Rabbits

RABBITS

Rabbits are becoming increasingly popular pets so it is important to understand their environmental and nutritional requirements rather than just expecting them to fit in to an artificial situation.

Most rabbits live between 5 and 8 years. Most are kept in outdoor hutches, although many are now kept as house pets. Hutches should have a dry and draught free nesting area and a larger open area for exercise, bedding should always be provided with paper, wood shavings, or straw.

Adult pet rabbits should be fed primarily on grass or hay which should be freely available, no more than 1/4 cup of commercial rabbit pellets per 5lb bodyweight daily should be offered in order to try and prevent obesity. The rabbit is a herbivore, the plant material ingested is broken down in the caecum in the large intestine by several different types of micro-organisms which produce essential proteins, vitamins and fatty acids to be absorbed by the rabbit. The rabbit does this by reingesting some of the material once it has passed through its bowels. A generous amount of fibre is required within the diet (18-24% crude fibre) to promote good, regular intestinal movement and minimise intestinal disease. Diets low in fibre can cause an increased incidence of intestinal problems, and high starch diets will allow the proliferation of toxic bacteria. A dietary supply of vitamins A, D, and E is essential. Bacteria in the gut synthesise vitamin K and the B vitamins in sufficient quantities. Rabbits fed on grain or hay should be provided with a trace mineral salt lick. Sudden changes of diet should be avoided.

Dietary Requirements of Rabbits

Protein

Fat

Fiber

Carbonhydrates

Growing rabbits

16%

2-4%

18-25%

45-50%

Maintainence

12%

1.5-2%

15-25%

45-50%

Pregnancy

15%

2-3%

15-25%

45-50%

Rabbits have relatively fragile skeletons and can be easily hurt by untrained hands. When lifting them you should always support the weight of the animal at the rump and prevent kicking of the hind legs.

Common Disorders of the Domestic Rabbit

Dental problems; rabbit teeth grow continuously and usually wear against the opposing teeth. Any malocclusion of the teeth results in overgrowth and the need for regular trimming.
Ear, skin and fur mites; five different types of mite can infest rabbits leading to scratching, hair loss, head shaking, and sometimes severe self inflicted skin damage.
Hairballs and fur chewing; rabbits constantly groom themselves and an excess of ingested hair can result in hairballs forming within the intestinal tract.
Intestinal problems; diarrhoea can be a common, and messy, problem in all ages of rabbits.
Myxomatosis; a very common fatal, acute viral disease of rabbits, it is highly contagious and we strongly recommend vaccination.
Pasteurellosis; this is an infection that frequently causes respiratory disease and what we would regard as 'flu-like' symptoms.
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease; this is another fatal, acute viral disease, which is not especially common in the West of Scotland but it does occasionally occur. We recommend vaccination.