You wo n’t stop the chewing all , but you’re able to airt it
Benny Mazur / Wikimedia Commons
Chewing is a natural and necessarybehavior for rabbits . In incarceration , though , a restless rabbit ’s need to chew can apace become destructive . A rabbit that ’s thread around looking for thing to chew may assimilate stuff that ’s bad for it if left to its own equipment for too long . To help keep your rabbit from chewing on everything in sight — and potentially beat sick in the process — the Francis Scott Key is to teach it what ’s appropriate for chewing and what ’s off - limitation .
Credit:Benny Mazur/Wikimedia Commons
Why Do Rabbits Chew?
There ’s a biologic reason for lapin ' never-ending chewing . Theirteeth grow continuallyall their sprightliness , and in the act of chew , the teeth wear against each other , which keeps them trim .
In captivity , the main grounds hare jaw on things that are n’t appropriate is ennui . If a rabbit spends a lot of time alone or does n’t have much stimulation , it seek way to toy with itself and/or get attention from its owner . jaw on things is an leisurely way to accomplish both .
cave in their biologic urge to chew , cony in the wild nibble on a range of plant life and grasses and burrow in their natural home ground . In captivity , rabbits still have the urge to chew , but how destructive they are is a combination of what they can get their paws on and how they ’ve been trained .
How to Stop Inappropriate Chewing
Because your coney needs to masticate , cater a variety of safe , chewable item . Branches from apple or willow tree trees , dependable cony toy , untreated willow tree basket and miniature , untreated grass mat , and composition board all make secure mastication toy for rabbits .
Providingmultiple playthingsgives your rabbit more choice , which can also aid to keep boredom at bay . If you have different size and character of chew toys around , chances are that least one of them will satisfy your rabbit ’s craving to manducate . Remember to provide your hare with a couple of safe chaw toy in its cage as well .
Rabbit-Proof Your Home
Goodrabbit - proofingtakes by much of the temptation and opportunity for your hare to get into trouble . Do n’t give your pet liberal running game of your family , at least not at first . rather , delegate a special infinite and exhaustively rabbit - trial impression that space to make breeding easier .
Things like electrical wires are very grave for your rabbit , so you have to verify there ’s no elbow room your cony can get to them . Keep cords safely insert out of the hare ’s reach , and use PVC corduroy shielder or tube sold at ironware stores for cords that run along the flooring . Furniture and other belongings should also be protect . The less your rabbit can demolish , the less disappointed you ’ll be and the more swimmingly training will go .
Supervise and Redirect
Your lapin does n’t instinctively know that it ’s not permit to jaw on your furniture and other belongings , so you must instruct it . When you ’re starting out with anew rabbit , this means that you must watch it carefully at playtime .
ensure you set out this preparation as soon as you bring your rabbit home so there ’s less opportunity for bad riding habit to grow . Whenever your cony examine to masticate something it should n’t , say " no " firmly ( there ’s no need to shout ) and spat your paw ; then give it an appropriate plug plaything .
Get a Second Rabbit
Destructive rabbits are often soothed by the mien of another hare . It ’s not a good approximation to pair two unaltered ( not spay or altered ) rabbits , though . If you pair a male and a female , you ’re likely to get more rabbits ; if you pair two males , they may fight . Two unchanged females may get along fine , but the adept option is to pair either two altered rabbits or an unchanged rabbit with a neutered cony of the opposite sex .
Spay or Neuter Your Rabbit
Having your rabbit " fixed"is potential to delete much of its destructive behavior . You ’ll still need to provide great deal of toy that it can safely jaw , but the rabbit will be much more chill about inappropriate chewing .
Try Rabbit Repellent Sprays
you could try on applying a bitter apple spray ( available at most pet store ) on incompatible point that your hare likes to chew . Many rabbits do n’t mind the taste , though — some even seem to like it — so this may be deserving a effort but is n’t usually effective .
Avoid using any toxic chemicals in areas where your lapin is potential to manducate . Even though a chemical such as ammonia or bleach may play as a repellant , if your hare ingests it , it could leaven to be harmful or black , depend on the chemical and how much was ingested .
Be Patient
Your rabbit will take its clip to learn and will probably test you along the manner , so be patient but consistent . Never hit or yell at your rabbit . If it keeps go away back to your things instead of masticate on its own toy dog , put your bunny in a " timeout " in its cage for a few transactions . Another option is to put your rabbit in an exercise pen ( a collapsible , portable cage for bounder ) for at least part of its playday outside the John Cage , so you could loose on the supervision and training for a number .
As your rabbit gets sr. and more settled , its manduction will become less of an topic , but body and patience right from the beginning are your braggy grooming advantages .
Housing Your Rabbit . VCA Hospitals .
Special Considerations For Rabbits . Merck Veterinary Manual .
