How to Keep a Pet Rabbit Safe

Pet rabbits are vulnerable to environmental hazards both indoors and outdoors. Domesticated rabbits are different from the wild rabbits we see grazing in our gardens, as they've lost many of the instincts and features that act as safeguards for their wild cousins. Know your responsibilities as a rabbit's guardian and enjoy years together with this docile pet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep the pet rabbit in an indoor habitat. Rabbits that live outdoors are subject to predators and harsh weather.

2. Allow rabbits to acclimate to cold weather conditions. If you decide you must keep your rabbit outdoors, introduce her to her outdoor habitat in the autumn so she can grow a thick winter coat.

3. Protect your rabbit from summer weather. Long haired varieties are especially susceptible to heatstroke. They require constant access to fresh water and shade in the summer months.

4. Seal off small passageways that indoor rabbits can use as hiding places. A rabbit can slip into a narrow space and then become trapped.

5. Move houseplants and holiday greenery out of the rabbit's reach. Many common houseplants are toxic and can cause illness or death if the rabbit nibbles on them.

6. Protect the pet rabbit from the danger of electrocution. Rabbits enjoy nibbling on inanimate objects to keep their teeth filed down and rabbits can receive a fatal shock from chewing on electrical cords.

7. Instruct children on proper rabbit handling. Exuberant children engage in horseplay with pet rabbits, causing injury. If a skittish rabbit kicks and causes a child to drop her, the result could be crippling.