This blog was written by Dawn Prime SQP and published by Caroline Johnson.

Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK and rabbit health and SQPs are well positioned to advice owners and would-be owners. There are several products on the market to promote disease prevention and discussing parasite control is also a crucial step in helping to keeping rabbits healthy.

Behaviour

Rabbits are very social animals and should never be kept alone but instead housed in pairs. Rabbits should not be kept with guinea pigs as there is the potential of fighting and bullying, in addition to the two species having different feeding requirements. 

The ideal combination is a neutered male and a neutered female rabbit. Un-neutered rabbits are likely to fight. 

Rabbits are intelligent and full of fun, so they do need a lot of stimulation. Rabbits love toys such as tubes and pipes to run through and small boxes to climb on.

Environment and Housing

Rabbits need space and room to exercise; many rabbits are kept in outdoor hutches, although keeping rabbits indoors is becoming increasingly popular. 

The hutch size should allow the rabbit to stand up on its hind limbs and make at least four hops in any direction – the bigger the hutch the better! It is important that the hutch (if outside) is secured against any predators, sited away from direct sunlight (in hot weather the hutch should be moved into a shaded area to avoid heatstroke) and raised off the ground to avoid any damp issues. 

Should the rabbit be kept outdoors, then it will need an exercise run as well as a hutch. A large run-on grassy area can help to ensure rabbits are getting enough exercise but they must be secure from predators and have somewhere to hide. 

A rabbit’s natural behaviour is to chew and dig, so if the rabbit is kept indoors, owners must “rabbit proof” their house, and particular care and attention should be to electrical appliances and wires, as they like to chew these!

If the owner wishes to allow the rabbit time in the garden, then supervision is strongly advised to ensure there is no escaping or likewise, any predator animals entering the garden. A secure run with a hiding place is best.

If a rabbit has access to the garden or lives indoors, check which plants are in the garden and home as some, like Amaryllis, Lily Of The Valley and Ragwort are poisonous to rabbits. 

Feeding

This is one of the most important things to consider when looking after rabbits. A substantial proportion of the health problems seen in rabbits are related to incorrect feeding, which leads to dental disease, stomach problems and obesity.

Rabbits have a higher requirement for dietary fibre; this is because rabbits have a “double digestive system,” which means food material goes through the digestive system twice. Rabbits pass two distinct types of faeces, caecotrophs (sticky faeces) which are normally eaten straight from the anus, and hard pelleted droppings. If rabbits do not eat the first faeces (for reasons such as obesity, dental problems, and arthritis), then dietary problems could be forthcoming.

A rabbit’s diet should be high in fibre and low in fat, starch, and sugars with a moderate protein level, and it needs to have an abrasive action on the teeth to wear them down and prevent dental problems. The ideal food is grass and hay, with a supplementary rabbit food offered. Rabbits should always have access to ad lib hay and water.

Do not offer rabbit’s muesli type of feeds as these are low in fibre and encourage selective eating, which means that the rabbit will choose which bits to eat and not necessarily get a balanced diet.

A pelleted diet is recommended as this will ensure that the rabbit eats a correctly balanced feed. However, these should be considered as “supplementary” in that 80% of the diet should be fresh decent quality hay, plus occasional leafy greens. 

Fruit and root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips, should not be given due to being high in sugars, which can lead to dental problems as well as upsetting the digestive system.

Rabbits teeth grow constantly and need to be worn down by chewing. If rabbits do not have the opportunity to chew and grind down on hay and grass, then the teeth will wear abnormally, and mouth pain will result. Dental treatment can help, but once dental disease progresses, regular treatment is necessary, and the problem can get worse over time.

Lack of dietary fibre can also lead to boredom (not spending as much time chewing) and problems such as gut stasis (fibre is needed to keep the gut moving). Gut stasis is an emergency situation as rabbits can die when their guts stop moving.

Low fibre with high starch and sugary diets can lead to obesity, which is common in pet rabbits. This can then lead to heart problems, joint issues, development of sores on the hind legs and difficulty in eating caecotrophs, leading to other problems such as the risk of fly strike.

Fresh water should be always available either in a dropper bottle or bowl. Diligent care should be taken to make sure that the bottle does not freeze if the rabbit is outdoors over winter.

General Health

Ideally rabbits should have a daily check over, to make sure there are no problems occurring. It is especially important in the warmer weather, where the owner should check more than once a day under the rabbit’s tail for signs of maggots. This can be a widespread problem, especially in the summer months and it is known as blowfly strike (Lucilia sericata). 

The eggs of the blowfly are laid around the perineum. Very quickly these eggs can turn into maggots which eat the skin of the tissue, causing horrific lesions; an infected rabbit can die a very painful death in a matter of hours if left untreated.

Should the rabbit be lacking fibre in their diet, then this can cause loose stools, making the rabbit more prone to fly strike. 

As SQPs we can advise on anti-fly strike treatment, known as “Rearguard.” The active ingredient is cyromazine.

Cyromazine is used on the back legs and under the tail. It is recommended to first treat the rabbit in early summer before flies are seen. The treatment does not kill the maggots but instead works by preventing any eggs being laid by the flies. 

Endoparasites and microscopic protozoan parasite called Encephalitozoon cuniculi are widespread in England and is commonly seen in a veterinary practice. A 2006 study showed that over 50% of pet rabbits had shown symptoms of E. cunicili which include head tilt, hind limb(s) weakness and blindness. In severe cases the rabbit could even collapse. 

As E. cunicili is zoonotic, owners should eb advised to use simple hygiene measures such as washing their hands after handling their rabbits. A broad spectrum anthelmintic can help in the treatment and control of E. cunicili. 

I strongly advise owners to give an anthelmintic as a preventative measure two to four times a year, especially in high-risk periods, including when the rabbit is purchased, prior to mating and when mixing with other rabbits.

There are two serious diseases that we can vaccinate rabbit’s against, these are:

Myxomatosis

This is a virus spread by blood sucking insects such as fleas and mosquitoes. It causes swellings around the face, eyes, lips, and ears, which can lead to blindness, disorientation and even death. There is a low survival rate.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD)

This is a virus that is spread either directly between rabbits or via indirect contact such as shoes or clothing. As a result, indoor rabbits and outdoor rabbits can be at risk. It causes internal bleeding and is rapidly fatal.

All  rabbit owners should be encouraged to see their veterinary surgeon about vaccinating their pet against myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD). 

Should a customer have any concerns about their rabbit then they should be encouraged to  see a veterinary surgeon to check over the animal to make sure there are no other health problems. 

As SQPs we can offer customers advise and on preventative health care products and how to use them effectively.

To broaden your knowledge about rabbit care and welfare, visit the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website.

Vetpol’s Companion Animal SQP qualification also covers rabbit care and health, including the medicines that SQPs can supply for these animals.