Outside the Box
With the beautiful weather we’ve had this year, I’ve started thinking again about taking my two house rabbits outside. They usually live in a comfortable cage indoors, as pet rabbits should, but I’ve found that letting them outside for a few hours is a great way to add excitement and mental stimulation to their lives. I love to see their ears perk up as they explore their new environment, and they’re great company for me as I do yard work or sit and read in the sunshine. Both of them are very comfortable outside — I wouldn’t recommend the experience to agoraphobic bunnies or very sensitive ones, since one flyby by a jet could be pretty traumatic. But for inquisitive, generally relaxed rabbits, here are a few precautions for making these field trips safe and enjoyable.
First off, I’m always worried about stray cats and dogs wandering into the yard while the bunnies are out. Luckily, my house has a fenced-in yard, which alleviates a lot of my concern. I can close the gate and be pretty sure large predators can’t get in without my noticing.
The fence keeps these animals out, but I need to keep the bunnies in, too. My rabbits are both put on 25-foot retractable nylon dog-walking leashes with harnesses — avoid collars that can choke your pet — that are attached to a screw-in metal dog stake. Between the end of each leash and its harness, I also added three-foot heavy-duty fishing leader to foil the rabbits’ tendency to nibble when the leash catches them up short. They can’t bite through these, and they don’t think to gnaw farther down the line than about two feet. And with the retractable leash, even if they try to bolt when I come to take them inside, I can still “reel” them in easily and not have a long leash tripping me up when I carry them inside. They can both hop in a 25-foot radius, which is enough to allow pretty extensive happy bunny dancing, but they’re not able to leave the area I put them in. Also make sure there aren’t any twigs or other underbrush in the lawn for the leashes to become hung up in. My rabbits love being able to “hide” under the edge of the daylily bed or beneath the low-hanging branches of the pine trees in my yard. I try to position the stake far enough away that they can just reach the greenery, but can’t get tangled up in it. This allows them shade and natural cover, so that they feel less exposed to predators and aren’t as likely to suffer ill effects from direct sun, as well as providing wonderful bare dirt to dig in.
Another option is to set out an exercise pen instead of using a leash. This also allows you to leave a travel carrier in the enclosed area for the rabbit to use as a “home base,” where a leash might get tangled up in it. However, watch out if your rabbit is a leaper or climber; spry rabbits can easily jump over some of the lower pens, or use the carrier as a step up if it’s too near the pen wall. And if your neighbors have dogs, try to locate the rabbits in an area where the dogs won’t be able to see them, as this causes much less stress for all involved. Just the presence of predators like dogs may cause your bunny to panic, which could lead him to hurt himself. Remember, too, that fences and pens don’t necessarily protect from large birds or squirrels, let alone raccoons, owls, hawks, opossums, weasels, or other animals who might not take kindly to rabbits in their territory. I once actually had to scare off a squirrel who was facing off with my dwarf netherland Beezl! I always make sure that I’m within view and hearing of the rabbits, so that I can come to the rescue immediately if needed.
Also of concern are fertilizers and pesticides, as well as poisonous plants. Don’t allow your rabbits to romp in grass that’s treated with chemicals, as amounts that wouldn’t be noticeable by a human are breathed directly into delicate lungs by groundlevel bunny noses. Ask your neighbors, too, whether they treat their lawns just to be sure. Also, I generally keep my rabbits in open grassy areas, but noxious weeds can spring up anywhere. If you think your rabbit has eaten a toxic plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s National Animal Poison Control Center, which is staffed by vets and toxicologists. The number is (800) 548-2423, and there is a $45 fee per case for this service, which can be charged to a credit card or your phone bill.
Yet another concern is picking up parasites from being outside. Fleas can cause anemia in rabbits; this is when the number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in them is below normal. Myxomatosis — a virus that the House Rabbit Society web site describes as causing “red eyes, swollen lids, ocular discharge, swollen and red genital areas, and fever,” and finally death — can also be transmitted to domestic rabbits from insect bites. Also consider that any rabbit that can’t clean his fur of urine or feces is at risk for fly strike. This is a life-threatening condition, in which fly larvae burrow under the skin and feed on a rabbit’s flesh. As part of my emergency medical supplies, I keep some Advantage-brand topical insecticide (9.1% imidaclo-prid) on hand. To prevent fleas and other insect infestations from going unnoticed, examine your rabbit’s ears, eyes, and head for what appear to be dark specks of dirt or white grains; these are flea droppings and eggs. Also keep an eye out for excessive scratching or head shaking that could indicate fleas or mites, and check their underbelly and skin for other parasites.
As mentioned earlier, providing shade for your rabbits is important, as well. My Chimi has thick black fur, and overheats faster than Wendigo, a thin-haired white rabbit, does; but Wendigo is an albino rabbit, so direct sunlight could hurt his eyes. Be sure to choose days that aren’t overly hot to bring your bunnies outside, and check them periodically for overheating by feeling their ears; if they seem overly warm, bring them inside immediately. I also put out a bowl of water for them if they’re going to be out for more than an hour, but generally just nibbling on fresh grass provides enough hydration for shorter trips outside.
And finally, I also bought tags from PetSmart’s automated engraving machine with their names and my phone number on them and attached them to their harnesses. As a backup in case they manage to wriggle out of the harness, both of my rabbits have microchips implanted between their shoulders. These microchips were inserted by my veterinarian and are registered with companies that keep their names, address, and other contact information. If Chimi or Wendigo are scanned at a shelter, this information will come up and they can be returned to me. A few precautions means taking your rabbit outside can be a safe and revitalizing experience for both of you!
