| Aside from appearance, there are a number of | | | | older children, who have a better sense of their |
| considerations that you will have to make when it | | | | own strength and understand how to treat |
| comes time to pick out your fuzzy friend at a | | | | animals nicely, may be better suited to a pet |
| pet store or other venue. This is important both | | | | rabbit.In any event, if you do choose to bring a |
| to ensure that you select a healthy pet, and to | | | | pet rabbit into a home with young kids, always |
| make sure that you and he are compatible!Now I'll | | | | try to supervise interactions between your child |
| explain what you'll need to think about prior to | | | | and your pet to ensure that both remain safe and |
| heading out to buy your pet rabbit, and what to | | | | healthy. Children must be taught how to handle |
| look for when you're actually selecting an animal | | | | rabbits, and only if they are mature and |
| from a breeder, adoption center or pet | | | | responsible enough to be trusted with the fuzzy |
| store.Remember, while size, breed, fur type and | | | | creature.MoneyEven if you adopt a rabbit for free |
| color are mostly a matter of personal preference | | | | rather than buying one, you should prepare for |
| (as I've explained in the previous chapter), the | | | | certain expenses.A good-sized cage will cost you |
| considerations here are essential to bringing home | | | | at least $30 USD or $40 USD, and this is an |
| and raising a healthy pet.There are a few general | | | | absolute essential. You can also expect to pay for |
| points to think about when deciding whether a | | | | other accessories, such as toys.Feeding is another |
| rabbit is the right type of pet for you and for the | | | | considerable expense. At minimum you will need |
| rest of your family, too.AllergiesMany people in | | | | to buy food pellets, hay and vegetables for your |
| this country have pet allergies, often to dogs or | | | | rabbit to consume. You may also need to |
| cats. It is worth remembering that if you are | | | | supplement with vitamins. Then there is also the |
| allergic to cats, chances are you might well be | | | | matter of the litter box and fresh litter, which can |
| allergic to rabbits. Of course, this is not always the | | | | add up over time.Moreover, you will need to take |
| case, and you may wish get an allergy test from | | | | care of medical issues such as spaying (starting at |
| your doctor before deciding to bring home a new | | | | $35) or neutering (a bit cheaper, starting at $25), |
| pet. If you don't want to go to a doctor for a | | | | as well as medical bills for checkups and any |
| test, you may want to visit a pet store or | | | | illnesses that arise. Of course, it is also possible in |
| breeder and see how you feel after handling the | | | | some cases to purchase or adopt pet rabbits that |
| animals.Also keep in mind that it is not just the | | | | have already been spayed or neutered, but even |
| pet itself that you may be allergic to. Rabbits | | | | then it is going to be essential to pay for various |
| often consume hay, which could be problematic in | | | | medical expenditures over the course of your |
| households where a family member has hay | | | | pet's lifetime.Before bringing home a rabbit, make |
| allergies.Children in the HouseDo you have young | | | | sure that you can commit to giving him the |
| children? If so, a rabbit may not be an ideal pet. | | | | quality of lifestyle he deserves throughout his |
| For the most part, this has nothing to do with | | | | lifetime (5-15 years, depending on the rabbit's |
| rabbits being a danger to the child. On the | | | | breed and age and health at the time of |
| contrary, since young rabbits are delicate and | | | | purchase).by Andrea Austin, |
| relatively tiny, a child may very well do | | | | |
| unintentional damage to the pet! For this reason, | | | | We hope you enjoyed this article. |