Caring for your Rabbit

Did you know?

There are over 60 different breeds of Rabbit.

They are the third most popular pet in the UK.

There are approximately 1.5 million domestic rabbits in the UK.

They need more exercise than a dog.

They require alot of attention and care.

They can live upto 8 years, though there are a few that can live to a grand old age.

Many are kept as 'house rabbits' and can be trained to use a litter tray, lke a cat.

Rabbits need to be outdoors for part of the day because they need sunlight to produce Vitimin D.

Choosing your Rabbits home.

Your rabbit needs enough space to exercise and stretch up to his full height.

Check the size of the parent rabbits when you buy your new friend for an idea of how big he will grow.

Your Rabbits home needs to be seperated into 2 parts so he has somewhere to hide and sleep.

Line you Rabbits cage with newspaper, saw shavings and hay to keep him warm and cosy.

Your Rabbits cage needs to be situated close to your house and out of a draught.

Make sure you have a pull down cover for extra cold winter nights.

Water and Food

You should provide water with a water bottle that hangs on the outside of the Rabbits cage.

The water should be changed every day and the bottles kept clean.

Your rabbit should be offered fresh dried food and vegetable every day and meadow hay in a hay rack.

Exercise

Your rabbit needs much more exercise than you think.

Have an outdoor run for your rabbit to run on the lawn.

He can be in this all day but should be returned to his hutch at night, for his security and bunnies do dig.

Daily Bunny Routine

There are a number of jobs that should be carried out every day:

• Remove wet bedding and heavily soiled areas, replace with clean dry sawdust or wood shavings. Rabbits are clean animals that will often use the same corner of the cage as their toilet area, so you could place a litter tray there and he will learn to use it.
• Remove stale, uneaten food from the food bowl. Wash and dry the food bowl and replace with fresh food.
• Wash and clean the water bottle (use a bottle brush to clean the inside of the bottle), rinse thoroughly and fill with fresh, clean water.
• Check the spout for blockages and leakage.
• Replenish hay.
• Offer a small amount of fresh greens.

Weekly Bunny Routine

• Once a week, the hutch will need a thorough clean:
• Remove all bedding from the hutch.
• Using hot soapy water scrub the hutch making sure to go into the corners.
• Once clean, rinse the cage and allow to dry.
• After cleaning, replace all bedding materials.

Protecting your rabbit against disease

To safeguard the health of your rabbit and prevent the spread of disease, domestic rabbits should be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease.

Both of these diseases, once caught, cause great suffering and are potentially fatal. Your veterinary surgeon can advise you on the vaccinations and annual boosters that are required to keep your pet protected.

Health care

To make sure a rabbit is in good health it needs to be examined regularly. Many of these checks can be carried out while the animal is being fed.

If any signs of ill health are noticed a veterinary surgeon should be consulted.

Check how your pet acts every day:

• Does it come forward to the front of the cage to greet you? If not, why not? A rabbit that remains in its sleeping quarters or sits huddled at the back of the cage may be feeling unwell.
• Check the rabbit's droppings for signs of diarrhoea. Rabbits produce a soft dropping, called a caecotroph, which they eat. This is perfectly normal and is no cause for alarm (by eating these soft droppings the rabbit is making sure it will get all the goodness out of its food). However, if it not eating them, a visit to the vet is called for.
• Check that the rabbit is eating. Is there more food that usual left in the food bowl?
• Check the water bottle level to make sure the rabbit is drinking.

• Check the eyes are bright, clear and free of discharge.
• Check the nose is clean and free from discharge and that the rabbit is not snuffly or sneezing.
• Check that the teeth are not becoming overgrown.
• Examine both ears. The skin on the inside of the ear should be pink, and not red or hot to the touch..
• Check the feet, especially the claws. Rabbits that are kept on soft ground do not wear down their claws and they will need regular clipping.
• Even though rabbits are clean animals and can be seen regularly grooming themselves, they do enjoy having their coats brushed by their owner.

  Games that can be played with your rabbit

• If you have a secure, rabbit-friendly garden, allow your rabbit to chase a football around or place a ball in its run.
• Build a rabbit maze using pipes and cardboard boxes and let the rabbit explore its new 'warren'.
• Place objects in the rabbit's hutch or run for it to explore, chew, or jump on and off, eg, wood from fruit trees and cardboard boxes.
• Take your rabbit for a walk on a harness, or just put time aside each day to pick up and stroke your pet.