Feeding

As with any rabbit, hay or grass should make up around 80% of the Dutch's daily intake. Unlimited hay should be available at all times, by chewing hay or grass a rabbit can wear down their back teeth sufficiently (their teeth grow constantly, as with rodents).

Meadow hay or Timothy hay is ideal - but Alfalfa hay should be avoided, as it is too rich in calcium for a rabbit's digestive system. Although rabbits graze throughout the day, they take most of their food at dawn and dusk, so it's best to provide 2 regular meals - one in the morning and one in the early evening. A rabbit can become overweight, rabbit mixes should be fed in small portions, your rabbit should be fed more hay than food mixes.

Cleaning of Housing

It is recommended that your rabbits hutch be cleaned out at least every other day.

Use newspaper to line the bottom of the hutch, topped with saw dust and a layer of hay or straw chippings “bedding”.

You can also purchase a special disinfectant spray for small animals to use on the hutch, this should be sprayed and left to dry before replacing your pets bedding.  

The hutch should be checked regularly for holes especially if it is located outside, as your pet bunny may have start to chewing his/her home. 

Exercise

Exercise is important for your rabbit, especially if he/she is kept in a small hutch.

When letting your bunny have a free run in the garden its important to remember that most garden plants are poisonous including weeds. A full list of what and what’s not poisonous can be found by doing a search on the internet.

If you have an enclosure, check you pet regularly for digging holes, as a rabbit makes a deep hole very quickly.

If you live in an area where your neighbours have cats, it is always best to have a closeable lid over the enclosure to prevent the cat attacking your pet. 

Preventing Health Problems

Keeping your bunny’s home clean is one of the most important aspects of your rabbits good health.

It is very important to become familiar with your rabbits eating habits, behavior, and general body condition to quickly recognise problems early.

If your rabbit is showing signs of being unwell it is recommended you contact your vet as soon as possible,  the first noticeable sign that your bunny maybe unwell is not eating. If you rabbit is not eating urgent treatment should be sort, as a rabbits digestive system is hard to restart once left to long.

 

Vaccinations

 Your rabbit is ready for vaccinations from over the age of 7 weeks, your vet may recommend having vaccinations earlier or later depending on the vaccine available at the time. The current Myxomatosis Vaccine can be given to rabbits above 6 weeks of age and the VHD vaccine Cylap is given at 10 weeks of age, the new Lapinject vaccine for VHD can be given as early as 5 weeks.

What is Myxomatosis?

Myxomatosis is a severe viral disease that came to Britain 50 years ago, the severity of outbreaks all over the UK varies over time. It is passed on to pet rabbits by fleas, animal’s entering your garden such as, wild rabbits, foxes, dogs and cats

that have come into contact with wild rabbits or hares that are carrying the disease. Fly’s and insects also carry the Myxoma Virus which when bitten will pass Myxomatosis on to your pet rabbit. Myxomatosis causes immense suffering and then death, and therefore you should vaccinate you bunny. A booster is required every 6-12 mounths.

What is VHD (Viral Haemorrhagic Disease)?

VHD is a deadly disease that any rabbit can catch, it kills most whom catch it. The virus first appeared in Britain in 1992 and is not the same as Myxomatosis therefore requiring a separate vaccination which is usually given with a two week break between the two. It can be picked up from food or water infected by wild rabbits, birds or insects, wild rabbits grazing on the lawn, it can be even blown in the wind.

In depth information on these two Viral Diseases can be found at http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Myiasis (Fly Strike)

Rabbit’s can get flystrike at any time of the year, but certain factors increase the risk such as hot weather, rabbits that suffer from “dirty bottoms” or have wounds, wet fur, being overweight, long haired, older rabbits and rabbits living in unsanitary conditions.

Flystrike is a serious condition which proves fatal if not dealt with straight away. It is caused by flies laying eggs upon the rabbit that then hatch into maggots, in most cases within 24hours. Check your bunny's coat and bottom regularly, in high risk cases twice a day. 

Ways of preventing flystrike are:

· Healthy diet

· Removing soiled bedding everyday

· Check your rabbit at least once a day

· Physical barriers such as fly screens

· Spray on fly deterrent available from your vet or pet shop.

There are also many natural ways to prevent flystrike by means of certain plants for your garden.

Visit http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk for more information.

This information is taken from our care leaflet provided with every bunny.