Hi, welcome to the madhouse!
Here are a few basic bunny health tips. Any questions, just ask:
*You need to get the buns' sex double checked by the vet. If they are a boy/girl pair they will need to be seperated at once to avoid inbred furry bundles. They can be rebonded 6 weeks after their ops.
*Whatever their sex, they will both need to be neutered if they're to continue living happily together. Their hormones will probably drive them to become terratorial and aggressive if you don't. Spaying is also the only way to avoid uterine cancer in does.
*They will need to be vaccinated against myxomatosis (twice yearly) and VHD (every year). The VHD jab should be given at least 2 weeks after the myxi one. Find a vet who uses Lapinject on Anivac (pref. Anivac) but NOT Cylap. Cylap was invented by the devil! :evil:
*Keep an eye on their claws to make sure they're not too long. It's a good idea to get a pair of small animal claw clippers now. The vet will do it for you if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself though.
*Flystrike is a really nasty condition that is fatal to rabbits. Blow flies lay their eggs in matted on dirty hair around the rabbits bottom. When the eggs hatch the maggots eat your bunny alive. This can be avoided by using Rearguard or Flyguard. It's still a good idea to check your buns' botties every day.
*To avoid worms, use panacur preventativly.
*Tooth problems are common in rabbits, so it's vital that they have an unlimited supply of fresh hay. By grazing on hay and grass they wear their teeth down so they don't get overgrown.
*Rabbits need loads of execise in order to keep fit and happy. The hutch should be at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with an attached run. Even better than this would be a shed, By hopping and jumping around they'll keep their weight down and their hearts healthy.
*Poo! (You've no idea how much we talk about the substance on this forum!). Rabbits produce too types of poo - caecotrphs (which they should eat) and normal poos. These should be big, round, golden and crumbly, or slightly darker if they're grass kept. If they're leaving squishy poos behind, or doing small hard ones, it's most likely to be something about their diet that's to blame.
*Pellets are preferable to mixed feed, so they get a good balance and don't just pick out the best bits. Science selective is a good brand. Medium sized rabbits should get around an eggcupful a day each (or 2 until they're 6 months old). They should not have any veggies until 3 months, and these should be introduced very gradually. Fresh hay should be always available.
If a rabbit is unwell it will sit hunched up with its eyes half closed, grinding its teeth in pain. It may also keep changing position (sitting up then lying down). If a rabbit stops eating, peeing or pooping it's seriously ill and needs to see a vet the same day. This is because their gut needs to keep moving constantly. If they stop eating they go into something called stasis. IMO this is what catches most rabbit owners out - if you keep a close eye on your babies there's no need to worry.
