Rabbits as Pets Rabbits make excellent pets, and offer a wonderful alternative where it may be impossible to keep dogs or cats. Rabbits are clean, docile, and intelligent. However, they still require responsible care and daily attention. Basic needs are a warm, dry hutch, clean, wholesome food, and fresh water to drink. Rabbits may live 10 to 15 years. Since there are over 40 recognized breeds of rabbits, check with a reliable source to determine what type would fit in with your lifestyle. The most popular are the smaller breeds, such as the Dutch, Holland Lop, Mini Lop, Netherland Dwarf, and Polish. Rabbits may be taught to use a litter box, and may be leash trained for trips outside the house.
Housing
Rabbits may be safely housed indoors or outdoors, as long as they have protection from rain, wind, and direct sunlight. Extremes in temperature should be avoided. High temperatures may cause overheating and death in rabbits of all ages. Good ventilation is essential, and cages should be easily accessible for daily care. Since rabbits are natural gnawers, cage material must be tough enough to withstand constant chewing. Wire pens or wooden hutches are acceptable, and should be large enough to allow the rabbit to move around freely for exercise. Ideally, cages should be cleaned daily, or at least three times a week. To avoid boredom, toys and chewing materials should be provided. Fruit tree branches make good chew sticks. In addition, rabbits should be protected from predators (dogs, foxes), and avoid contact with wild rodents and insects which can transmit disease.
Cages should be checked for broken wires or splintered boards, and prompt repairs made to avoid injury to the rabbit. If rabbits are allowed to run loose in the house, make sure electric cords are out of reach, as well as any pesticides, or poisons. Also, don't leave rabbits alone with other pets! As with any animal, prevention is the best medicine.
Feeding
Rabbits are monogastric herbivores. Young rabbits may be fed free-choice quality rabbit pellets, but adults should be limited to 4-6 ounces per day. After three months of age, pellets may be supplemented with grass hay, garden vegetables, e.g., romaine lettuce (not iceberg lettuce), cabbage, chicory, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, alfalfa, bread, tender tree growth, and some fruits, such as apples. Commercially produced rabbit pellets are the most important part of the diet, since they contain all the nutrients for proper maintenance. It is best to feed half the daily amount twice a day to prevent boredom and obesity. Avoid overfeeding since an overweight rabbit will be prone to health problems. Experts believe the best overall pet rabbit diet is a measured daily alfalfa meal-based pellet with a hay supplement provided daily and a treat of "greens," or a free-choice hay diet with vegetable supplement. Clean, mold-free hay is a major source of nutrients and provides fiber which promotes normal digestion, and helps prevent hairballs. Of course, fresh water must be provided at all times. Water and feed bowls should be cleaned daily to avoid dirt build-up.
Health
Rabbits should be examined daily for any signs of illness. Make sure they are drinking water daily and eating their food. Watch for signs of fleas, or mites, check for diarrhea, or any unusual lumps. Eyes should appear bright. Rabbits should be handled regularly so they are accustomed to human hands. Then if they do require medical attention, it will not be a traumatic experience for them to be handled.
Rabbits are generally hardy animals, however they can catch colds, termed "snuffles." Respiratory disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rabbits. If your rabbit is sneezing excessively, and appears to have a very wet nose, and signs of nasal discharge on the inside of the front feet from rubbing its nose and eyes, consult a rabbit breeder or veterinarian for advice. If overlooked, this infection can progress from the upper respiratory tract to the lungs and cause pneumonia and death in a relatively short time.
Ear mites may appear at any time, manifested by inflammation and crusting in the external ear canal, causing rabbits to scratch the ears and shake their heads. You should not attempt to clean out the crusts, since this is painful and will bleed. Therapies can be recommended by your veterinarian, and may include topical application of mineral oil, liquid acaricides, or flea powder. Thorough cleaning of the environment is essential to prevent reinfection.
Sore hocks may occur from constant pressure from a wire bottom cage. Avoid this by providing a board for the rabbit to sit on. Infections may result from a severe case of sore hocks.
Since rabbits continually lick their fur, they may have hair balls in their stomach. In some cases, these accumulations may cause clinical problems, e.g., off feed, constipation, lethargy, and death. Good quality hay fed occasionally to increase fiber content of the diet is a good means of prevention.
The teeth of rabbits grow throughout their lives, so overgrowth of upper and lower incisors is quite common. Some rabbits have improper alignment which prevents the teeth from wearing on each other, causing overgrowth. If this occurs, the teeth must be trimmed regularly to enable the animal to eat normally, and to prevent lip, cheek, or gum punctures.
It is normal practice for rabbits to eat "night droppings." These cecal pellets are an essential part of the rabbit's nutrition, rich in vitamins and nutrients necessary to maintain good health.
Owners should NEVER attempt to use antibiotics without veterinary supervision. The rabbit's gastrointestinal tract is extremely delicate, and actually depends on large populations of healthy bacteria to digest food. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics may kill the normal bacteria in the gut and lead to overgrowth of deadly bacteria, resulting in death of the animal.
Currently there are only two FDA-approved drugs for use in rabbits -- sulfaquinoxaline and lasalocid. Both drugs are for treatment or prevention of coccidiosis, a common parasitic condition which affects the gastrointestinal tract causing debilitation. Prevention depends on maintaining hygienic conditions and avoidance of infected feces. Other drugs are available for extra-label use by veterinarians under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA).
The leading cause of death in the female rabbit is uterine cancer. Unfortunately, this disease has often spread to other organs by the time it is diagnosed. Young females may be spayed between 6 months and 2 years of age to prevent this disease. Unless the animal is to be used for breeding, it is recommended that she be spayed.
Male rabbits, especially dwarf varieties, may become extremely aggressive as they reach sexual maturity. They may bite excessively and spray urine outside the litter box area. To avoid this unpleasant behavior, castration may be done any time after 5 months of age.
Handling and Grooming
Always hold rabbits with two hands to support the hind legs and prevent struggling. Fractures of the lumbar spine are commonly encountered from improper handling. Rabbits have a low ratio of skeletal mass to muscle mass, and their strong hind legs can exert enough pressure on the spine to cause fractures, if mishandled.
Rabbits experience a molting process once a year, where they shed their coats and grow a new one. Usually this is a trouble-free process, which begins over the back and progresses towards the rump and down the sides. At the same time the hair on the feet, face and ears is shed. The molt continues down to the underside and tail, finishing on the chest. Regular grooming is essential to free the coat of dead hairs and expedite the molting process. A soft brush or bare hands may be used. The rabbit's coat may be kept clean with a little talcum powder or corn flour rubbed into the coat well and then vigorously brushed out.
With proper care and management, your pet rabbit will live a long and healthy life, providing years of companionship to you. This information is provided by Karen A. Kandra, Communications Staff, Center for Veterinary Medicine. May 1997 Submitted by: If you have rabbit related questions you would like answered,
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