The Rabbit – General Advice

The rabbit is an increasingly popular pet and for good reason: it is gentle, docile and affectionate. He is litter box trained and generally gets along well with other pets in the household, except the ferret! Rabbits can live 9 to 12 years if they receive good care and are spayed/neutered at a young age (between 6 and 12 months). The rabbit is a lagomorph because it has 6 incisors (4 upper and 2 lower) compared to rodents which only have 4.

Housing

A standard rabbit cage sold at a pet store will do the job well, as long as the rabbit is allowed to exercise daily (always under supervision). The bottom can contain hardwood shavings such as aspen and maple, or recycled paper litter (example: Yesterday’s News). These latest litters are available at AnimaPlus. What you will want to avoid are softwood litters such as pine and cedar, cracked corn ("corn cob"), and cat litters (clumping or non-clumping). In short, a small litter box can be placed in the corner chosen by the rabbit.

Accessories: We recommend heavy ceramic or hard plastic dishes, which are harder to knock over or destroy.The rabbit can drink from a bottle or bowl, as it prefers. We also recommend that you purchase a specific scale to measure weight on a weekly basis.

Toys: balls, balloons, towels, cardboard, apple branches, etc.

Nutrition

• Regular rabbit feed made from timothy (containing no seeds or alfalfa). Feed approximately 1/8 cup of food per 5 lbs of weight.
• Timothy hay (also called timothy hay): Avoid alfalfa hay as it predisposes to urinary problems. Brome and oat hays are also suitable as they are similar to timothy.
• Fresh vegetables: 3 to 4 cups per day depending on the size of the rabbit. Gradually increase the amount to prevent the stool from becoming soft: eg. carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot tail, parsley, dark green lettuce (romaine, chicory, curly, etc.), asparagus, zucchini, etc.
• Fresh fruits: apples, pears, strawberries, etc.Avoid bananas as they are too sweet.
• Fresh water
• Apple tree branches (pesticide-free);

Foods to avoid: Chocolate, sugary, salty or fatty foods, biscuits or any other pastries, mineral blocks or any added vitamins, most house plants, bread, yoghurt treats, honey sticks. Being a strict herbivore, it is therefore necessary to avoid giving the rabbit any animal protein.

Coat Care

Brush your rabbit regularly to minimize hair ingestion, as intestinal blockages (impaction) can sometimes occur and lead to death. The administration of a sugar-free laxative paste is recommended for prevention: 1 to 2 times per week (2 to 5 ml), in order to prevent the risk of impaction. The amount and frequency of administration of laxative paste may be increased during moulting periods.

Health Problems

The most common diseases in rabbits:

• Pasteurellosis: This bacterial disease is serious and must be treated quickly. The most common signs are: runny nose and/or eyes, sneezing, tilted head, loss of appetite.
• Abscess
• Dental malocclusion (incisors, molars or premolars)
• Coccidiosis: microscopic intestinal parasite. The most common clinical sign is intermittent diarrhea. It is important to have your rabbit's stool tested by your veterinarian as soon as you acquire it.
• Gastrointestinal Stasis (or Intestinal Blockage) and Hairballs
• Various respiratory disorders

As with all other animals, an examination after adoption by an AnimaPlus veterinarian and then an annual examination is recommended.

It is important to intervene quickly with a sick rabbit: the chances of survival are considerably increased.