Exercise is vital for the health for the rabbit. All though often we hear understand the meaning of exercise, but poorly informed people describe rabbits as easy to keep because “they can be caged and don’t take up much space” This idea has led to many rabbits being caged most of their lives with the distinct possibility of developing both physical and behavioral disorders.
Problems Caused By Lack of Exercise
- Obesity
- Pod dermatitis (‘sore hock’)
- Poor bone density.
- Poor muscle tone.
- Gastrointestinal and urinary function
- Behavioral problems
Rabbit Exercising:
- While it seems that rabbits are quite content to sit quietly and nibble on toys and treats. Rabbits, like all pet animals, need regular exercise. Regular exercise will help the rabbit maintain good health and normal behavior. Exercise deprived rabbits can become aggressive and withdrawn and exhibit signs of obesity and lethargy.
- To exercise your rabbit, let the rabbit out of its cage in safe areas. During its exercise time out of the cage, it’s important to keep a close eye on the rabbit so that they don’t injure themselves by chewing on power cords, telephone cords, or household plants. In addition to the regular exploring, provide your rabbit with fun things to play with and chew on. Rabbits love to crawl in and out of boxes, play with slinkies, or chew on cardboard toilet paper rolls. If your rabbit likes to dig, you can provide it a small sandbox to play in.
- Keep him in an area where you can keep watch on him
- Give him fun things to play with. A box he can jump on, a small, plastic slinky he can throw, a cardboard toilet paper roll stuffed with hay he can dig at.
- Keep a “sandbox” handy if he’s a digger. Fill a plastic dishpan 1/3 full with sand.
- Give him toys he can chew on so he doesn’t chew on your furniture. This will not only keep him from your things’ but it will keep him stimulated and help with the natural growth of his teeth.
- Get on the floor and play with him. This will help him bond with you.
It is now abundantly clear that we are dooming our pets to a life of potential medical and behavioral problems if we confine them exclusively to a cage. If you do not have the ability to house a pet rabbit in a manner that allows space to roam and toys to play with, then I would urge you to consider not getting one for a pet, because it is unfair to both of you. If you do choose to bring one of these delightful creatures into your home, you will be able to fully appreciate and enjoy their complex personalities when you provide them with an enriched and interesting environment
