Keeping a Progress Record, Husbandry & Toileting
Keeping a Progress Record
download a pdf copy of the record card
It is important to keep a written record of the leveret's progress. Include the date, weight, loss and gain of weight, amount of feeds, quantity at each feed, has he passed urine and faeces, any solid food they've eaten and any other information you think would be useful.
Cleaning
Other than your feeding equipment, it is both impossible and unnecessary to have cages and other equipment sterile. You must however keep all cages, towels and any other equipment used, thoroughly clean and disinfected. I use boiling water or a baby bottle sterilizer for my feeding equipment and a Pet spray sanitizer, from most pet supply stores, to clean hard equipment such as cages, heat pads brushes etc. also any cloths used. Never leave a residue of product behind and let the cage dry before making up and returning the leveret. Towels are washed with a shop bought antibacterial washing powder in a machine.
It will be uncommon, but should your leveret die of a disease, destroy towels, clean cages etc as above then spray the hard goods with the sanitizer leaving this to dry over night.
Toileting
Leverets, as with wild rabbits, do not need stimulation for toileting. However, it would do no harm to toilet the leveret just the once on the day you receive him, Use some clean warm, not boiling, water to wet the end of a towel or a cotton wool ball. Use gentle back and forth strokes across the genital area. Don’t rub and don't prolong the action as this will cause soreness. Don't be alarmed if the leveret does not wee, he may have had a wee recently. They usually wee during or just after a feed. You should see and feel damp patches on their towelling bedding. However, should the leveret not show clear signs of passing urine and he has been taking milk, try the toileting procedure. If that fails get the advice of a vet. It is also very important to check your leveret is passing faeces. These are tiny black balls almost like a plant seed. These will be found on the bedding and will change in size with age. An absence of this or, if it is yellow in colour and runny you will then need to get some advice from a vet as soon as possible.