Before Buying a Rabbit
Rabbit live for approx 8yrs so you must make sure you can look after the rabbit for this amount of time and cost
when buying a rabbit you should check the
- ears- making sure thier is no signs of mites, sorness or cuts!
- eyes- should be bright and clear no sign of cloudyness or weeping!
- nose- should be dry, no sign of discharge or crust from the nasal passages!
- teeth- should be short with the bottom teeth ever so slightly under the top,
they should not have a perfect inlinement as these will splay as they get older causing a
great deal of pain and suffering for the rabbit resulting in an operation to have them removed!
They should also not have the bottom teeth infront of the top in this scenario the bottom teeth will
continue to grow up into the rabbits nose again causing a great deal of pain for the rabbit resulting
again in an operation to have them removed.
- body-should be free from any lumps, bump and cuts.
- feet- should be free from any feacal matter or soreness
- bottom- should be clean free from any feacal matter and free from any smells
Rabbit Care
Vaccines
The Myxo vaccine can be given from six weeks -
The HVD is a once yearly vaccine and can be given from 10 weeks.
vaccines help prevent these diseases they are no 100% garrentee to stop it happening
Food
A rabbits teeth grow 1-
This is why rabbit friendly vets now sell hay based rabbit treats and specialised hays to encourage rabbits to eat the right diet and so owners can spoil their rabbits(just as many cat and dog owners like to).
A complete pellet food containing Vitamin D (especially for house rabbits) is an ideal top up food for hay as it encourages hand feeding if not fed in a dish. A cat litter tray lined with newspaper and topped with hay makes a good feed utensil as the rabbit is encouraged to forage for its food which is natural behaviour.
Neutering
Have your rabbits sex checked when you first obtain them (This can be done by the vet when having their first vaccination or by a nurse). Males can be neutered from about 14 weeks, however females are best neutered once they are 6 months old (85% of female rabbits die of uterine problems between the ages of 4-
Rabbits MUST not be starved the night before they are neutered.
Always bring bonded pairs in together to help lessen the stress even if only one is being neutered. If the same sex neuter at same time. Remember it is very important to neuter same sex pairing as soon as they reach maturity as even pairs that seem to be well bonded will start to show dominance and fighting at this age.
Male/female pairs should only be separated for 2-
Other important factors affecting rabbit care
Rabbits are crepuscular therefore their exercise times are first thing in the morning and early evening -
Rabbits are prey animals and territorial. They do not like being moved around so an ark in the middle of the lawn can cause your rabbit stress. In an attached run they will often practice running round an escape route ready for times of trouble. Even pet rabbits still have the instincts to know they are at risk of being eaten by anything and everything. Runs should always have lids to stop predators (foxes, dogs and birds of prey) from taking your rabbit. An attached run is also helpful as it allows you to become part of the group (in the wild rabbits live 80-
Advantage for rabbits
Advantage for rabbits is a spot on treatment for fleas. This can be useful if someone has rabbits but also has other animals they know have fleas. Remember we recommend owners treat all animals when they have a flea problem.
vermectin
When an owner rings up to say their rabbit is losing fur or is scratching it is most likely to be skin mites and therefore needs to be seen by a vet for diagnosis and treatment. Many pet shop products do not contain the necessary drugs to kill all life stages of the mites
Remember rabbits are a prey animal and will cover up any illness they have. In the wild an ill animal is dinner. It is therefore very important that an owner is aware that they should always bring their rabbits to a vets as soon as they suspect a problem and we should not put off seeing them until the next day as often by the time we are aware of the problem it will be serious and the rabbit may be dead by the next day.
Vaccinations and vets bills on healthy and ill rabbits are very similar when it come to basic care so it makes senses for both vets and owners to keep rabbits healthy.
Insurance also helps cover veterinary care but it is worth remembering all, if not nearly all, insurance policies exclude teething problems in rabbits as they too see it as preventable with the right diet and breeding in most cases.
Worming
| Lapizole For Rabbits |
| Indications for use Prevents and treats common internal parasites of rabbits susceptible to fenbendazole including E. cuniculi. Contra-indications Lapizole is only for use in rabbits. Do not use in animals other than those indicated. Special precautions for use If you are uncertain about the condition of your pet, consult a veterinary surgeon. If symptoms persist, consult a veterinary surgeon. Interactions None known. Amounts to be administered and administration route Weigh animal carefully before administration to accurately assess the appropriate dose. Replace bottle cap with pump dispenser. Shake well. Prime the dispenser by pumping the product into a tissue until a full dose is dispensed. Dispose of tissue in domestic refuse. For easy administration hold rabbit firmly but gently and place tip of dosing pump in the side of the rabbit's mouth. Dose by actuating pump at 0.5 ml (1 pump actuation) per 0.5 kg bodyweight. This is equivalent to 20 mg fenbendazole per kg bodyweight. Treatment should be continued at this rate once daily for 28 days. Do not overdose. Shake the bottle well before each daily administration. Keep box for future reference to these instructions for use Special warnings for each target species Do not overdose. Withdrawal periods Not applicable. For pet animals only. Do not use on animals intended for human consumption. Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the product Avoid contact with the skin. Wash hands with soap and water following treatment. E. cuniculi is a protozoal parasite of rabbits which affects the nervous and urinary systems and can cause a number of clinical signs, these include but are not limited to, head tilt, hind limb paralysis or weakness, eye problems and death. It is a common parasite which is frequently sub-clinical but over 50% of animals are seropositive. E. cuniculi is zoonotic (spreads to human and animals and vice versa) and presents a particular risk to individuals who may be immunocompromised. Published data on the efficacy of fenbendazole in the treatment and prevention of E. cuniculi in rabbits indicate that a minimum treatment period of 28 consecutive days at 20 mg/kg bodyweight is required for adequate control. |
The Five Freedoms
This the 5 freedoms of which every pet owner must and should follow!
1. FREEDOM FROM HUNGER AND THIRST.
You should give your rabbits ready access to fresh water and the correct diet to maintain full health and vigour.
2. FREEDOM FROM DISCOMFORT.
You should provide your rabbits with an appropriate environment which includes shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. FREEDOM FROM PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE.
You should ensure your rabbits remain disease free through regular vaccinations, rapid diagnosis of any illness and take them to a vet if they appear unwell.
4. FREEDOM TO EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR.
Your rabbit should have sufficient space, proper facilities and the company of other rabbits.
5. FREEDOM FROM FEAR AND DISTRESS.
You should make sure that the conditions that you keep your rabbit in will avoid mental suffering
