Rabbits

Environment:
  • Rabbits are highly sociable animals and should be kept in neutered pairs or groups, rabbits can be very territorial and so if they are not already bonded this process should be done gradually and only after they are neutered
  • Rabbits are very active and need lots of room to show natural behaviours such as running, jumping & digging. RWAF recommends an enclosure no smaller than 3 m x 2 m x 1 m high, but these are the minimum recommendations and an enclosure/living area can never be too big!
  • Enrichment is very important to encourage natural behaviours; this may be in the form of toys, digging spaces, foraging areas and tunnels to name a few
Diet:
  • Grass and/or feeding hay should make up 85% of your rabbits diet; this is essential for dental management and digestion
  • 10% of their diet should consist of appropriate “greens”
  • The remaining 5% of their diet should consist of a small quantity of rabbit nuggets/pellets; muesli style feed is not recommended as they will tend to pick out the highest sugar items
  • Fresh water should always be provided; some rabbits prefer to drink from bowls, others from a bottle, having both available gives your rabbit the option
Not all plants and vegetables are safe for rabbits to eat; the following link lists some plants which are poisonous to rabbits: Poisonous Plants | Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF)

​Preventative Healthcare:
Neutering:
We recommend that all rabbits are neutered for both healthcare and behaviour reasons
  • Male rabbits:
    • Castration can be performed from 3-4 months of age
    • Prevents unwanted breeding, testicular tumours, reduces aggressive behaviour and urine spraying
    • Male rabbits can remain fertile for up to 6 weeks following castration and should be continued to be kept separate from any entire females during this time
  • Female rabbits:
    • Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) can be performed from 4-6 months of age
    • Prevents unwanted breeding, reduces aggressive behaviour
    • Prevents uterine cancer which is very common in female entire rabbits and infection of the uterus; both of which can be fatal
Vaccination:
  • All rabbits, indoor and outdoor, should be vaccinated yearly against the following three potentially fatal viruses:
    • Myxomatosis
    • Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 1
    • Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 2
  • Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age
  • Your rabbit will also be given a general health check at the time of vaccination
Dental checks:
  • Rabbits teeth grow continuously throughout their life, therefore it is important that a rabbit is fed an appropriate diet consisting of good quality grass or hay in order to prevent overgrowth of the teeth
  • Some rabbits are born with malocclusion of the teeth where the teeth are misaligned causing them to be prone to overgrowth
  • Regular dental checks are important and can be performed by one of our vets
Link to further information on rabbit ownership: Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund | Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF)
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