• Get your grooming tools ready.  If you use a brush, like the Super Pet Pro Slicker Brush, make sure to clean it out and have it ready to go.  Another grooming tool that is beneficial for your rabbit’s coat is the Adjustable 2 In 1 Pet Comb.  This comb is great for getting tangles out of long rabbit hair and may also be used to clean out your rabbit’s slicker brush.
• Make your rabbit comfortable by talking to your rabbit in a soothing voice and choose a place that is comfortable for both you and your rabbit.  Your living room floor or a place with a comfortable rug.
• Hold your rabbit firmly in your lap, but not too tight.  Keeping your rabbit occupied is a great idea to help your rabbit pass the time.  Use your rabbit’s favorite chew or treat to help keep your rabbit busy while you brush your rabbit.
• When your rabbit seems content to sit in your lap, start brushing your rabbit with gentle strokes.  If your rabbit tends to get nervous easily, keep the brush moving and keep away from areas that might make your rabbit more nervous.  The face, ear and tail area tend to be areas that rabbit’s do not like to be brushed and should be avoided if possible.  If you have to brush these areas, brush them quickly brush and make sure to be gentle at all times.
• Praise your rabbit and play with your rabbit after a good brushing session to help encourage good rabbit behavior. 

To help keep your rabbit’s ears clean and healthy, use an ear cleaner like Clean Ear Cleanser for Small Animals 2 oz..  This cleaner is very easy to use and may be squirted on a cotton ball to wipe the outer parts of the ear out.  Never use the cleaner directly on the ear or try to clean inside the year.  While you are cleaning your rabbit’s ears, you may also want to check for ear mites or signs of an ear infection.

If you notice that your rabbit’s ears are itchy and your rabbit is scratching them or shaking his head a lot, inspect your rabbit’s ears for ear mites. Ear mites are a cause of itching and if your rabbit has them, you may notice discharge that is crusty and dark around the opening to the inner ear.  If you see these signs, you will need to take your rabbit to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a diagnosis.  If this condition is left untreated, your rabbit may suffer from hearing loss and their hearing is critical for their survival.  You may want to try products like Excel Ear Mite Remedy or Adams Pene-Mite Ear Mite Treatment to help treat your rabbit’s ear mites after your rabbit has be diagnosed by a veterinarian with the problem.

• Provide your rabbit with a soft, warm resting place for times when his in pain.  A heated pad, such as the Small Animal Heated Pad and Cover, can make a great place for your rabbit to rest when in pain.  This heated pad is thermostatically controlled to stay at a temperature that is perfect for your rabbit.  The soothing heat helps to relieve any joint or muscle pain that your rabbit may have.
• Help your rabbit with all aspects of grooming.  It is important to maintain your rabbits grooming to help prevent other problems from occurring.  Use a soft brush on your rabbit’s coat to help keep any tangles or mats from occurring and keep your rabbit’s nails trim with a rabbit clipper like the Super Nail Clipper for Small Pets by Super Pet to help prevent sores from developing. 
• In addition, it is important to make sure that your rabbit’s food, water and litter box are all easily accessible.  Choose items that are lower in height to avoid having your rabbit stretch or stand to get to them.  If your rabbit is litter trained, use a litter box that has lower sides like the Long John Hi-Corner Litter Pan.  This rabbit litter box is lower in the front and much easier for your rabbit to get in and out of, while the high back still helps to keep the litter inside.

Making little changes in your rabbit’s living conditions can make a big difference in your rabbit’s daily life.  For more great rabbit products that will make your rabbit’s life easier, check out RabbitMart.

1. Check your indoor or outdoor rabbit on a regular basis.  It is important to spend some time with your rabbit on a daily basis, not only to help their mental well-being, but also to check on the status of her health.  The Critter Care Message Center makes it easy to keep tabs on your rabbit and it is a friendly reminder for feedings and more.
2. Keep the immune system healthy.   There are a variety of diseases that rabbits can get when their immunity is weak.  Respiratory infections can become severe infections quickly, so it is very important to make sure that your rabbit has a healthy diet, such as the Vita-Vittles Rabbit Food, and stays away from sick rabbits if you have more than one rabbit.  Take your rabbit to the vet right away if you notice her having any problems breathing, discharge from the eyes or the nose, sneezing, coughing, loss of appetite, lethargy and any other sign that indicates your rabbit might be in trouble.
3. Clean the hutch regularly.  It may be more difficult to clean your rabbit’s cage in the winter, but it is very important for you to continue keeping it clean.  A dirty rabbit cage is a haven for a variety of bacteria and other organisms that cause illness.  If your rabbit gets sick and you have more than one rabbit, you should keep her separated from your other rabbits to avoid spreading the infection.  The Super Pet Clean Critter Wipes are great for a quick cleaning of your rabbit’s cage.  If your rabbit becomes sick you will need to use disinfectant on a regular basis to help the spread of germs.
4. Never treat your rabbit on your own.  Always consult your vet first before giving any antibiotics or other types of medications.  Some medications can be harmful to rabbits and make her condition worse.

• Rabbit Brushes:  for proper of brushing your rabbit, choose a pin brush and a slicker brush, to help make your rabbit’s coat stand out and remove loose hair.  A pin brush is great for detangling your rabbit’s long hair and a slicker brush, such as the Tender Touch Slicker Wire Rabbit Brush, is great for short hair or finishing up your rabbit’s coat.
• Rabbit Combs:  a comb is ideal for helping to remove the dangles in your rabbit’s hair and helps to reduce matting.  Use a comb like the Adjustable 2 In 1 Pet Comb, after using a brush to help remove the remaining tangles for a smooth, finished look.  In addition to a regular comb, a flea comb is a great investment for your rabbit’s grooming kit.  A flea comb will help to trap the
• Rabbit Nail Clippers:  every rabbit owner needs a great pair of nail clippers to keep your rabbit’s nails trim and neat. Choose a pair of clippers, like the Cat Guillotine Nail Trimmer, Styptic & File, to easily clip your rabbit’s nails.  This clipper works quickly to smoothly remove your rabbit’s nails and includes styptic powder and small nail file to smooth out any rough edges.
• Small Flashlight:  a flashlight is great for making it easier to see where the quick is in your rabbit’s nails.  It helps to take the guesswork out of where to clip the nail.
• Styptic Powder:  This powder is a necessity for any rabbit owner.  Apply it to your rabbit’s nail if you cut the quick and the nail starts bleeding.
• Cotton Swabs:  a cotton swab has a variety of uses that will greatly benefit your rabbit.  Use a cotton swab to gently clean out your rabbit’s ears or use the swab to apply styptic powder if necessary.
• Wood or Mineral Chew:  You may want to give your rabbit a wood or minearal chew during your rabbit’s grooming ritual to help keep your rabbit entertained and content while grooming.

• The most important thing you can do to prepare to pick up and carry your rabbit is to trim your rabbits nails.  If your rabbit has long nails, then it likely that you will be scratched severely if your rabbit kicks while being picked up.  Use a clipper like the Clip & Trim Bunny Nail Trimmers to easily clip your rabbits nails.  This clipper is specifically designed to cut your rabbit’s nails and comes with a clipper holder that magnetically sticks to the wire cage.
• It is also important to wear long sleeves and shirts that cover up your body when picking up your rabbit.  Never wear a short sleeve, sleeveless or midriff baring shirt when picking up your rabbit if your rabbit is not comfortable or not used to being picked up.  Your rabbit’s scratches can cut deeply into your skin and cause severe pain.
• To get your rabbit used to the idea of being picked, it is a good idea to get your rabbit used to being held by you while sitting on the floor.  Let your rabbit hop into your lap and gently hold your rabbit for a short period of time  in your arms.  If your rabbit seems to be comfortable with this step, gradually increase the height of your hold and the length of time.  Reward your rabbit with a little treat, such as the Vitakraft Nibble Rings, for good rabbit behavior.
• If your rabbit doesn’t like to be picked up and carried at all, even after some time spent training your rabbit, it is a good idea to use a rabbit carrier.  Your rabbit can be persuaded into the carrier with a little bunny treat and will feel more secure when carried inside the carrier.  A carrier also helps prevent you from being scratched by your rabbit and also allows older children to safely carry a rabbit.  A great soft-sided carrier to have is the Super Pet Come Along Carrier.  This soft carrier is comfortable for both you to carry and your rabbit to ride in and may be used for short or long trips.

Often, rabbits are purchased for children and are considered to be a lessor responsibility than a cat or dog. This can be similar to an impulse purchase to in response to a child’s request. Baby rabbits can be irresistible and are easy to handle for the child. Then quickly the rabbit grows up and takes on the personality of an adult animal. Information on rabbit behavior can be found in on websites such as House Rabbit Society and Rabbit Advocates . There are many positives for kids in owning a rabbit. It is an educational experience in animal care and behavior. Gentleness and love required when interacting with a pet bunny can give your child lifelong lessons on kindness and responsibility. After educating yourself, it will be clear to you that adopting a rabbit is a family decision and not based on an impulse. 

Things to consider before adopting

• Rabbits live about 8 to 12 years. Are you willing to take care of the rabbit after your child grows older? Children develop different interests as they grow and may show less interested in the pet.
• Mature rabbits prefer to be on the ground and are not typically content being carried around or being held for long periods of time. A child, trying to hold his pet, may get nipped or scratched in the rabbit’s efforts to get away. The child may become frightened and not want to interact with it any further or the pet could be injured if dropped. You can watch your child interact and hold a rabbit before bringing home a rabbit to see how they respond to the pet. You can make a judgement at that point whether a rabbit appears to be an appropriate pet for your child.
• Rabbits are very sensitive to sound. Children and their friends can be quite noisy and active. This can place the rabbit bunny in a continuously stressful situation that leads to health and temperament issues.
• Rabbits are not low maintenance pets. Attention to their needs on a daily basis required. Cage or pen cleaning, feeding, and daily interaction are required. It is unlikely a child will be able to take on all these responsibilities themselves. Therefore, consider the rabbit as the adults responsibility which can be integrated with the child.

Supplies needed to care for a rabbit?

Below are rabbit supplies you should consider before purchasing your pet. 

• Housing: Cages and pens are the primary choices for rabbit’s living quarters. The enclosure needs to be large enough for the rabbit to move around freely. Consider the adult size requirement if your rabbit is not fully grown. You will need space for the litter box and bowls. It may be worthwhile considering a movable pen/cage in the case that your location needs may change. 
• Litter Box: Rabbits need to be trained to use a litter box to keep the pen clean. If you are having difficulty you can start with a flat pan to make use easy for the rabbit. Upon success you can switch to a larger litter box. 
• Litter: The litter should be dust free and safe for the rabbit if ingested. Consider litters that are organic such as plant fiber, recycled paper and wood. 
• Bowls: Use bowls; one each for pellets, fresh vegetables and water. Heavy, flat-bottomed bowls work best so the rabbit cannot tip them. 
• Water: It is a good idea to use a water bottle in conjunction with a bowl. This provides a supply of fresh water if one is out of water (or knocked over).
  Cage bottom board: If the rabbits pen has a wire bottom it is necessary to have an area with a flat bottom (such as a board) for the rabbit to rest on off of the wire mesh. This should be large enough for the pet to rest, stretched out, in all directions.
• Toys: Toys are important not only for stimulation but also to keep the rabbit out of trouble.  Toys for small pets are sold at retailers. You can also use, hard plastic baby toys (rattles, key rings), a towel to push and bunch, cardboard boxes made into forts and tunnels… Use your imagination. 
• Feed: Pellets should be high quality and contain at least 13% fiber. Store food in an airtight container and the pellets will last approximately six months.

To prevent dental problems, provide your rabbit with hard, crunchy surfaces to chew on, such as the Chew-A-Lot Crunch Bar. The best treats to give your rabbit on mineral or wood chews. By chewing on a hard surface, your rabbit�s teeth will stay trim and will not become overgrown. Also, it is a good idea to periodically check the cheek teeth for uneven wear. If spikes form on the cheek teeth, it will become painful for your rabbit to chew, which could cause your rabbit not to eat and lead to malnutrition.

If your rabbit appears to be having problems chewing, lose of appetite, the tooth growth appears to be abnormal, drooling, or pain when the mouth area is touched, these are signs of dental problems and you should take your rabbit to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The sooner the problem can be diagnosed, the more likely it can be treated. Your veterinarian may be able to easily correct the dental problem if caught early. However, if the problem is severe, then there may be no possible treatment.

For more great rabbit products and supplies, check out RabbitMart for all your rabbit needs.

Brush your rabbit�s fur on a regular basis to help with shedding and choose a soft brush for grooming fur. If your rabbit spends more time outdoors than in the house, you will probably need to brush your rabbit once a day. If your rabbit is not shedding much, once a week will be ok. Always be sure to use a brush designed for small animals with sensitive skin. A good brush to use is a soft slicker brush. The Tender Touch Slicker Wire Rabbit Brush is designed especially for use on rabbits and is ideal for removing loose fur and getting out any tangles.

Baths are not recommended for rabbits because it frightens them very easily. If you have to wash your rabbit because he or she is dirty, spot cleaning works best. Use a shampoo that is sensitive on the skin and designed for use on rabbits. The Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo is very gentle on rabbit skin. Use a little shampoo on the dirty spot and gently rinse the shampoo out. To rinse out the shampoo, use a little cup of warm water. Never place your rabbit in a tub of water or pour a lot of water on your rabbit!

Next, use an ear cleaner on your rabbit�s ear if they appear to be dirty on the external part of the ear. The Clean Ear Cleanser is great for small animals and easy to use. Squirt the ear cleaner on a soft cotton ball and rub the cleaner on the external part of the ear. Do not put the ear cleaner inside the ear with the cotton ball or squirt it directly in the ear.