The Gander Gab

Pet rabbits like to stay clean. They are constantly cleaning
themselves. This is important for their health and wellbeing.

You can be a big help to your pet rabbit by following these
tips for general cleaning of your pet rabbit and it's environment.

Pet Rabbit Cleanliness

Things you can do to keep your pet rabbit as clean as possible:

* Changing litter on a regular basis: It's a good idea to change
your rabbit's litter daily, especially if you're using hay or one
of the organic litters such as alfalfa, oat or paper. Rabbit
urine has a very strong odor and will quickly make itself
apparent.

* Placement of the litter box: When you first get your rabbit,
observe where she deposits her urine and pills. Usually this is
in one of the corners of her cage, and that is where you should
place the litter box.

* Keeping the litter box clean: Your rabbit's litter box should be
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once a week. You can use white
vinegar to rinse the box out, and make sure to let it soak for
those really tough stains.

* Keeping the cage clean: Your pet's bedding should be changed once
a week. At the same time, scrub her food and water dishes with
hot water and detergent -- make sure to rinse them well so that
no traces of soap are left. A complete cleaning of your rabbit's
cage should be done once a month. Wash the cage using a
disinfectant made specifically for small animals; make sure to
dilute the disinfectant in hot soapy water. If you're using a
household cleaner, avoid ammonia-based products and be sure to
rinse thoroughly with water afterwards.

* Pest control: Keep your rabbit's environment free of parasites
such as fleas and ticks with the use of products designed to keep
these pests under control. If you use sprays or flea bombs, keep
your rabbit out of the room for a minimum of 24 hours.

* Cleaning up accidents: Like all household pets, your rabbit will
occasionally have accidents when let out of her cage. Clean them
up immediately using a good cleaner or a mixture of 1/4 white
vinegar and 3/4 club soda; enzyme-based pet stain cleaners also
work. Do NOT use ammonia-based cleaners, as urine also contains
ammonia and you might actually be inviting your rabbit to re-use
the spot.

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