Thinking about getting your first rabbits?
Or perhaps you need to brush up on the basics....

The welfare of all animals is protected by law under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which sets out the five basic welfare needs.

In order for your rabbits to be cared for properly the minimum requirements are a:

1. Need for a suitable environment

2. Need for a suitable diet

3. Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns

4. Need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals

5. Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

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If you are unable to meet any of these needs then please do NOT get any pet.

 

When cared for correctly rabbits can live up to 10+ years; this can vary greatly depending on the breed, its living conditions       and its diet. Indoor rabbits tend to have a longer lifespan than those housed outdoors.

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If your rabbits are to be kept outside then the floor of their sleeping quarters needs to be lined with soft bedding such as straw, fleece blankets, vetbed or carpet. These need to be kept an eye on for any chewing (this behaviour generally reduces when the rabbits have the correct space as this aids stimulation and prevents frustration and boredom).

Sawdust and wood shavings are NOT to be used at all for them as it is an irritant to their eyes and respiratory system.

 

Handling your rabbits:

Rabbits are prey animals and the experience of being picked up can be terrifying for them and can hinder any trust being built with them. You can read more on this here.

We do not handle our rabbits unless we have to. Rabbits are intelligent and quickly realise when they see you that they will be picked up so run and hide which is obviously not what we want. To build up trust you need to sit on the floor at your rabbits level and let them approach you, offer them treats and make the experience a positive one for them. This may take time to begin with as is it can take up to a few months for your rabbits to fully settle in their new home. 

We do not advise buying from a breeder or pet shop but should you bring rabbits home under 3 months old handling is a good idea at this age to familiarise them with people and minimise stress when older and when they need to be picked up for health reasons. Please ensure this is done safely for example do not stand up with them in case they make a run for it and jump from your arms and as much as possible on the rabbits terms. 

They have powerful back legs and if they are not handled correctly can kick out in an attempt to escape and can break their own spine. 

If you need to get your pets into a carrier case for vet visits for instance it is always best to coach them into the case rather than picking them up to place inside.

 

If they are given the space they need and a friend to interact with (these are basic welfare needs) you quickly see they have their own personalities and can be just like a small dog.

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Rabbits are VERY high maintenance pets and have very specific dietary needs that need to be adhered to as a lot of health issues are caused by the wrong diet.

Below you will find some basic facts you should know before considering welcoming rabbits into your home.

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·    Rabbits are very sensitive and take a lot of looking after·       

·    They are a prey animal and most rabbits do NOT like being picked up and cuddled

·    They are sociable creatures and require company of their own kind

·    Rabbits and guinea pigs should NEVER be kept together

·    Rabbits should be neutered when old enough, usually around 5 months of age. Female rabbits have an 80% chance of                 having uterine (womb) cancer if not spayed early enough

·    They are clean animals and can be litter trained; this is usually more successful once they have been neutered

·    Litter boxes should be cleaned out every day especially in warmer months so you can keep an eye on their droppings (this           can tell you a great deal about their health); and also help protect them from Fly Strike

·    Rabbits have an extremely sensitive digestive system which can easily cause severe illness through poor diet. They need to         have a constant, unlimited supply of hay (not to be confused with straw).

·    They should NOT be fed the ‘muesli’ type food that some shops / supermarkets still sell as rabbit food. Good quality pellets       in limited portions should be given instead

·    A rabbit’s health depends on their digestive system working continuously; simply put they need to eat throughout the day. If       they don’t eat their digestive tract will stop working and they can go into a state known as GI Stasis. This can be fatal if not           treated in time so getting to know your rabbits habits is important for early detection

·    Not all vegetables are suitable for rabbits – in particular Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value and can cause serious gut           problems. In fact we no longer feed our rabbits vegetables – herbs are an exception

·    Carrots are also a once in a while treat in small quantities – they are full of sugar and can lead to obesity in a rabbit; as are           any safe fruits

·    Their teeth never stop growing this is another reason why they need to eat hay to keep them trimmed

·    Rabbits hide their illness / pain in order to not attract predators to their weakness, so it isn’t always obvious that there is a             problem; again getting to know their habits can help with earlier detection

·    Unlike cats and dogs you should never wait for a ‘day or two’ to see if they get better; by then your rabbit may well have             died as by the time they show their illness it is usually progressed to the latter stages

·    No rabbit should be ‘starved / fasted’ prior to an operation – if you are told to do this by your Vet / Receptionist at the vet           practice tell them they are wrong and consider changing to a different vets

·    Rabbits have a delicate bone structure which can easily be damaged by the incorrect holding of them or by being accidently       stepped on

·    Rabbits dislike fast movements and loud sounds

·    Veterinary care is very expensive for any animal and as rabbits are classed as ‘exotic’ pets a rabbit savvy vet may be some             distance from your home. Insurance is highly recommended 

·    Sadly not all vets are experienced or knowledgeable enough to treat rabbits correctly. This is due to people thinking ‘they’re        just rabbits’ and are not worth taking to the vets; therefore, vets don’t get the same volume of experience that they do with        the many cats and dogs they see. Inevitably they have to work from what they have learnt from a text book which sadly isn’t        always enough. You need to find out where your nearest ‘rabbit savvy’ vet is before you need them

·    Rabbit insurance only covers certain things so check out what is omitted before signing up. Not doing so can be a costly             mistake

.    We highly recommend that you adopt your rabbits from a reputable rescue. There is a stigma that rescue rabbits are 'broken       rabbits'. Either having ill health or behavioural problems. This isnt true, the majority of rabbits that join us do so through no         fault of their own. Reputable rescues want what is best for both rabbits and owner so will be upfront with any issues the                 rabbits may have.

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