We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Despite this, it’s very rare for rabbits to spread any contagious disease to a human. While it is important to predator proof your Rabbit’s hutch, it should be escape-proof, too. You probably were not holding the rabbit firmly enough against your body. Support wikiHow by Additionally, pick up your rabbit several times a week so it gets used to human contact. If this is a well handled and calm bunny, you are likely to be able to safely pick up the bunny with one hand under its chest and one hand scrunching the rump, without holding on to the scruff. Make a point of picking up and carrying your rabbit a few times a week, and not just when it need to be transported (e.g. It’s best to take some basic precautions when handling your pets and controlling how they interact with each other. Hold the rabbit facing you with all four feet against your chest. It also doesn’t provide protection from drafts. This video discusses how to handle and restrain rabbits in the veterinary workplace. Do rabbits carry rabies or have it? When removing a rabbit from a side or front opening carrier, do so with the hind legs first out of the opening. Avoid placing rabbits on slippery surfaces. % of people told us that this article helped them. In general, rabbits don’t like to travel far out of range of their home. Staying close to the ground for a while is a good preventative measure. "Everything was super helpful as well as educational. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. Yes, just be careful you don't pick it up holding onto its waist, that could hurt the bunny. Rabbits should be handled when they are very young to get them accustomed to restraint and being picked up off the floor and out of carriers and cages. If your rabbit scratches you, usually with their hind legs, DO NOT put it straight back into their enclosure or cage, if you can. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. How do you carry a rabbit? Rabbits are a prey species and will always be sensitive to being whisked off and carried away. Sit on the floor to minimize your size and avoid towering over the bunny. Here is how you can predator proof your pet’s Hutch: She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. Jamie and his team show you the best way to joint a rabbit so you can cook up some delicious meat dishes for dinner. Brown, “Clinical techniques in rabbits,” Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine, Volume 6, Issue 2, April 1997, Pages 86-95. By using our site, you agree to our. The familiar smells will help put your rabbit more at ease. It is better to gently get a hold of the scruff to prevent the rabbit from getting away, then you can get an arm around the rabbit’s body and contain the hind legs. Place your right hand gently over the bunny’s neck, ready to get a hold of the scruff should the bunny move suddenly. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Watch Queue Queue You will be able to learn what your rabbit enjoys and does not. If your rabbit is large and you need a big carrier, consider choosing a model with wheels or a shoulder strap to move it more easily. Rabbits who are not handled regularly can find human contact distressing. This article has been viewed 180,243 times. If your rabbit cage fits in your vehicle, your rabbit can travel this way, but most cages take up too much room and may allow your rabbit to hurt themselves if you have to stop or turn suddenly. Rabbits do not carry their young this way and doing so can cause them distress since scruffing is a similar sensation to being grabbed by a hawk or racoon. If this isn’t possible, partly cover hutches and other outside cages with blankets so that they have some soundproofing (while making sure they have enough ventilation). References For extra support, lean your rabbit’s back on your chest. Rabbits have very fragile bones, so be especially cautious when handling them. X This is to establish dominance. Also, the ears do not provide a very secure grip, so the rabbit may struggle as a natural prey-animal response. This will make a “bunny ball” where one hand forms a seat while your grip on its skin keeps it from falling off while you take it out. Most rabbits are fine with one- or two-day trips, but longer periods away from home are stressful for them. Approved. [1] Avoid travelling during the hottest parts of the day as rabbits can really suffer if they overheat. If this happens, place the bunny back in the carrier and re-grip or go back to using the scruff to help with restraint. Start handling them from a young age, and always be gentle, interacting with them at ground level whenever possible. Saved from m.wikihow.com. Very helpful. If you are outside or in a public place, be very careful to not let it get away. Remember, you are holding the hind legs so that they point forward, toward the head, the opposite direction of where the hind legs would be should the bunny kick out. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Make sure to contain the hind legs securely, by keeping your hand on the rump and scrunching the hind legs up toward the bunny’s head. To pick up a rabbit, place one hand under its chest, and the other under its rump while pushing its hind legs forward. The idea is to prevent rewarding bad behavior by giving it freedom. Carefully remove each tick using tweezers. Be gentle and soothing when you pet the rabbit. Make sure to keep the rabbit close to the ground while carrying it, since it will feel more comfortable and won’t be injured if it falls. This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. If you are getting the bunny out of a top-opening carrier, you can use the same technique, just remember not to dangle the bunny by the scruff. The fiber in hay helps their digestive system, and chewing on the hay keeps your rabbit’s teeth filed down. Then lift the bunny out, hind legs toward you, and place under your arm so the bunny’s head is given a place to hide. In this case, 87% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. If the rabbit is in a side-opening cage, use one hand to hold the rabbit’s face away from you while gently holding onto the skin behind its neck. Since rabbits are naturally curious, they need toys to help keep them mentally and physically active. You can also put a small towel or blanket in your rabbit’s normal cage and then transfer that to the carrier when you’re ready to transport your rabbit. Rabbits as well as many other animals love to play. Consider having an experienced rabbit handler help you with the more challenging pet to prevent injury to both you and the bunny. Avoid transporting your rabbit over long distances – if possible, choose a veterinarian located close to home. Can I pick a rabbit up under its front legs? I started reading to just find out about toys that I could, "I just got a baby bunny and I have no idea how to pick it up. How to joint a rabbit. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. As long as you are not too badly injured, gently hug the rabbit closer to you, under your arm, until it settles down and then let it down carefully and calmly. ", "This article helped me to understand how to care for and hold my new rabbit. If you plan to keep your rabbit outdoors and not just indoors, then there are some precautionary steps that you need to incorporate onto your hutch. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The first position pictured is most suitable for smaller bunnies. Never pull on a rabbit's legs or tail to get it to move closer to you. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Carry-a-Rabbit-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Carry-a-Rabbit-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Carry-a-Rabbit-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid994949-v4-728px-Carry-a-Rabbit-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"