The Mayhew Animal Home

Rabbit Care

The Mayhew Animal Home an� H�mane ����a�ion �en��e

Helping animals and their carers since 1886™

CaRe guide

Owning a rabbit can be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done. But many prospective rabbit owners underestimate the investment of time, energy, money and specialist care required. Rabbits can live anything up to 10 years, depending on breed, size and general health. This is a long term commitment and you must be ready to provide your rabbit with a home for that duration.

Many people assume that a rabbit is an ideal pet for a child. However, this is one of the main reasons why rabbits end up at rescue centres like The Mayhew. 80% of children get bored with their pet rabbit after three months and with a lifespan of up to 10 years, this goes some way to explain why more than 33,000 rabbits are abandoned in the UK each year. People simply aren’t prepared for the commitment.

Rabbits can bond as deeply as a dog, but need a lot of specialist knowledge care and attention, which should be taken into account before taking one on.

Cost of keeping a rabbitIn addition to the initial expense of getting a rabbit, it is estimated that ongoing costs for food, veterinary fees and treatments and pet insurance are approximately £10 a week.

Choosing a rabbitBefore you get a rabbit, it is wise to think long and hard about which type may be most suitable for you, whether you are

able to accommodate the space and needs of their habitat, and the knowledge you will need to brush up on. Considerations should include:– Are you prepared to care for your rabbit

for up to seven years or more?– Will your rabbit live indoors or outdoors?– If indoors are you prepared to

accommodate their bed area, toys, litter and food within your home?

– If outdoors are you prepared to build and/or install the minimum specified hutch and outdoor run required?

– Very importantly, are you prepared to take on two rabbits? They are much happier living in pairs if properly bonded.

– Are you prepared to be patient and put in significant time and effort into bonding with your rabbit and allowing them to feel confident in being handled?

– Lastly, and most importantly, can you afford the care your rabbit will need for the next 7-10 years?

The secret to choosing any pet is to carry out plenty of research into the different types and their behaviours.

There is so much to learn about rabbits and people are often astonished when they find out what complex animals they really are. Did you know that rabbits shouldn’t eat certain types of lettuce, that they can jump great heights, or that they can break their backs easily if not held properly?

Why not think about a resCue rabbit?Sadly, many rabbits end up at rescue centres after being dumped outside, left in boxes, or as a result of children losing interest in their pets. Many people are unaware that there are huge numbers of abandoned rabbits looking for new homes in the UK. Choosing a rabbit to share your life with does not mean a visit to a pet shop.

Benefits of getting a rescue rabbit from a shelter such as The Mayhew Animal Home include:

– The rescue will be able to help you decide on the right rabbit for you and your lifestyle.

– You will be able to establish an understanding of your chosen rabbit’s behaviour from staff who have spent time with the animal. For example, some rabbits are more nervous than others whereas some are already quite tame and enjoy being handled.

– The rabbit will be vet assessed, he/she will already be neutered, vaccinated and microchipped and you will be made aware of any existing conditions before you adopt.

ColleCting your rabbit Once you’ve decided that you’re going to get a rabbit, do a bit of planning so that your rabbit’s first days in their new home are as easy and as pleasurable as possible.

– In addition to an installed hutch and run, equipment for your rabbit should include food and water bowls, some toys to play with, including special gnaw toys to help keep their teeth trim; rabbits especially love tunnels.

– Buy rabbit pellet food and hay for both bedding and food.

– Depending on your rabbit’s medical history, you may need to phone your vet and book an appointment for a check up. Rabbits should be vaccinated annually, but if your rabbit is an outdoor rabbit, he/she may need to be vaccinated more than once a year. Your vets will also carry out a ‘nose to tail’ MOT.

arriving homeOnce you arrive home with your rabbit/s, give them lots of time and space to explore their new hutch and run. Rabbits really enjoy ‘tidying up’ their habitat and will have lots of fun rearranging the bedding and toys that you have provided. Make sure there is lots of food and fresh water available and be they indoor or outdoor

rabbits, ensure that everything is calm and quiet whilst they settle in.

Take time to bond with your rabbit/s slowly and remember that not all rabbits enjoy being handled. They are ground dwelling animals so are often not happy to be picked up. Sit calmly with treats or veg and encourage them to come to you for interaction, whilst talking calmly and softly. If you spend this valuable time interacting with your rabbit at their own pace and encouraging their confidence, then you will soon be able to have a close bond with these very affectionate creatures.

feeding your rabbit– Good quality hay is essential and should

be freely available as a food source as well as for bedding. Hay is a source of Vitamin D and should make up the bulk of a rabbit’s diet; it also wears down teeth.

– A small amount of pellet type cereal should be fed daily and is preferable to the ‘muesli’ type mixes.

– Fresh fruit and veg should also be fed daily. Rabbits should not have certain types of lettuce, rhubarb, spinach, beans, nuts or watery foods e.g. tomatoes. Dark green veg such as cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts are good. Carrots, apples, pears and nectarines should be fed sparingly as they can cause tooth rot. These must be deseeded and cored.

– Fresh water must be freely available in heavy ceramic bowls or water bottles. Both must be cleaned regularly and placed in a cool and shady accessible spot.

exerCise and toysRabbits need a minimum of four hours out of a double tiered hutch or den during the day in a garden, house or run.

Ideally, a run should be attached to the hutch or the hutch located within the run so the animals have free access all day but are locked up in the hutch or den at night.Free ranging animals in the garden need to be constantly supervised.

Runs must be fully enclosed in small gauge wire preferably double layered and predator proofed in the same way as hutches. Protection from the sun, rain and cold must be provided in open runs.

A digging box filled with cardboard, newspaper, bark, sand or earth is needed.

Tunnels, boxes, jingle balls and toys that can be flipped, nudged and tossed are also recommended but remember the rabbits’ safety when choosing these so they are not at risk of becoming trapped when you are not around.

keeping your rabbit healthyregister your rabbitYour new rabbit should be registered with a local vet. pet insuranceWe advise taking out pet insurance for your new companion as soon as possible, as veterinary treatment can be very expensive.

neuteringNeutering is the name for a veterinary procedure which offers animals a permanent solution for birth control. It may also be known as spaying, castrating, desexing, fixing or sterilising.

All responsible rescue centres will ensure that any rabbit leaving their care will be neutered, but if this is not the case, it is important to get your rabbit neutered as soon as you can.

Most people are not aware that unneutered rabbits can become very aggressive and territorial. Ovarian cysts are very common in female rabbits.

vaccinationsIt is essential to vaccinate your rabbit against common illnesses, some of which can be fatal. This includes Myxomatosis and VHD, which can be vaccinated against annually. These vaccinations cannot usually be given at the same time, so two veterinary visits should be planned every year.

ongoing health CheCks Your vet will carry out a ‘nose to tail’ MOT when your rabbit is given their annual booster vaccinations. But you too can play a role in keeping an eye on your rabbit’s health, helping him or her stay in tip top condition and live a long and healthy life:

noseRabbits don’t get colds, so if you see a rabbit with a runny nose or sneezing please consult your vet, as it could indicate an infection.

earsRabbits have big ears and they are usually trouble–free. Rabbits use their ears to control their temperature, so if you notice a rabbit shaking his/her head or scratching the ears, inform your vet.

skin and fur Rabbits moult several times a year, so don’t panic if you see handfuls of fur around. Nevertheless, it is always worth checking there is nothing more serious.

tail and bottom Rabbits’ bottoms should be checked daily and kept clean, particularly in the summer. Flies can lay eggs on soiled fur and it takes only 32 hours for these to hatch into maggots, which then start to eat the living flesh. This is called “fly strike”, and can be fatal if not treated. There are veterinary products available which can protect your rabbit from fly strike but they need to be applied on a regular basis.

teeth A rabbits’ teeth will grow and continue growing for their entire life. If the top and bottom set don’t line up correctly, they will become too long and prevent the rabbit from eating properly. To help keep teeth trimmed, fruit tree branches can be given to gnaw on, but if a rabbit’s front teeth protrude from the mouth, you must inform a vet.

A rabbit does not know hunger and should never stop eating, not even for a day. As soon as a rabbit stops eating, the stomach and

gut stop working causing food to start fermenting and producing gas which is trapped inside the rabbit’s intestines, which can quickly turn into an emergency situation. Never wait to see a vet if your rabbit has stopped eating, go immediately.

Every rabbit should have its teeth checked half yearly, or at least when at the vets for booster vaccinations. There is always the likelihood that a rabbit’s teeth will need rasping and every rabbit owner should see this as part of normal expense and care.

Some rabbits may need a one-off dental and this can happen at any age. If young rabbits need dentals, they tend to continue to need them once or twice a year. The front teeth (incisors) can very occasionally be burred while the rabbit is conscious, however any dental work involving the back teeth (molars) will mean that your rabbit has to have a general anaesthetic.

The Mayhew Animal Home has a vision of a world where all companion animals are wanted. We offer a wide variety of community services providing advice, care and assistance to animals and their carers whatever their circumstances. Your support in helping us achieve this goal is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Registered charity no. 1077588Company limited by guarantee no. 3837732

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the mayhew animal homeTrenmar Gardens Kensal Green London nw10 6bjtel: 020 8969 0178email: info@mayhewanimalhome.orgwww.mayhewanimalhome.orgwww.mayhewinternational.org

The Mayhew Animal Home an� H�mane ����a�ion �en��e