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RABBIT CARE

Your pets can be just like members of your family. That's why it's important to look after them and make sure they stay healthy and happy.

 

The following table is a guide to keeping your rabbits healthy.

 

DIET: When babies, up until the age of about 12 weeks I give pellets and Oaten hay only. Once over 12 weeks the majority of there diet should actually be green stalks of different kinds eg spinach,buk choy,parsley,water cress, broccoli, alphafa etc however avoid lettuce as it is quite watery.The other main bulk of the diet is made up of mostly Oaten Hay, only a little bit of lucerne every so often as it builds up too much calcium.resh fruit and a small amount of rabbit pellets every now and then. (Please note: Fruit & Vegies are not recommended for rabbits under 5 months of age as they may cause diarrhoea, They should be kept on a diet of rabbit pellets & lucerne, introducing only a small amount of fruit & vegies items at a time).

By feeding a smallish serving of greens and a large amount of timothy/lucerne hay they should have a healthy diet.

If they have any sign of bad diarrhoea you are feeding them too many greens and not enough hay.

Fresh clean water should always be available. An ideal way of ensuring this is to have a rabbit water bottle attatched to the wire on the front of the cage.

POISONOUS FOODS: Potatoes, rhubarb, rotting food, leftover salads with dressing, cakes, onions, or pickled food.
 

HEALTH

 

EYES - Alert and bright. Free of discharge.
NOSE - Repetitive dry sneezing and / or yellow discharge is an indication of an illness.
EARS - Perfectly clean. Dirt in ears can signify that the rabbit has ear mites.
COAT - Clean and lustrous. A dull coat indicates poor health.
BELLY - Nice and plump but definitely not bloated.
GENITALS -
Perfectly clean and free of any discharge.

 

WEEPY EYE - This is usually a bacterial infection of the eyelids, usually caused by dirt or dust, and is easily treated with antibiotic eyedrops or ointments obtained from your local veterinarian.

 

SNUFFLES AND COLDS - Similar to a cold in humans and usually characterised by sneezing, watery eyes and a yellow nasal discharge. The front feet may become soiled and matted by rubbing the nose with the inside of the front paws. You will definately need to see a veterinary regarding this. 

 

SCRATCHES AND CUTS - Any cuts or scratches should be cleaned immediately and treated with sulphate ointment, powder or I've also found Savlon quite good. Deep puncture holes or severe lacerations should be attended by a veterinarian.

 

DIARRHOEA - Usually attributed to over feeding of green food and not enough lucerne/timothy hay.This must be treated early as in severe cases it is usually fatal. Seek veterinary advice urgently.

 

MYXOMATOSIS - Carried by mosquitos. Cover cages with gauze wire to prevent infection.The symptoms are a soft swelling in the region around the eyes, base of the ears and sometimes elsewhere on the body. There may be discharge from the eyes and nose. Infected animals should be painlessly destroyed by a veterinary surgeon as recovery is extremely rare.

 

  • Mosquitoes and rabbit fleas can carry myxomatosis, a fatal disease which cannot be vaccinated against in Australia. Screen hutches and use flea powder if exposed to wild rabbits.
  • Rabbits can be vaccinated against the Calicivirus (Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease) if this disease is considered to be a problem in your area.
  • NAILS - Trim your rabbits claws regularly, as unclipped claws can lead to other problems. Care must be taken not too clip too short or you may cut the blood vessel which is at the base of the nail.
  • TEETH - Rabbits teeth are constantly growing and they need to wear them down. Give your rabbit a piece of untreated pinewood to gnaw on.
  • NEVER pick up a rabbit by the ears. As well as being cruel this can damage the muscles and membranes in the ears.
  • Never leave your rabbit unattended as there natural instinct is to gnaw. This could include; furniture, carpets, electrical cords etc, none of these being healthy for rabbits.
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    HOUSING - A suitable hutch should measure 4ft by 2ft and 2ft high. It should be a sturdy construction, ideally made out of untreated pinewood. The interior walls of the hutch should be smooth, as bunny will chew anything they can get their teeth onto. Avoid metal cages as they contract heat in the summer and are icy cold in the winter. A solid wood floor is best. The cage also needs to contain mosquito mesh to stop myxomatosis. Places hutches in an area not exposed to hot midday and afternoon sun and away from drafts.Several inches of bedding should be sufficient to cover the floor. Wood shavings or straw are suitable and obtainable from most produce merchants. Used bedding is ideal for garden fertilizer and mulch. 

    Purchase heavy ceramic food bowls as they are not easily tipped over. A water bottle is a much easier and hygienic way to give your rabbit water. Not only can they not tip it over, but they can't foul in the water. If using a bottle, always make sure that the ball bearing is moving easily and freely.

    Toilet train your rabbit by placing a litter tray filled with wood shavings, or cat litter safe for rabbits in their favourite toilet spot.Adding a few of there droppings to the tray will soon help them get the message.

    HOT WEATHER CARE Be sure that your rabbit's hutch is not in the hot summer sun. On the very hot days it helps to freeze a plastic bottle of water and put it in the hutch for the rabbit to lie next to. Take the bottle out at night and refreeze it again for another hot day.

     

    DE-SEXING : Rabbits have strong urges to mate and reproduce. If you   are not planning on breeding, I strongly recommend that you have your rabbit de-sexed at approximately 4 -5 months of age before he/she has matured and wants to mate. Your rabbit will be much more content and docile and will therefore be a much happier and loving pet.