Day to Day Rabbit Care
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 Rabbits are nowadays the third most popular pet in the UK next to cats and dogs. It is estimated that 1.5 million are kept as pets. Many rabbits have left their hutches to become 'house rabbits', enjoying all the creature comforts bestowed upon our much cherished cats and dogs. Whether kept indoors or out, rabbits share the same basic needs. Rabbits can be good and stimulating pets and nowadays the domestic rabbit is one of the most widely kept small animals. Many people continue to keep their pet in a small hutch, perhaps sited at the bottom of the garden. Such rabbits may live a miserable existence in cramped and uncomfortable conditions, with no area provided for exercise. Poor housing is one of the main reasons for ill health in rabbits.
Rabbits need to be outside for a while every day. They need sunlight to produce vitamin D
Housing
If a pet rabbit is being kept outside it is essential to provide it with a large home. When selecting a hutch there is quite a lot to be considered. First, it is essential to know the adult size to which the rabbit will grow. As a rough guide, the hutch should allow an adult rabbit to sit up on its hindlegs and to stretch out.
Ideally, the hutch should be divided into two sections to include a secure and secluded sleeping compartment. All doors must be well fitting with sturdy locks that fasten securely.
The hutch must be weatherproof and regularly maintained using a non-toxic wood preserving treatment. The roof should also be weatherproof and slope backward to allow rain to drain off.
Strong wire mesh must be used on the front of the living quarters. Check that there are no rough edges on which the rabbit could injure itself. A thick piece of canvas can be attached to the roof and lowered over the front of the cage at night, keeping the rabbit warm and cosy.
The hutch should be lined using a thick layer of newspaper with sawdust or wood shavings on top for extra warmth; hay can be placed in the sleeping compartment.
The siting of the hutch is important. The hutch should ideally be raised off the ground, as this will protect the cage and its occupant from damp, and also from vermin.
Although rabbits are hardy creatures that can withstand fairly low temperatures, the hutch should be positioned away from draughts and extremes of temperature and, preferably near to the house. In the winter the rabbit hutch can be placed in a well ventilated airy garage or shed. Remember rabbits can suffer from being too hot or too cold.
Hutch furniture
A water bottle can be attached to the wire front of the hutch. The water should be changed on a daily basis and the container scrubbed out regularly. A hayrack is useful as it can prevent the hay from being soiled or trampled on by the rabbit.
Exercise
Whatever the size of the hutch, rabbits need exercise and the safest way to achieve this is by using a run. However, the run must be escape- and predator- proof and provide shelter.
The run should be moved daily so that the rabbit has fresh grass to nibble. Make sure that the grass has not been treated with weedkiller or any other harmful substance.
The run should only be used for day time exercise and the rabbit placed back into its hutch at night. Ensure that other pets are not able to frighten the rabbit. Cats appear to love to use runs as a resting place and are greatly entertained by the stress of the occupant.
Make sure the rabbit has access to fresh water while in its run. The best way to provide this is by attaching a water bottle to the side of the run.
Rabbit Care
Once the rabbit's accommodation has been determined the routines needed to keep the rabbit healthy and happy need to be looked at.
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Daily routine
There are a number of tasks that should be carried out on a daily basis:
- 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.
- 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 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.
Nutrition
The rabbit's digestive system is adapted to coping with high fibre foods such as hay, grass, root vegetables and herbage. Feeding a varied diet which takes some effort to eat helps relieve boredom, a factor that is especially important for hutched rabbits, and keeps their teeth in trim. As far as rabbits are concerned, the essential thing to remember is that good quality meadow hay should always be available.
There is choice of dry rabbit mixes or nuggets on the market. To keep the ingredients fresh they should be stored in an airtight container. Rabbits benefit from small helpings of fresh fruit and vegetables and these should be offered at least three or four times a week.
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.
Observe your pet's behaviour on a daily basis:
- 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.
There are various other health checks that can be carried out on weekly basis, say, while the hutch is drying from its thorough clean.
- With the rabbit on a non-slip surface 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.
- It is very important to check that the teeth are not becoming overgrown. Rabbits' teeth grow continuously throughout their life and are naturally worn down when they chew. If a rabbit is not given sufficient things to chew on, such as branches from fruit trees, carrots, hay, and so on, its overgrown teeth will cause pain and eventually prevent it from eating. Sometimes the back teeth can overgrow and the animal will start to dribble and stop eating. Either way, urgent veterinary treatment is needed.
- Examine both ears. The skin on the inside of the ear should be pink, and not red or hot to the touch. The ears should be clean and free from wax.
- A good way to monitor the health of the rabbit is to weigh it; a weekly record can be kept and any notable change in weight should be investigated further.
- 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. This can be carried out by a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse.
- Even though rabbits are clean animals and can be seen regularly grooming themselves, they do enjoy having their coats brushed by their owners and grooming can be easily included into the weekly health check.
Grooming
Grooming not only helps to keep the coat clean but it removes excess hair, which is especially important when the rabbit is moulting. Daily grooming is essential if the rabbit is longhaired, such as an Angora.
- Using a soft bristle or pin brush - a cat brush is ideal - start at the head and brush gently in the direction in which the fur grows.
- While grooming, part the fur and check for fleas and mites.
- Any mats or tangles in the fur could be disguising a sore or a wound, so be gentle.
- When grooming the rabbit remember to check its tail end especially if diarrhoea has been noticed in the cage. Soiling in this area can attract flies and result in 'fly strike' (flies lay their eggs on soiled fur and these develop into maggots).
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.
Making friends with your pet
Once you have completed your rabbit's health check, time should be set aside to play with your pet. Rabbits are social creatures that enjoy company, either of their own kind or their human companions. Play helps strengthen the bond between you and your pet, and prevents it from getting bored.
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