How Much Exercise Do Rabbits Need

Introduction

Hello friends, hope you all are doing great with your beloved bunny. Today I will try to answer a frequently ask question “how much exercise do rabbits need” Although rabbits are cute and cuddly, and plants objectively look the part of a lovable, perhaps even lazy, animal, rabbits are actually bundles of energy that require daily exercise to stay healthy and reach their full potential. In this article, we’ll briefly discuss,

• the importance of physical activity,
• why rabbits need exercise,
• what could happen if they don’t get enough or none at all,
• and the groundwork for exercise ranging from physical activity within an enclosure, free roaming, and physical activity within your own home.

Why Rabbits Need Exercise:

Rabbits are built for speed. Exercise is a must. So what are the specifics? Rabbits must receive at least three hours of exercise per day, whether that consists of running around in their cage, outside of their enclosure, in your yard, in your home, etc. As long as your pet is safe, then most reasonable and responsible locations are just fine. The target time of day should be dawn and dusk, as this is when rabbits are most active.

Consequences of Lack of Proper Exercise

Rabbits need time to play and exercise. They should be allowed to do this at least twice a day. The consequences of a lack of proper exercise or none at all can be extremely harmful to your rabbit’s health, both mental and physical. Rabbits need their freedom. Without it, they can become stressed and anxious, which can lead to depression. While weight gain is the obvious consequence, it can carry with it other serious concerns, such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• and diabetes.

Boredom and Behavioral Issues

Boredom and behavioral issues can also arise if your rabbit is confined to its living quarters without the ability to exercise. This can promote alternative behaviors, such as:

• over-grooming,
• resulting in bald patches, or gnawing at the cage,
• causing tooth damage.

On the behavioral front, your rabbit could turn on you. With pent-up stress, anxiety, and energy, your pet can become flat-out aggressive and destructive. This includes not only self-harm but also potential harm to you. We all know the story, and we’ve seen it play out even with humans. You keep a person a prisoner in their home, and bad things can happen. You certainly don’t need me to tell you that the same is true for these lovable rabbits.

Exercise and Supervision:

Exercise is more than physical. Rabbits need it to be sound in all aspects of health. Without it, they are destined to become,

• problematic,
• unhealthy,
• and live much shorter lives

Time spent on exercise also involves supervision. Rabbits can get into serious danger if left alone to roam. Their natural instincts of chewing and digging can cause self-harm, not to mention potential damage to your property. You can also read “how to stop your rabbit from chewing your house”.

Time of Exercise:

When it comes to general engagement, in order to keep your rabbit in a sound mental state, spend at least two hours in total with your rabbit at various parts of the day. This, of course, does not necessarily include exercise time. Rabbits need this interaction. They also need to socialize with other rabbits to stay happy. You can also read “how to bond with your rabbit”. It will help to build a strong bonding with your rabbit. If you only have one rabbit, it’s all on you. Do your best to keep your rabbit in good spirits. Rabbits are social creatures, so they need you. It’s all about supervision and positive engagement. You can also read “how to keep rabbit entertained”.

Useful Tips for Safe Exercise:

When it comes to exercise, always ensure that your rabbit can do its thing without fear of injury or danger. As a helpful tip, your rabbit’s pen should have at least 32 square feet of room. Runs and play areas are a must. If your pet is running loose in your home, rabbit-proof your house as much as possible.

• Cover or remove valuables from the occupied room,
• protect the carpet,
• and remove cords and cables from the floor, etc.

You can find more information in my another article “how to bunny proof your home”. Click the link and check it out about all things how easily and with less spending you can bunny proof your home.

Exercise Tools:

Rabbits are quite intelligent, so they need action that involves mental stimulation. While rabbits love to run, that’s only a small part of the story. They love to investigate their surroundings and need the perfect mix of physical exercise with a bit of intrigue. Some play options can include,

• an exercise wheel (more or less a larger version of a hamster wheel),
• a treat ball (this is a plastic or wooden ball that contains a tasty treat inside – once your rabbit pushes the ball around a few times, the treat will emerge),
• or tossing it a couple of raisins and letting your pet have at it.

Keep Your Rabbit Healthy and Happy:

Tunnels are another form of engagement and can offer creative activities. Darting through these tubes is something many rabbits can’t get enough of. Ramps and platforms are yet another form of physical activity and mental stimulation. Cardboard boxes are also a plus – rather old-school, but they still work like a charm. Rabbits love to hide, jump, and chew, and a cardboard box will allow your pet to do all three. How about a bucket of hay or a bucket of newspaper? Rabbits love to dig and burrow, and buckets are a good option. Hide some treats in that hay or newspaper, and this will please your rabbit even more if something tasty is underneath.

The final option on the list involves wicker balls, which rabbits love to push around the house. Thick wicker can also make for a good chew toy, and chewing helps file down your rabbit’s teeth. You don’t need to break the bank on quality toys. As you can see, rabbit toys come in many varieties. The important thing is that your rabbit gets proper exercise and stimulation. As long as you cover the basics, your rabbit will be happy and content, avoiding unnecessary bouts of stress, anxiety, and physical health issues.

Conclusion

Although that will conclude things for the article portion of this material, if you’d like to know more about this subject in detail, please visit my site Cutierab. You will get tons of information about bunny care, breed, behavior, and pro tips. If I missed anything and you want to know any specific topic about bunny, please let me in the comment box.