Rabbits are very sociable animals and make good indoor pets. House rabbits are becoming increasingly popular and as a result we are seeing them more at the practice. Generally we do not recommend rabbits as an ideal pet for children as they are easily frightened. If you are set on a rabbit as a pet for a small child, we would strongly recommend you get a big rabbit so that your child cannot easily pick it up (and drop it!).
Dental and digestive health
The most common problems we treat with rabbits are all associated with their digestive tract. As herbivores, their diet is incredibly important in order to maintain the delicate bacterial biosystem in their intestines. Dental problems are very common, as is inappetance associated with disturbed gut motility. In the wild, rabbits have to spend a lot of their time eating and digesting fresh grass and plants. Pet rabbits should be encouraged as much as possible to mimic this natural diet. We recommend that rabbits are fed a diet which includes mainly fresh grass, timothy hay, and other plants and vegetables. A complete extruded rabbit feed such as Supa-rabbit should be used as a supplementary feed each day and pro-biotics are also great for maintaining healthy gut flora. Any changes in a rabbit’s diet should be undertaken slowly and we would strongly recommend that you call us for advice before you change your rabbits feed. A rabbit should pass soft partially-digested greenish-brown faecolith pellets every day, which he or she re-ingests. Please call us if you are unsure if you are feeding your rabbit the correct food. At the practice we have a range of recommended feeds, pro-biotics and treats and all our staff are knowledgeable and happy to give advice on this most important aspect of rabbit health.
Vaccinations and routine health checks
We recommend that we see your rabbit once a year to give them a full health check and a general MOT. Many rabbits are overweight and unfit and as in people this leads to health problems as they get older including heart disease, joint disease, etc… We recommend that rabbits are vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease.
Neutering
We recommend that male and female rabbits are neutered at three months of age in order to prevent territorial and aggressive behaviour. Spaying females also prevents tumours of the uterus which are very common in older rabbits.
Flystrike
This is when flies, predominantly blue bottles and green-bottles, lay their eggs on the perineum (bottom) of your rabbit. A fly’s maggots are flesh-eating and a rabbit can become very seriously injured by these, often fatally, if you don’t seek immediate veterinary attention. Make sure you check your rabbit daily during the Spring and Summer. Using a spray called Rearguard (£14.20) will keep the flies away or there is a spot on called Xenex Ultra (£16.50) which is applied every 2 weeks. There are many predisposing factors involved that contribute to the risk of fly strike. These include sudden changes in diet which can cause diarrhoea. The rabbit then soils itself and the flies lay there eggs on the faeces.