Rabbit Care
Rabbits can make really nice pets. They are gentle and friendly. They generally live outside, but can live indoors and can even be trained to use a litter tray. A healthy rabbit may live to 7 or 8 years of age.
Choosing your Pet Rabbit
It is best to obtain your rabbit when it is still young. Do make sure choose a rabbit whose eyes and nose are free from any discharge. It is best to go to a good pet store or a good breeder. There are many breed of rabbits so think carefully about whether you want one that will grow up to be big or small and have ears that stand up or are lopped. Make sure that the rabbit you choose looks healthy and well.
Health Matters
Within a few days of getting your new rabbit, you should take it to the vet for a thorough check up. It is possible to vaccinate rabbits against certain serious diseases such as myxomatosis, so your veterinary surgeon will advise you on when it is best to do this.
The veterinary nurses in the surgery will be happy to help you choose feeding, housing and bedding materials for your new rabbit.
Feeding
It is best to try to keep your rabbit's diet as natural as possible and remember that rabbits like to chew. Try to give the following on a daily basis.
- Fresh Meadow Hay. This can be purchased from pet stores or your veterinary surgery. Make sure that it smells sweet and not musty or moldy.
- Dark Green Leaves. You may feed dandelion leaves or vegetables such as cabbage, kale, or carrot tops.
- A good quality extruded commercial rabbit food such as Burgess.
- Always provide fresh water daily.
- Carrots may be given as a treat but should not be the only food source.
- Never feed your rabbit (or any other pet) chocolate.
Housing and Bedding
Most rabbits are kept outdoors in a secure and enclosed area with a bit of lawn and a warm, protected hutch. It is best to cover the floor of the hutch with a layer of newspaper to help with cleaning and then to cover the papers with hay or straw. Try not to use wood chippings or sawdust. Rabbits are sensitive to heatstroke so avoid putting the hutch in direct sunlight.
Cleanliness
It is most important to keep your rabbits hutch really clean. Change the bedding several times a week and inspect your rabbit and the hutch area daily. Fly strike (maggots) can happen in a matter of hours in the hot sun and cause rabbits terrible agony and very often death. Change your rabbits water daily too and thoroughly clean the water bowls and food dishes.
