Domestic rabbits make excellent indoor or outdoor pets. Their fastidious nature, unaggressive behaviour & quiet manner make them increasingly popular house pets. They are relatively easy to care for & can be litter-box trained.

Rabbits live for 5 - 10 years, males reach breeding age at 6 - 10 months & females  at 5 - 9 months of age.

When selecting accommodation, the cage should comprise a draught-free but well ventilated dwelling house with an exercise run. Straw bedding is a good absorbent base & provides insulation against the elements. Feeds should include rabbit pellets, fresh vegetation & hay & fresh water should always be available.

Common diseases

1. Pasteurellosis: a bacterial infection that causes snuffles in it's mildest form & pneumonia & acute potentially fatal enteritis in it's more extreme forms.

2. Abscesses: often difficult to treat medically & better surgically removed

3. Dental pathology: malocclusion ( improperly aligned teeth ) often leads to abnormal tooth growth & wear. This will be seen as selective appetite, weight loss & diarrhoea. Incisor teeth may require regular clipping or may be surgically removed. The grinding cheek teeth may occasionally require rasping under heavy sedation.

4. Hair balls: hair balls may build up in the stomach as a result of grooming. Rabbits cannot vomit & so these obstructions often must be surgically removed. Feeding fresh pineapple helps to prevent the build up of fur balls in the stomach.

5. Sore hocks: Chronic ulceration of the lower limbs may be seen in debilitated rabbits or those housed in unsuitable cages.

6. Wryneck: Twisting of the head & in coordination normally resulting from infections of the middle ear.

7. Fly-strike: Invasion of the rabbits living body by maggots. Flies are attracted to the rabbit if it is soiled with urine or diarrhoea & lay eggs on the skin that hatch quickly & invade the body.

8. Cheyletiella mange: Caused by a mite living on the rabbit's skin leading to  irritation, hair loss ( alopecia ) & the production of scale & dandruff. These mites will cause a severe reaction in humans, normally with itchy spots on the forearms & midriff. Diagnosis can easily be confirmed by microscopy & the mite eliminated with medicated shampoos.

9.Flea infestation: Many conventional flea treatments for cats & dogs are potentially dangerous & can carry fatal consequences if used on rabbits. One exception is Advantage; this product is licensed & supplied for use on the rabbit.

vaccinating pet rabbits

We advise routine vaccination of rabbits against two fatal viral diseases: myxomatosis & viral haemorrhagic disease ( VHD ).

Myxomatosis is carried by rabbit fleas & is particularly prevalent in rabbits that are allowed to burrow in the garden.

VHD is airborne & caused sudden death by bleeding into the chest & abdominal body cavities.

Annual vaccinations against these diseases are given at two weeks apart & can begin at 8 weeks of age.

neutering pet rabbits

We routinely neuter many pet rabbits at MacDonald Veterinary Clinic. Male rabbits can from time to time show signs of aggressive behaviour. Castration takes away this problem & promotes bonding in the home environment.

The most common tumour seen in rabbits involves the lining of the uterus or womb. This cancer may cause extreme bleeding from the vulva & has the potential to spread to the lungs. Ovariohysterectomy surgery ( spaying ) at 5 months of age prevents this problem developing.

Useful hyperlinks, please click on icons below:

Rabbit Welfare Association - find out about all aspects of rabbit keeping, rabbit healthcare, rabbit information

www.britishgiantrabbits.co.uk