Think about the first time you picked up and carried a baby. It must have been an exciting but also a terrifying experience. You are not so sure if you are handling the baby well. While it may offend some to compare a rabbit to a baby, rabbit handling must also be done correctly for the safety of your pet and yours as well.
Here are some tips for handling rabbits:
Approach stroking his head
Focus is the first step of rabbit management. Do you know that your pet rabbit can’t see what is directly in front of its nose? That being said, if you nuzzle his nose, a very scared rabbit might bite your hand. So, you pat her head, instead. It’s kind of a sign that you’re a friend and you meant no harm.
Raise from your level
Since picking it up suddenly can alarm the poor rabbit, you should pick it up while crouching on the ground. This way, your pet can see who is about to pick it up. Assure your pet that you are not about to eat it, just pick it up and cuddle it. A rule of rabbit management is to establish trust. The rabbit is a herbivore. It has to defend itself against many predators further up the food chain.
Keep your spine curved
When handling rabbits, remember to keep your pet’s back curved. Why is that so important? Well, if your pet suddenly kicks and smashes while straightening its back, it may actually break its spine. The rabbit is not only soft and cuddly, but also extremely fragile. Actually, it should have a “drive with care” sign.
Release if you have difficulties
If your pet rabbit continues to fight you, you should let him go slowly. Squat down as you first picked him up and gently place the rabbit on the ground. If you don’t let go of the pet and let it kick violently while you hold it, you could break its spine. The rabbit can also break its back if it suddenly jumps from a great height. As mentioned above, you have a very delicate pet with you.
By reading the guidelines above, you now know that handling rabbits involves extreme care. If you do not want the rabbit to end up crippled, you have to know how to approach it, lift it, carry it and release it delicately.
