Things To Know Before Bringing Your Rabbit OutsideThe weather is warming up, the grass and flowers are growing, and you're wondering if about bringing your rabbit outdoors. Before you make that decision, it is important to be aware of the risks and best ways to keep your rabbit safe and healthy while enjoying the weather. Predators Predators can be a big risk to you pet rabbit. These predators may include dogs, cats, birds of prey, raccoons or other wildlife. It is important to never leave your rabbit unsupervised while outdoors, and to stay close to them. Hawks are personally the ones I worry about the most - whether you're on a porch, balcony, or in the backyard; hawks will not miss an opportunity to catch another species under 10 lbs. Often silent, hawks can swoop in quickly, and are not always afraid of humans. Having your rabbit stay in a exercise pen with a cover on top when outdoors is the best solution. A rabbit becomes more vulnerable when running loose or on a leash in an open space. Parasites & Disease Before taking your rabbit outdoors, you should speak to your rabbit-savvy veterinarian about parasite prevention and control. Just like dogs and cats, rabbits can pick up a variety of parasites from being outdoors. The most common are fleas, ticks, mites, flies (flystrike), round worms and tapeworms. Rabbits can get parasites from simply being on the ground outside, from eating outdoor plants like grass, or get bacteria from the soil. Rabbit's don't have preventative medicine to take to prevent parasites - rather, they are generally treated once they have parasites. A new fatal rabbit virus has been circulating over the last few years called Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (or RHDV2) which could potentially be affecting your area. This highly contagious virus affects both wild and domestic rabbits, and there is currently no preventative vaccine in Canada for this virus. This virus has been reported in multiple states in the USA as well as Western Canada. Temperature Rabbits are very sensitive to high temperatures, and can develop heatstroke quickly. The ideal temperature range for your rabbit to be outdoors in is between 12C to 21C. Rabbits do not cope with sudden temperature changes very well, so going from an air conditioned space to outdoors may be too drastic of a change for them. Try to provide a shaded space for your rabbit when enjoying the outdoors, and monitor them for any early signs of heatstroke on a hot day (lethargy, panting, salivating, weakness, reddening of the ears). Plants & Pesticides Not everything that grows outside is safe for your rabbit to nibble on. Unfortunately our pet rabbit's don't instinctively know what is or is not safe for them to eat. It is important that you only let your rabbit explore on areas that you know are safe from fertilizers and pesticides. Escapes When your rabbit may come running at the sound of a treat bag in the house, they may be less inclined to do so while outside. It is important to know that your rabbit cannot escape the area that they are in while outside. They can easily squeeze through a small gap under a fence or deck, become frightened and run away, or even dig a burrow (over time) like their European ancestors and not want to come back up. Harnesses and Xpens Harnesses and Xpens are popular ways of bringing your rabbit outdoors. Xpens are a great option! Tarps can be added to protect the rabbit from the earth as well as provide a cover over the top of the pen. There are also covers made specifically for xpens that can offer UV protection as well, like this one here. I personally use an xpen on my covered porch when bringing my rabbit outdoors for a bit of fresh air, and sit in the pen with her. Harnesses on the other hand are a bit controversial and can be dangerous. You should never force your rabbit to be harnessed if they are uncomfortable being in one. The leash you use on the harness should be stretchy/bungee to accommodate for unexpected movements from your rabbit like binkies or running away. I personally do not agree with harnesses as they present a risk of spinal injury. For more on harnesses, read Bunny Approved's article here.
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