wonderful house pets. They do require some special care and attention. Here are some pointers that will make Bunny a happy member of the family.

1. Social needs. Rabbits like company and interaction. If you have a busy lifestyle and may not be on hand to entertain them for long stretches, consider getting two rabbits instead of one. They can keep each other company.  

2. Diet. Bunnies thrive on a healthy, diverse diet. High quality pellet food should be paired with a variety of fresh vegetables and some fruits. Mix in leafy green vegetables like kale and dark leaf lettuces with the occasional carrot, sweet potato and apple slice for variety. Rabbits should be fed a pile of greens roughly the size of the animal's body every day. A common mistake is leaving pellets out all day. This can only lead to a chubby bunny. It is better to feed your rabbit in two installments each day.

3. Cages. Rabbits need lots of exercise and should not be confined to a hutch or cage 24-hours a day. However, when no one is around to supervise them, they should be kept in as large a cage as possible.

4. Veterinary care. Your bunny will need an annual check up as well as emergency care if it becomes ill. Keep the phone number of a qualified veterinarian handy.

5. Spaying or neutering. Spaying or neutering your rabbit is not only the responsible thing to do, it makes your life better as well. Bucks no longer mark their territory with unpleasant odors and spayed does are spared a number of health problems including uterine cancer.

6. Potty training. You can house train a rabbit. It takes time and gentle encouragement; bullying won't help. First, put a litter box in a corner of your rabbit's cage. Since they are naturally clean animals, almost all rabbits will begin using the litter box soon after it's been introduced into the cage. As you gradually increase the area of your rabbit's domain, he will continue to find and use the litter box on his own.

7. Grooming. Grooming a rabbit is a simple process. The key word, as always with bunnies, is gentleness. Use a soft brush and carefully comb away loose hairs. Grooming not only improves your pet's appearance, it can save Bunny from developing a life threatening hairball in his intestinal track.

What your pet mice wants from you

Mice are great, low maintenance pets. You'll find your domesticated mouse is quite attractive compared to his counterpart, the field mouse. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and can be quite lively and sociable.

Here are a few pointers for becoming a good mouse parent:

1.   Picking up a mouse. It's fine to pick up a mouse by the base of the tail. Don't grasp her by the tip of her tale. Then place her in the palm of your hand. This does not hurt or injure the mouse in any way.

2. Mice with other mice. If you are going to have more than one mouse, select a male and a female or two or more females. Males kept in the same enclosure may become aggressive.

3. Enclosures. Any type of enclosure is fine for mice as long as it has a lid and plenty of ventilation. The suggested bedding is aspen shavings, shredded newspaper or hay. It is important to change the bedding and thoroughly clean the enclosure with hot, soapy water on a regular basis.

4. Bedding. Mice like to have something to make a nest in. A small empty facial tissue box works well. It will probably be shredded into bedding, but it will serve as a good disposable hideaway. Empty paper rolls make great tunnels for playing in and shredding. Exercise wheels having solid running areas are suggested for mice. Anything with open rungs can cause injury if the tail becomes caught.

5. Food and water. Always provide fresh food and water for your mice. A drinking tube is the most practical way to provide water. They are easy to clean and less messy than water provided in a bowl. Since mice like to dig, water in a bowl often becomes full of bedding. A pellet diet formulated especially for mice is advised. In addition, supplements of raw vegetables such as carrots are suggested.

6. Teeth. Mice teeth grow continuously. They require something to gnaw on to prevent the teeth from becoming too long. There are chew sticks or blocks designed especially for them to gnaw on and keep their teeth in check. An occasional dog biscuit also works well.