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Caring for your Rabbit, Guinea Pig,
Mouse & Rat
Many children have a guinea pig, a rabbit, or a mouse
as a first pet. These pets make excellent companions
but they are quite
dependent, on their owners to provide them with care and attention everyday.
It is best for people, especially the parents of pet-keeping children, to
make a conscious effort to accept all the responsibilities of pet ownership
before finally deciding to purchase one.
Responsibilities of Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Mouse &
Rat Purchase
Buying a pet rabbit, guinea pig or mouse really means that you are prepared
to take on a serious daily commitment for five to ten years depending on the
type of pet you choose.
Children purchasing pets
Owning a pet provides a child with companionship and teaches the child
responsibility and care for dependent creatures. Parents, however, must at
all times guide children in their choice of a pet and the husbandry of the
animal, and be prepared to supervise the day-to-day care so that the animal
is not neglected through ignorance or loss of interest.
Guinea Pigs (Cavies)
One of the most popular pet rodents, these are generally hardy animals, and
given the right facilities are easy to care for. Guinea Pigs are docile with
people and soon become tame and tractable. Their size and shape allow them
to be easily handled by children. Because they are social animals, it is
necessary that more than one pet guinea pig be kept for companionship.
Rabbits
Tame rabbits were originally bred from the wild. They make attractive,
appealing pets and are relatively hardy animals. Children easily handle the
smaller breeds. Like guinea pigs, rabbits are social animals and require
companionship of another rabbit when kept as pets. Provision of a proper
rabbit and predator-proof enclosure in the garden is essential for keeping
these animals.
Mice & Rats
Mice and rats can make excellent little pets and are very popular with
children but usually only live for about two years. They have been bred in
captivity for nearly one hundred years and there are now forty different
varieties available. Pet mice are easily handled by children and do not
require large or expensive facilities.
Purebred or Crossbred?
The only advantage of a purebred variety is a recognisable size and
appearance, particularly colour pattern. Purebred varieties are usually
acquired deliberately and may be expensive to purchase.
Short Coat or Long?
Short-coated pets are the easiest to groom, particularly as many tend to
look after their coats themselves. The long-coated varieties, especially the
Angora rabbit, need a great deal of attention on a daily basis.
Male or Female?
Male animals should be kept singly because of the risk of fighting when
several males are placed together even if they are desexed. Male animals
should not be placed with female animals unless breeding is required, or the
animals have been desexed. Occasionally two females may fight and where this
occurs they must be kept separated.
Purchasing your Pet
Buy your pet from a reputable source. Beware of purchasing it from markets
or places where large numbers of pets are kept for sale. Only buy if you are
satisfied that the facilities in which the animals are kept for sale are in
excellent condition. Never purchase a pet that looks or is unwell, or is for
sale with other animals that look unwell
Responsibilities of owning your Rabbit, Guinea Pig,
Mouse & Rat
Read all you can about the particular type of pet you have chosen. Talk to
friends who have the same type of pet you wish to purchase. Cheek with your
local veterinary surgeon about the specific medical problems the pet of your
choice could contract. At the same time check how these diseases are
recognised, and what prevention measures are required to avoid them.
Guinea pigs, rabbits and mice require specialised shelter from the elements,
protection from natural enemies such as cats, dogs and wild birds; a correct
and balanced daily diet, and the opportunity to take adequate exercise.
Owners must ensure that pets receive proper veterinary care when they are
ill, and must watch their pets to detect signs of illness.
The Law
 The
animal protection laws in Victoria cover all animals and birds and
proclaim the following offences pet owners should know about:
abandoning an animal.
failing to provide drink, food or shelter for an animal.
ill-treating, injuring, tormenting or torturing an animal.
killing an animal in a cruel manner or unlawfully or maliciously.
If you suspect cruelty to an animal inform the RSPCA immediately.
It is illegal to keep wild (bush) rabbits as pets, however pet rabbits may
be kept without a permit provided they are housed according to the
requirements set down by the Agriculture Department.
If you suspect cruelty to an animal inform the RSPCA or Victorian Police
immediately.
Care For your Rabbit or Guinea pig
Housing
A good roomy hutch is absolutely basic to a guinea pig’s or a rabbit's
welfare. The hutch is a cage divided into two connecting compartments, one
for daytime with a wire mesh door to admit light and air, the other to
provide a mosquito proof retreat at night or from wind, rain, or cold.
 The roof of the
hutch should be hinged to allow ease of access for cleaning purposes and the
hutch should be raised off the ground and sited to catch the morning sun.
The floor of the hutch should be designed to contain a litter of wood
shaving about 5cm deep covered with a thick layer of bedding straw. The day
compartment should be fitted with a water bottle, hay-rack, gnawing block or
bark covered log, and an earthenware feeding bowl. Suitable hutch size for
two rabbits is 180cm x 90cm x 90cm and for two guinea pigs, 150cm x 60cm x
60cm. The bedding straw must be replaced on a daily basis, and each week the
hutch should be thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed.
Exercise Enclosure
A strongly fenced enclosure should be built about the hutch to provide
earth-contact exercise for your guinea pigs or rabbits. The enclosure fence
must not only protect your pets from predators, but must prevent their
escape by burrowing, or jumping. Inside the enclosure there should be some
hollow logs and pipes, shrubbery, or rocky caves, to provide the animals
with cover and protection.
Grooming
Daily grooming of guinea-pigs and rabbits is essential to keep the coat in
good condition. Use a firm brush, which will remove dead hairs, tangles and
pieces of twigs, dry leaves or burrs. During grooming, check the animal for
general health and external parasites. Also check the length of toenails
and, if found to be overlong, have them clipped by a veterinarian or someone
experienced in clipping. Daily handling keeps the animals tame.
Feeding
As herbivores, guinea pigs and rabbits need a diet consisting almost
entirely of vegetable matter. Variety is essential, and the food offered
must be fresh. Special pellets are available from pet shops and form a good
base for the diet, which must include greens. Fresh food can include apples,
pears and a variety of vegetables. Fresh water supplied via a drip feed
bottle rather than an easily contaminated bowl.
Desexing
Female rabbits should be desexed to prevent unwanted litters. Male rabbits
and guinea pigs may be desexed not only to prevent reproduction but also to
control fighting amongst males.
Health and Veterinary Care
Signs of Health:
Demeanour: Alert, watchful and responsive to human approach.
Movement: Guinea Pigs - rapid shuffling close to the ground.
Rabbit: strong movements particularly in hind legs.
Appetite: Good - eating frequently and drinking regularly.
Breathing: Quiet and regular.
Coat: No soiling by faeces or urine. No tangles, skin sores or parasites.
Ears: Alert to sound - no discharge.
Eyes: Clear and bright with no discharge.
Nose: No discharge. Rabbits' noses twitch rhythmically.
Feet: Clean and dry with no skin broken and nails not overlong.
If your rabbit or guinea pig appears unwell for any reason, consult your
veterinarian.
Ailments
Rabbits and guinea-pigs can become ill without warning, usually
characterised by lethargy and a failure to eat or drink. Seek veterinary
advice.
Respiratory Infections
The symptoms are similar to those of the common cold in humans but may
develop into pneumonia. Often infection is caused by poor living conditions.
At the first sign of snuffles or sneezing obtain veterinary advice.
Myxomatosis
 This
infection is used to control wild rabbit populations in Australia and is
transmitted from rabbit to rabbit via biting insects such as the mosquito or
flea. Symptoms are very sore eyes and nose, swollen ear flaps and genitalia,
and failure to eat or drink. The disease is fatal and no vaccination is
available. An affected rabbit should be humanely "put down" as soon as the
disease is diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon. Domestic rabbits can be
protected only by being housed in a mosquito-proof hutch and being kept free
of fleas.
Calicivirus
The rabbit calicivirus disease is another virus designed to control the wild
(bush) rabbit population. Rabbit owners can protect their pets by having
them vaccinated by a veterinarian.
Diarrhoea
May be due to an intestinal infection introduced by contaminated vegetable
matter, or to a sudden change in diet. Withhold greens for twenty-four
hours, feeding only hay and water, but if the condition persists consult a
veterinarian.
Overgrown teeth
This condition occurs where the animal has not been fed sufficient hard
food, or a gnawing block of bark-covered wood has not been provided in the
hutch.
External Parasites
During daily grooming check rabbits for any sign of fleas. If necessary,
consult your veterinarian for advice on the best flea treatment products to
use.
Skin Ailments
Many of these occur due to a failure to adequately clean the Hutch and
remove soiled bedding straw. Urine scald and faecal contamination of the
coat is easily recognised. Skin irritation with balding can also be caused
by mites and ringworm. Skin abscesses in rabbits are common when fighting
(usually between males) occurs. The abscesses can reach golf ball size
before bursting. Veterinary assistance is required where skin irritation or
abscesses occur.
Care for you Mice and Rats
Housing
Mice and rats are usually kept in an escape-proof wire mesh fronted hardwood
cage. A suitable floor size for two pets is 60cm x30cm with 25cm headroom.
The cage lid should be hinged to allow access to the mice and for cleaning
purposes. A small dark nesting box must be fitted as a gallery close to the
lid of the cage, with access to this box via a ramp. Mice suffer great
stress if such a retreat is not available. The floor of the cage should
allow for good shaving litter 2.5cm deep with ample bedding straw cover.
Ease of cleaning the entire cage and nesting box should be taken into
account when building.
Exercise
Mice and rats are talented climbers. Ropes and ladders should be provided,
also a strong exercise wheel. Ideal for exercise is a multi-storied mouse
cage.
Grooming
Mice and rats generally groom themselves, providing their cage is kept
clean. Daily handling is recommended to check on signs of ill-health and to
keep the animals tame.
Feeding
Mice and rats are omnivorous. Special food pellets can be purchased from a
pet shop. In addition, raw fruit and vegetables should be given daily,
including carrot, celery, and apple. Fresh hay is an important component of
diet. Food and water dishes must be cleaned daily. The animals readily adapt
to a drip feed water bottle.
 Health and Veterinary Care
Signs of Health:
Demeanour: Alert, responsive.
Movement: Rapid, close to ground.
Appetite: Good, eating regularly.
Breathing: Quiet and regular.
Coat: Clean, glossy, and free of soiling.
Ears: Alert to sound
Eyes: Clear and bright with no discharge.
Nose: Twitches frequently. No discharge.
Feet: Clean and dry with no skin broken and nails
not overlong.
If your mouse or rat appears unwell for any reason, consult your
veterinarian.
Ailments
Small rodents have very poor recuperative powers. The accent must therefore
be on the prevention of illness by very high standards of care. Seek
veterinary advice at the first sign of illness.
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