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BRITISH FAMILYCOMPANY

RabbitCare GuideAn easy-to-use reference guide to looking after your rabbits.

92% of Vets Recommend Excel*

The British Familypet experts

A British family companyOur strong family values and traditions are core to the Burgess story. For generations we have produced the finest quality foods for people, pets and animals.

200 year heritage in agricultureOur 200-year heritage in agriculture has helped forge strong relationships with the farming community and the ingredients for our recipes are sourced locally wherever possible.

Experts in animal nutritionThe health and happiness of animals is our number one goal and our expert knowledge in animal nutrition helps us achieve this. Of course as animal lovers ourselves, we’re also passionate about making great quality, tasty foods.

Dr Suzanne Moyes

MVB MRCVS

*Annual survey conducted with UK vets

Burgess Total Mill Staff 1930s

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Welcome to the Burgess Excel Care Guide for rabbits. Please read through this guide and keep it handy for reference.

www.burgesspetcare.com

Contents:

Introduction to Rabbits 4

Owning Rabbits 5

Rabbit Nutrition 6

The Excel Feeding Plan 7

The Excel Range 8

Housing & Exercise 14

Behaviour and Companionship 16

Health & Wellbeing 18

Burgess ExcelCare Guide for Rabbits

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Rabbit

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 8-12 years

RABBIT Male – Buck NAMES: Female – Doe Young – Kitten

ANIMAL FAMILY: Lagomorpha/Leporidae

BEHAVIOUR: More active at night and at dawn and dusk

DIET: Herbivores (their diet should be made up of 85-90% good quality feeding hay or grass)

HOBBIES: Burrowing, ‘binkying’ and playing with other rabbits.

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Introductionto Rabbits

Owning Rabbits

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Did you know?

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Rabbits are lovely animals to keep for more than just a few reasons:

• Lively - Rabbits are extremely energetic creatures and they’re great to watch running and jumping around.

• Social - Rabbits are extremely sociable and highly intelligent. When looked after correctly and provided with both bunny friends and a caring owner, they can become fantastic companions.

• Clean - They are great at keeping themselves clean and can even be litter trained!

If you’re thinking of keeping rabbits it’s important that you understand the commitments involved. Many people get rabbits as they believe they are ‘easy’ to look after. However, rabbits require a high level of both monetary investment and commitment from their owners. They also have complex dietary needs. We recommend getting some advice from a vet or a local rescue if you are thinking of keeping rabbits.

If you do choose to get rabbits we’d really recommend that you adopt from a rescue centre such as Blue Cross, RSPCA, RWAF or Wood Green The Animals Charity where you’ll get great advice on how to look after your bunnies and you’ll be helping to give the rabbits a better life.

The modern name ‘Spain or España’ is derived from its Phonecian name ‘Shepam-Im which was also translated into Latin as ‘Hispania’ and means ‘Land of the Rabbits’

Rabbit Nutrition

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Rabbits need extremely high levels of fibre in their diet. Without high fibre foods their digestive systems will not work correctly; their gut should be in constant motion with the right balance of fibre, and without this they are susceptible to gut stasis.

Rabbits’ teeth are designed to continually grow as they get worn down by the fibrous grasses they feed on in the wild. If rabbits do not get enough abrasive foods their teeth will become overgrown making it painful for them to eat at all. That’s why it’s so important that as an owner you ensure that your rabbits’ diets are made up of roughly 85-90%highqualityfeedinghayorgrass.

Rabbits also have a tendency to selectively feed, if you feed a muesli style diet they are likely to eat the high starch and sugary elements of food leaving the higher fibre pieces. Selective feeding has been shown to increase the risk of a variety of illnesses. Therefore, it is important that you feed a nutritionallybalancedhigh-fibrenuggetorpellet in order to avoid this.

It’s also extremely important that you stick to feeding your rabbits according to feeding guides on pack. Overfeeding nuggets or treats can reduce hay intake and lead to obesity.

Your rabbits have a complex digestive system that requires high-levels of fibre to keep it in constant motion.

The ExcelFeeding Plan

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Natural snacks can be fed in small amounts either by hand to help bonding, left in housing to keep your rabbits occupied or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Fresh water should always be available. Change it daily and ensure it hasn’t frozen in the winter months.

Can be fed as a treat to add variety and provide additional nutrition. Have a look at our guide to feeding greens below to find out what can be fed to your bunnies.

EVERYDAYGrasses (not lawn clippings), dandelion leaves, plantain, herb robert, rose bush leaves, nasturtium, wild geranium, strawberry and raspberry leaves, hazel tree leaves & branches, willow tree leaves & branches, apple tree leaves and branches, Hawthorn, brambles, goosegrass, blackthorn, nettle (dried), cauliflower leaves, celery leaves, green pepper, kale, mint, romaine lettuce, spring greens.

OCCASIONALLY(INSMALLAMOUNTS)Apple (pipless), banana, savoy cabbage, turnip, carrot tops, swede, spinach, parsley, basil, dill, oregano, coriander.

High-quality, dust extracted feeding hay should make up 85-90% of your rabbits’ diet. You should make sure it is freely available and replaced with fresh hay every day.

Should be fed as a supplement to feeding hay or grass to ensure your rabbits get all the minerals they need. You should look for nugget products appropriate to your rabbits’ life stage.

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ExcelFeeding HayExcel Long Stem Feeding Hay• Stimulates chewing, good for

dental health

• High in Beneficial Fibre, promoting digestive health

• Dust extracted for respiratory health

• Encourages foraging, providing emotional enrichment

• 100% natural

Composition: Timothy Hay 100%. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 63% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 33% • Crude Ash 7% • Sodium 0.00%.

Excel Feeding Hay with Dandelion & Marigold• 100% natural ingredients

• High in Beneficial Fibre (63%)

• Dandelion may aid urinary tract health

• Marigold helps support a healthy immune system

• Dust extracted for respiratory health

Composition: Timothy Hay 98% • Marigold & Dandelion Mix 2%. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 63% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 33% • Crude Ash 7%.

Excel Feeding Hay Dried Fresh Grass• 100% natural ingredients

• High in Beneficial Fibre (55%)

• A source of good quality, long fibre

• Dust extracted for respiratory health

Composition: 100% Barn dried grass. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 55% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 29% • Crude Ash 7% • Sodium 0.00%.

Excel Feeding Hay with Chamomile • 100% natural ingredients

• High in Beneficial Fibre (63%)

• Chamomile is known for its calming properties

• Barn dried and dust extracted for respiratory health

Composition: Timothy Hay 98% • Chamomile 2%. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 63% • Crude Protein 8% • Crude Oils & Fats 1.8% • Crude Fibre 33% • Crude Ash 7%.

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Developed for rabbitsthat live indoors

INDOOR

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Rabbit Nuggets

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• Made with tasty dandelion

• With vitamin D to support healthy skin and bones

• Beneficial fibre supports healthy digestion

• Prebiotics support healthy gut bacteria

Composition: Grass, Wheat, Oat Feed, Soya Bean Hulls*, Sunflowerseed Meal, Yeast, Soya Oil*, Minerals, Short-chained fructo-oligosaccharides (0.25%), Dandelion (0.2%), Nettle (0.2%). Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre (40%), Crude Protein (14%), Crude Fat (4%), Crude Fibre (20%), Crude Ash (6%).

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Excel TastyNuggets

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Excel Tasty Nuggets for Junior & Dwarf Rabbits• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (36%)

• Contains prebiotics to help support young digestive systems

• Essential amino acids for growing rabbits

• Higher protein to aid muscle development

• Higher nutrient levels tailored to faster metabolisms

Composition: Grass Meal • Wheat • Oat Feed • Wheat Feed • Soya Bean Hulls* • Hi Pro Soya* • Lucerne • Yeast • Soya Oil* • Mint (1.25%) • Limestone • MonoCalcium Phosphate • Salt • Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.3%) • Dicalcium Phosphate • Ligno-Cel-lulose • Minerals. *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial fibre 36% • Crude Protein 16% • Crude Oils & Fats 4% • Crude Fibre 17% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.2% • Calcium 0.8% • Phosphorous 0.5%.

Excel Tasty Nuggets with Mint for Adult Rabbits• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (39%)

• Prevents selective feeding

• Contains a natural prebiotic to support digestive health

• Fortified with vitamins and minerals to support healthy eyes, skin and coat

• With mint for extra tastiness

• Natural antioxidants to support the immune system

Composition: Grass • Wheat • Oat Feed • Soya Bean Hulls* • Peas • Yeast • Mint (1.25%) • Soya Oil* • Short Chain Fructo-Olisaccha-rides (0.25%) • Limestone • Minerals. *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 39% • Crude Fibre 13% • Crude Oils and Fats 4% • Crude Fibre 19% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.18% • Calcium 0.75% • Phosphorous 0.5%.

Excel Tasty Nuggets with Oregano for Adult Rabbits• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (39%)

• Prevents selective feeding

• Contains a natural prebiotic to support digestive health

• Fortified with vitamins and minerals to support healthy eyes, skin and coat

Composition: Grass Meal • Wheat • Oat Feed • Soya Bean Hulls* • Wheat Feed • Lucerne • Peas • Yeast • Thyme (1.25%) • Soya Oil* • Monocalcium Phosphate • Dicalcium Phosphate • Salt • Limestone • Short Chain Fructo-oligosachharides (0.25%) • Ligno-cellulose • Oregano (0.06%). *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 39% • Crude Protein 12.7% • Crude Oils & Fats 4% • Crude Fibre 19% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.17% • Calcium 0.75% • Phosphorous 0.5%.

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Excel Light Tasty Nuggets• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (38%)

• Reduced calorie content

• Unique, all-natural weight control formula including L-Carnitine

• Contains a natural prebiotic to support digestive health

Excel Tasty Nuggets for Mature Rabbits• Naturally high in Beneficial Fibre (38%)

• With glucosamine to support healthy joints

• Added ginseng for increased vitality

• Cranberry is a great source of antioxidants

• Contains a natural prebiotic to support digestive health

• Natural antioxidants to support the immune system

Excel Tasty Nuggets Nature’s Blend• Made with a unique blend of grass, herbs and

plants to replicate rabbits’ natural foraging

• Prevents selective feeding

• Dandelion helps to maintain digestive health

• Nettle helps to support urinary tract health

• Lemon balm known for its calming properties

• Lucerne extract helps to support eye health

Composition: Grass Meal • Wheat • Oat Feed • Soya Bean Hulls* • Wheat Feed • Peas • Yeast • Mint (1.25%) • Un-molassed Beet Pulp • MonoCalcium Phosphate • Limestone • Dicalcium Phosphate • Soya Oil* • Fatty Acids • Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.4%) • Salt • Ligno-Cellulose • Minerals. *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 39% • Crude Protein 13% • Crude Oils and Fats 3% • Crude Fibre 19% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.17% • Calcium 0.8% • Phosphorous 0.5%.

Composition: Grass Meal • Oat Feed • Wheat • Soya Bean Hulls* • Wheat Feed • Peas • Yeast • Un-molassed Beet Pulp • Thyme 1.25% • Monocalcium Phosphate • Dicalcium Phosphate • Minerals • Fatty Acids • Soya Oil * • Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.4%) • Ginseng (0.34%) • Salt • Limestone • Cranberry (0.065%) • Ligno-cellulose • Glucosamine Hydrochloride (0.04%). *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 38% • Crude Protein 13% • Crude Oils & Fats 3% • Crude Fibre 19% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.17% • Calcium 0.7% • Phosphorous 0.5%.

Composition: Grass Blend (25%) • Wheat • Oat Feed • Soya Bean Hulls* • Peas • Brewer’s Yeast • Lucerne Extract (1%) • Soya Oil * • Dicalcium Phosphate • Limestone • Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (0.25%) • Salt • Nettle (0.2%) • Lemon Balm (0.2%) • Dandelion (0.2%). *May Contain GM Materials. Analytical Constituents: Beneficial Fibre 37% • Crude Protein 12.6% • Crude Oils & Fats 3.6% • Crude Fibre 19% • Crude Ash 6.5% • Sodium 0.18% • Calcium 0.75% • Phosphorous 0.4%

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Burgess Excel Parsley PiecesComposition: Grass, Peas, Soya Hulls*, Vegetable Oil, Chickpea, Apple, Carrot, Mixed Herbs, Linseed, Parsley (1%)

Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 12.6%, Crude Oils & Fats 9.2%, Crude Fibre 17.4%, Crude Ash 6.3%

Burgess Excel Blueberry BakesComposition: Grass, Peas, Soya Hulls*, Vegetable Oil, Chickpea, Apple, Carrot, Mixed Herbs, Linseed, Dried Blueberry (1%)

Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 12.5%, Crude Oils & Fats 9.2% , Crude Fibre 17.7%, Crude Ash 6.1%

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Excel BakedTreats

NEW

• High Fibre

• Natural ingredients

• Perfect for hand feeding

• Loved by rabbits and guinea pigs

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Excel Apple SnacksDelicious dried apple pieces, with parsley stems that rabbits will love.

Excel Gnaw SticksGnaw Sticks are a great snack which helps to replicate rabbits’ natural environment and encourage their natural behaviour.

Excel Country Garden HerbsA natural mix of herbs and grasses which is high in fibre. This blend is great as a tasty topper or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Excel Mountain Meadow HerbsA natural mix of herbs and grasses which is high in fibre. These blends are as a tasty topper or sprinkled through feeding hay to encourage foraging.

Composition: Dried Apple (99%) • Parsley (1%). Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 2.5% • Fat Content 1.1% • Crude Fibre 7.1% • Crude Ash 1.9% • Moisture 18.5%.

Composition: Hazel Sticks • Willow Sticks • Apple Sticks. Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 7.4% • Fat Content 3.4% • Crude Fibre 43.1% • Crude Ash 2.4% • Moisture 6.3%.

Composition: Meadow Hay • Oat Herb • Wheat Herb • Dandelion 10% • Mint • Plantain (ribwort) • Milk Thistle Seed • Marigold • Cornflower •Chicory. Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 11.9% • Fat Content 2.5% • Crude Fibre 21.1% • Crude Ash 8.7% • Moisture 14%.

Composition: Meadow Hay • Parsley Stalks • Oat Herb • Wheat Herb • Dandelion • Chamo-mile Plant 10% • Milk Thistle Seed • Fennel Seed • Hibiscus • Sage • Marigold Blossoms Analytical Constituents: Crude Protein 13.7% • Fat Content 4.8% • Crude Fibre 20.9% • Crude Ash 9.2% • Moisture 14%.

Excel Nature Snacks

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Housing & Exercise

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Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

How big should my rabbits’ housing be? Your rabbits’ housing should be permanently attached to a larger space within which they can exercise freely, whether this is a safe bunny-proofed room indoors or a large run outdoors.

The housing itself should be as big as possible but at least 2 feet high, 2 feet wide and 6 feet long.

The run area should be at least 3 feet high, 6 feet wide and 8 feet long so that your bunnies can run around as they would do in the wild. However, it is good to give your rabbits as much space as possible so that they can

exercise as they would in the wild.

What goes into my rabbits’ housing? Your rabbits’ housing should have safe hiding places so that they can escape if they feel scared. Make sure you have a secure shelter with plenty of soft, safe bedding, either dust-free straw/hay or special bedding designed specifically for rabbits.

Your rabbits will also need access to an area where they can go to the toilet; this should be separate to the sleeping areas and you can use newspaper, hay/straw and/or a paper based non-expanding litter. There should also be at least one hiding place per rabbit with two entrances/exits.

Your rabbits should have a constant fresh supply of good-quality feeding hay, placed in hay racks and areas that are separate to the bedding area. There should also be fresh, clean water constantly available.

It’s important to provide enrichment tools for your rabbits, tunnels, platforms and hiding places all work well.

Where should I house my rabbits? Outdoors

When kept outside, your rabbits’ housing should, be sheltered from the elements, provide enough warm bedding and be well ventilated, dry and free of draughts. Your rabbits should have secure shelter where they can rest and feel safe, the housing should be secure from predators and escape proof.

Indoors

Rabbits can be kept indoors, but it is important that you gradually get your rabbits used to common household

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Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

sights sounds and noises. It’s also important that they are protected from other animals who are their natural predators.

All areas that the rabbits move around in should be fully rabbit-proofed to ensure that they are safe and protected from hazards. For example, all electric cables should be covered and any house plants should either be safe for rabbits or kept out of the way. You should also make sure the flooring is non-slip as slippy floors can cause rabbits stress.

You should have a litter tray for each of your rabbits which is separate from their bedding area: you can speak to your vet for advice on litter training. It’s also important that you provide plenty of enrichment. Ideally, give your rabbits access to a secure area outside so that they can dig and graze on grass. If this isn’t possible the next best thing is to provide ‘dig-boxes’ filled with earth or child-safe sand and pots with growing grass in.

What toys should I give my rabbits?Rabbits are extremely playful so it’s important that you provide them with lots of rabbit safe toys to keep them occupied. Great, inexpensive options are willow balls and cardboard tubes, however, there are plenty of shops that offer toys, tunnels and hiding places designed specifically for rabbits.

How often should I clean my rabbits’ housing?

You should give your rabbits’ housing a quick clean daily, throwing out wet/dirty bedding, uneaten food and cleaning and refilling food and drink containers.

Each week you should give the housing a thorough clean, removing and replacing all bedding.

Every month you should give your rabbits’ housing a ‘deep clean’ where you take everything out, scrub the housing with a animal-safe cleaner then replace bedding with fresh hay or straw.

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Behaviour & Companionship

How should I handle my rabbits?It is best to avoid picking rabbits up as they tend to much prefer being petted on the floor where they feel safer. When you do need to pick one of your rabbits up you should place one hand under the rabbit’s chest, the other hand under the hind legs and lift your rabbit while holding them against your body to keep them secure.

How many rabbits should I keep?Rabbits are extremely sociable animals and can get depressed without social interaction with other bunnies. You should keep rabbits in at least pairs where possible, adopting siblings is great as they already know each other so are less likely to fight. If you are introducing rabbits to each other for the first time you should introduce them slowly and follow your vet’s advice. All rabbits kept together should be neutered, even siblings, to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

However, it is worth noting that if you are adopting an older rabbit who has lived mainly on their own, introducing another rabbit can be traumatic to them. Consult your vet before considering adopting a second rabbit. A good rabbit rescue centre will often help with the bonding process if you do adopt a second rabbit.

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How much should I interact with my rabbits?Rabbits are very friendly and enjoy interaction with humans as well as their rabbit friend(s). Therefore, it’s important that you make lots of time daily to interact with your rabbits.

Can rabbits be aggressive?Rabbits are not aggressive by nature but they can bite, scratch or kick when they feel nervous. This is most likely to happen is when you’re handling them, therefore it’s important that you ensure your rabbits are used to being handled from a young age.

When rabbits who do not know each other are introduced they can be aggressive so it’s important that if you do this you do it gradually following your vet’s advice.

Can I keep rabbits with other animals?It is unwise to keep rabbits with larger animals as rabbits are prey species and are likely to see larger animals as a threat, becoming stressed. Rabbits should also not be kept with smaller animals, including guinea pigs, as it’s likely that they will bully them. Rabbits also carry a bacteria which doesn’t cause symptoms for them but can cause respiratory issues for guinea pigs.

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

Health &WellbeingHow often should I take my rabbits to the vet?You should take your rabbits for a veterinary check-up at least once a year and check that they are eating correctly and passing plenty of droppings every day.

Rabbits are a prey animal so will hide signs of ill-health which makes regular vet visits really important in order to help avoid illness.

What should I do if one of my rabbits is acting differently?If one of your rabbits shows a change in behaviour or in their eating or drinking patterns you should seek the advice of a vet as soon as possible.

Should I insure my rabbits?You should insure your rabbits to help manage costs to ensure they receive the veterinary care that they need.

Should I wash my rabbits?You should never wash your rabbits with water as the water makes them feel vulnerable. You should however, groom your rabbits daily if possible, to stop them grooming themselves and potentially swallowing fur. This daily grooming will also help get them used to being handled.

Rabbits’ skin is very delicate and therefore you should use soft, delicate brushes, where possible designed especially for rabbits: rabbitwelfare.co.uk has lots of detailed information about how to groom your rabbits and which tools to use. A daily check of your rabbits’ bottoms is recommended to make sure that they are clean. This is especially important in warm weather due to the risk of fly strike. If you do find sticky droppings on your rabbit’s bottom, gently wash them off the affected area and ensure that it is dried thoroughly.

You should also check your rabbits’ nails on a weekly basis and seek veterinary advice if they need trimming.

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Should I vaccinate my rabbits?Vaccinating against myxomatosis and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD) is recommended. You should seek advice from your vet on both of the above and RVHD2 virus.

Should I neuter my rabbits?You should neuter your rabbits to avoid unwanted litters. Additionally, up to 80% of un-neutered female rabbits can develop cancer of the uterus by 5 years, neutering at an early age will stop these from cancers developing. Un-neutered males can be aggressive to other rabbits, whereas neutered rabbits can live happily with male and female rabbits.

Burgess Care Guides | Rabbit

What are the common problems to look out for?Many of the common problems seen in rabbits develop from rabbits being fed an inappropriate diet. It is extremely important that you make sure your rabbit is fed correctly to help avoid health problems. A list of the key problems often seen in rabbits is below:

DentalDisease

Dental disease is the most common health problem found in rabbits and is associated with selective feeding. Dental disease can be caused by a lack abrasive fibre in a rabbit’s diet, the affected rabbit’s teeth become overgrown making it too painful for them to eat properly. Calcium imbalance in a rabbit’s diet can also contribute to dental issues.

If you notice one of your rabbits is eating less than usual you should take them to your vet as soon as possible. In order to help prevent dental disease you should feed your rabbit the appropriate diet with 85-90% feeding hay, supplemented by a small portion of nuggets. You should also check your rabbits’ teeth regularly.

GutStasis

Gut stasis is a condition where a rabbit’s digestive system slows down or stops. This can result in a buildup of gas and toxins which can be fatal to the affected rabbit.

An increased risk of gut stasis is again linked to selective feeding and reduced hay intake which can occur when rabbits are fed muesli based diets.

FlyStrike

Flystrike occurs when flies lay their eggs in soiled fur, the eggs hatch into maggots and chew their way into the rabbit’s skin.

Rabbits fed on muesli style diets have a higher level of uneaten caecotrophs (sticky droppings) which can stick to their fur and predispose them to flystrike.

Obesity

Rabbits need plenty of exercise or they can quickly become obese. It is important that you also feed your rabbits according to the feeding guides able to avoid them overeating. Again, muesli style diets have been shown to increase the risk of obesity as rabbits are able to pick out easily digestible carbohydrates and fats.

Myxomatosis/VHD

These are both life-threatening diseases and you should vaccinate your rabbits against them as soon as possible. You should also seek advice from your vet on RVHD2.

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