Understanding Your Bunny

Have you recently become a bunny owner? Congratulations! Rabbits make absolutely adorable pets. As a good pet owner, it’s important for you to be able to read your furry buddy, so you can tell if she is happy, sad, or sick. We can help! A Fort Collins, CO vet offers tips on understanding your bunny below.

Don’t let that innocent furry face fool you: bunnies can be both stubborn and temperamental! Your little furball may get mad at you if you rearrange her belongings, throw away her favorite toy, or don’t pay enough attention to her. How can you tell if Floppy is angry? She may turn her back on you and sulk. If she’s extremely upset, she may even try to bite you. Pay close attention to your pet, and get to know her body language.

Cheerful bunnies are super cute! If your furball is content, she may express herself by doing ‘binkies,’ which is basically the term for bunny happy dancing. Needless to say, binkies are absolutely adorable to watch. But how do you score a binkie? Toys and treats will help, but the best ways to keep Floppy content are really to just to take great care of her and offer her lots of TLC.

Floppy is quite intelligent, and is entirely capable of learning good petiquette. You can teach your furball to use a litterbox and come when called. Bunnies can also learn what is and is not okay to nibble on. Be patient and consistent when training your bunny. If you see your furry buddy misbehaving, just tell her ‘No’ in a disapproving voice. You can also stomp your foot, snap your fingers, or clap your hands, which all more or less translate into ‘Bad Bunny.’ Never punish your pet for doing something wrong, though: you may only frighten your four-legged friend, or make her angry!

Be sure to watch Floppy closely for any signs of illness. Some common ones are tooth grinding, fever, drooling, a runny nose, lethargy, reduced appetite, dizziness, and changes in waste. Contact your vet right away if you notice any of these warning signs, or any other unusual behavior. The sooner an issue is diagnosed and treated, the better!

Do you have questions or concerns about bunny care? Call us, your Fort Collins, CO vet hospital, anytime!