YOUR NEW BUNNY
Congratulations on your new pet! Rabbits can make fun pets however they do require a lot of care and attention. They are very sociable creatures and like to have company, whether that is from another rabbit or just from you. Rabbits are intelligent creatures and can get easily bored if not given enough stimulation. Rabbits have a long life span and can live up to 8 years! You should be prepared to care for your pet throughout his life and this will mean routine visits to your vet to ensure your rabbit is kept in the best of health.
This care sheet is designed to give you a little information on the sort of things we can offer your pet.
VACCINATIONS
The two main disease your rabbit should be vaccinated against are Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD). Both diseases have a high fatality rate and do not respond to treatment. Myxomatosis is spread by flies and infected wild rabbits. The disease causes respiratory distress, sore, swollen eyes and genitals. VHD is a viral disease which kills very quickly by causing bleeding disorders.
Rabbits should be vaccinated against both diseases with each vaccine being given 2 weeks apart. Your rabbit can be vaccinated against myxomatosis from 6 weeks of age then a booster should be given every 6 months. The VHD vaccine can be given from 10–12 weeks of age and then the booster would be yearly.
NEUTERING
We would advise neutering your rabbit once it becomes sexually mature. In females (does), spaying obviously takes away the risk of unwanted pregnancy but it can also help to prolong your pets life. Spaying can eliminate the risk of your rabbit developing reproductive cancers such as uterine, ovarian and mammary. As your pet matures it can become aggressive and spaying can help reduce this behaviour. We would recommend neutering your rabbit at around 6 months of age.
In males (bucks), castration can be performed when the testicles have descended, this is usually at around 5 months old. Neutering your male will take away his fight and sexual aggression. He will be an altogether more calm and relaxed pet as he will not be constantly looking for a mate! Your male rabbit should also become less destructive and stop chewing everything. Neutering your rabbit will also stop him territory marking with a strong smelling urine.
DENTAL PROBLEMS
Rabbits teeth are open-rooted, which means they grow continuously. Making sure your rabbit is fed on a good diet high in fibre can help grind the teeth down. Feeding fresh grass, hay and leafy vegetables will enable your rabbit to use his teeth to gnaw this food. Although this does not completely solve the problem of overgrown teeth it can really help. Signs to look out for if your rabbit is experiencing dental problems can include; anorexia, excessive drooling, nasal discharge, teeth grinding and excessive tear production which is caused by blocked tear ducts. It is advisable to get your rabbits teeth checked regularly by the vet in order to maintain your pets comfort and well being.
FLY STRIKE
This is a major problem during the warm summer months. Fly strike is basically the infestation of maggots! This condition can be particularly distressing for both your rabbit and you, the owner. Flies will lay eggs in faeces or urine soiled fur. Within 12-14 hours the maggots hatch out and bore into the rabbits flesh, releasing toxins and ultimately killing it. Therefore prevention is essential. The rabbit should be checked daily to ensure the area under its tail is clean and dry. Hutches should be cleaned out at least once a week and fresh dry bedding provided regularly. As the maggots grow, they eat further into the rabbit and generally if not found in time the rabbit will have suffered so much it will likely have to be put down.
If you do find maggots on your rabbit try not to panic, but do contact the surgery immediately.
A spot-on preparation called 'Rear guard' is available at this practice. This is applied directly onto your rabbit and protects against fly strike for 10 weeks. Rabbits that are at particular risk are generally overweight or ageing rabbits who cannot clean themselves properly.
FLEA TREATMENT
Rabbits are susceptible to cat and dog fleas. They are quite difficult to see in rabbit fur as it is so dense. You may notice your rabbit scratching a lot or notice brown specks of flea dirt on their coat. Fleas breed in huge numbers and can lay around 200 eggs. These eggs then fall off your rabbit and into your home if brought indoors. If your rabbit isn't protected, the fleas will bite and can cause irritation or allergy. They can also bite you causing skin discomfort. Prevention is better than cure and a spot-on flea treatment is available from the surgery.
WORMING
Rabbits should be wormed regularly to help protect them from worms and parasites such as E.Cuniculi. This parasite is spread by infected urine. Should your rabbit become infected with this parasite then it could show signs such as a head tilt, hindlimb weakness, blindness, seizures, kidney disease or even result in death. A wormer is available from the practice to help prevent your rabbit from E.cuniculi.
If you have any queries regarding any of the above or would like to discuss other topics relating to your rabbit then please do not hesitate to contact us at the surgery.