Rabbit Information
*Nutrition*
Rabbits diet should be mainly made up of grass or feeding hay. Around 10% of their diet can be made up of green vegetables and 5% of nuggets or kibble. This is to provide enough fibre to keep their digestive system healthy and working well, to help wear their teeth naturally and to avoid putting on too much weight.
It is important ad-lib fresh water is provided.
*Vaccination*
Vaccination will protect your rabbit from Myxomatosis and Rabbit Haemorrhagic disease.
Rabbits can be vaccinated from 5 weeks of age with a single dose injection.
Your rabbit must be at least this age before the vaccines will be effective, due to antibodies passed on from their mum. The immunity your rabbit gets from the first vaccination does not last for life; annual booster vaccinations are needed to ensure your pet continues to be fully protected.
*Rabbit Parasites*
*E. cuniculi:*
E. cuniculi is a parasite known as a protozoa. It can effect the nervous system and kidneys in rabbits, and tends to be spread during pregnancy or through urine. The most severe symptoms include, back leg weakness or paralysis, a head tilt, falling over, fits, weight loss, cataracts and red, swollen eyes. Sadly the most severe are potentially fatal.
E. cuniculi can also be transmitted to humans, hygiene is always crucial with pets, but take particular care if you are immunocompromised.
*Worms:*
Rabbits are not as prone to worms as cats and dogs, but they can still pick them up. Prevention is very important. Make sure any other pets that can access their grazing area are wormed and any faeces are removed promptly.
Cleaning the hutch regular and moving the run around to provide different areas is important too. Wild animals coming into the area such as wild rabbits or foxes can pose a risk.
*Pinworms* are the most common to infect rabbits and signs include weight loss, skin irritation around the bottom and poor coat condition. Young rabbits may suffer from diarrhoea and lethargy as well.
*Stomach worms* tend to be rare but in severe cases they can cause weight loss and may even be visible in your rabbits droppings.
*Tapeworms* can be picked from cats, dogs and foxes due to contamination in grazing areas.
If you are concerned your rabbit has worms, or feel they are high risk from worms, you can speak to one of our vets for some specific advice and guidance.
*Fleas:*
Fleas are very unpleasant for your rabbit, but it is also a nightmare for you if they get into your home. Fleas can jump from host to host or from the environment on to a new host.
How do I know if my pet has fleas
· Chewing, scratching, itching
· Hair loss and reddened, irritated skin.
· Visible fleas or flea dirt in their fur
Fleas can cause a skin condition called flea allergic dermatitis and in severe cases anaemia.
Fleas can survive in the environment for months without a host. If a pet has fleas, it is important you wash, hoover and spray soft furnishing and carpets to try and remove them.
There are a range of flea preventative treatments to protect your pet while they are out and about.
*Mites:*
Cheyletiella is known as walking dandruff and is most common in rabbits.
They appear to have dry skin with lots of dandruff. It is very contagious, even to humans.
*Neutering*
Neutering is important for long term rabbit health and bonding. Rabbits can have kits from 4-6 months of age and they are only pregnant for 31 days.
They can mate again immediately after they have given birth, so you can end up with a population explosion very easily.
*Why castrate?*
– Prevents pregnancy
– Prevents spraying; they do this over their territory, possessions,
companions and even you.
– Removes the risk of testicular cancer.
– Reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
– Reduces aggression.
– An uncastrated male can’t live bonded safely with another rabbit
*Why Spay?*
· Prevents pregnancy
– Females have up to an 80% chance of uterine cancer by the age of 5.
– Removes the risk of pyometra, a potentially fatal womb infection.
– Removes the risk of phantom pregnancy
– Reduces the risk of mammary tumours
– Reduces aggressive behaviour; entire females can be aggressive and
territorial. Keeping two entire females together, even if they are sisters,
can result in serious fighting and the risk of injuries.
*Flystrike*
Flystrike occurs when flies lay eggs, usually in faecal contaminated fur, which then hatch into maggots. It is a profoundly serious and often fatal disease. The maggots feed on the rabbit’s flesh. Maggots hatch and develop very quickly, so rabbits can become seriously ill and go into toxic shock in a short space of time.
Make sure your rabbit is clean, especially around their bottom.
· *Gut Stasis*
A common and potentially life-threatening condition, gut stasis occurs when the usual motion of the intestines slows down or stops. This allows bacteria to build up which can cause bloating. As the intestines slow down, and some bloating starts, rabbits become more reluctant to eat and drink which makes the condition worse, slowing the intestines down even further.
The material in the gut also becomes drier and firmer making it more difficult to pass, causing constipation and impaction.
If you notice bloating, be eating and drinking less or less droppings which are getting smaller and harder or have stopped all together, please contact us immediately.
· *Dirty sticky bottoms*
An unbalanced diet, injury, mobility issues, parasites or obesity can lead to intestinal upsets and diarrhoea. As mentioned dirty, contaminated fur around the bottom can lead to flystrike.
Rabbits produce two types of dropping, a drier pellet and then a caecotroph which the rabbit eats directly from their anus. An older arthritic, injured or overweight rabbit may struggle to do this. These pellets then end up stuck to the fur around the bottom, hindlimbs and belly.
· *Wounds*
Wounds in rabbits such as bites and scratches can become infected very easily and quickly turning into an abscess. An abscess is a walled off area of infection and can also be seen around the jaw due to dental disease.
Abscesses in rabbits are different to other animals, they are hard and rarely can be drained. Surgery is often required to remove them and some of the surrounding tissue, along with a course of antibiotics.
· *Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease*
Vaccination is key in preventing this disease. There are two types of RVHD:
Almost all unvaccinated rabbits who catch RVHD1 die within a day or two.
The virus causes massive internal bleeding. Many cases appear to have no visible symptoms, the odd case may bleed from their nose or bottom. Often owners think they have died from a fright or a heart attack. RVHD2 is much the same, although some cases have recovered with intensive veterinary care.
· *Myxomatosis*
Myxo is a highly contagious and usually fatal disease, spread by fleas, midges, mosquitos etc. All rabbits living indoors, and outdoors are at risk.
Symptoms include discharge from the eyes and nose, swelling around the face and groin, blindness, breathing problems, weak and no appetite.
Vaccination is crucial, in very rare cases where a vaccinated rabbit catches the disease the symptoms tend to be very mild.
Other methods to help reduce the risks include
· Keeping the hutch and run away from standing water (attracts
biting insects)
· Keep your dogs and cats up to date for flea treatments
· Stop wild rabbits and small vermin accessing the hutch, run and
grazing area.
· Consider insect screens
· Feed dust extracted hay or kiln dried grass
There is lots of information is available for rabbit owners at https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/
To book an appointment, neutering or to discuss any concerns, you can contact us on 028 29558765
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