Rabbit Care

Living with house rabbits

Rabbit Care

Rabbits are very social and affectionate animals, that benefit from daily interaction with humans and other rabbits. We recommend that pet rabbits be kept indoors, due to the many dangers associated with climate and predators. Rabbits are very intelligent and benefit from mental and physical stimulation – see our handout on enrichment for herbivores.

Diet

Nutrition is very important for rabbits as they can develop severe illness if their diet is not adequate. Being herbivores, they need a constant supply of hay and fiber to allow their gastrointestinal tract to keep moving and digesting food. Without hay, rabbits can develop dental disease and other serious diseases including gastrointestinal stasis. We recommend that rabbits are fed mostly hay, approximately 80% of diet, with the remaining 10-20% comprising of pellets, greens, and a small amount of treats.

Hay:

Adults should have free access to good quality grass hay (timothy, orchard grass, oat hay) at all times to promote healthy teeth and gastrointestinal function.
Juveniles (less than 6 months) should have free access to good quality alfalfa hay at all times.
Alfalfa hay is higher in calories, calcium and protein and so can also be used for rabbits that are pregnant or lactating.
If fed to adults, it can cause problems with excessive body calcium levels and urinary tract disease.

Pellets:

Adults should have access to a limited about of timothy hay pellets so that they are encouraged to consume more hay and to prevent obesity.
Juvenile rabbits or those that are pregnant/lactating should have free access to an alfalfa-based pellet.
All rabbits should be fed a pelleted diet that does not include any extra additives such as dried fruits, seeds, grains or nuts as these can be high in calories and lead to obesity and selective eating.
Please consult with a veterinarian to determine the appropriate amount of pellets to feed your pet rabbit

Greens:

Greens and vegetables can provide great enrichment and can help to maintain hydration, however can sometimes cause diarrhea if not introduced slowly and in small amounts.
All rabbits should be provided with a daily salad mix which is approximately the size of the rabbit (loosely packed).
We recommend feeding a variety of different dark leafy green vegetables- please see our greens handout for recommendations.

Treats:

Please limit treats to 1 heaping tablespoon per 2lbs of body weight per day.
- Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries
- Apple, kiwi, peaches, cherries, pears, mango, melons, papaya
- Peppers, cucumber, carrots, turnips, beets, sweet potato

Please avoid commercial treats such as yoghurt drops and seed balls, which are high in fat and sugar. These can lead to obesity and gastrointestinal upset.
Oxbow make a range of healthy treat options made from freeze dried fruit (strawberry and banana) as well as hay-based cookies.

Water:

Rabbits should have free access to water at all times.
Water bottles need to be checked daily to make sure they are clean and working properly.
Some rabbits prefer to drink from a bowl, so please make sure water is available in this form also. Make sure to choose a heavy, wide-based ceramic bowl to prevent spills.
Mineral blocks and supplements are generally not required provided your pet rabbit is on an appropriate diet.

Housing

Minimum cage dimensions (bigger is better!)
- Small breeds: 41”x22”x37”
- Large breeds: 46.5”x24”x36.25”
Should have solid floor area to avoid foot sores
Appropriate bedding options include recycled paper bedding, fleece, or area rugs. Avoid wood shavings, which contain respiratory and skin irritants and (in some cases) liver toxins.
Avoid cages with solid walls to allow good ventilation
Many rabbits also do well being free-range in a rabbit-proofed room or exercise pen.
Please make sure rabbits are confined during the day when you are not at home.
Bunny-proofing your home is very important as it is natural for rabbits to chew. This could lead to ingestion of furniture, rugs, drapes or electrocution from electrical cords. Cords must be hidden so that rabbits cannot reach them. By providing your rabbit enough attention and safe things to chew on to keep them distracted. Young rabbits (under a year) are more inclined to mischief and require more confinement and/or bunny-proofing than mature rabbits.

Litter box training

Start with a small area, pick a corner where the rabbit has already used, add a litter box to that corner.
Recycled paper or pelleted litters should be used – avoid clay cat litter.
Add a small amount of hay on top of the litter to entice the rabbit to sit in the box
Reward pet when it uses the box, NEVER punish pet while in the litter box
REMEMBER: Rabbits are not cats, and are not likely to use the litter box 100% of the time!

Spaying and Neutering Rabbits

Spaying of female rabbits is recommended for a number of reasons – first to prevent unwanted pregnancy, but also to prevent cancer. Female rabbits over the age of 3-4 years have an 80% chance of developing uterine cancer, which can be prevent with early spaying before 6 months of age.
Neutering of males is optional, however can be beneficial for several reasons. Unneutered males (and some females) will often urine spray to mark their territory and may show signs of aggression, this is under hormonal control and can be reduced with neutering.
If you have more than one rabbit, keep your intact males separated from each other and from females. Non-neutered males will fight with each other whether there are females around or not.
For rabbits older than 2 years of age a veterinary visit is recommended before scheduling surgery.

Veterinary Care

Annual physical exam (every 6 months for older rabbits over the age of 5 years)
Spaying/neutering at 3-6 months of age
Nail trims as needed, if unable to trim at home
NOTE: Rabbits that are not eating or producing normal feces for more than 12 hours should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.