Providing care for your rabbit

To help keep your beloved rabbit healthy and hopping, you’ll need essential, preventative healthcare – and our Healthy Pet Club will cover all bases! When you join, you and your pet will have access to exclusive benefits and discounts throughout the year.

Discover what’s on offer and join the club along with your very own VIP (Very Important Pet).

We offer vaccinations for your rabbit from five weeks of age, against Myxomatosis and both strains of Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (R-VHD1 and R-VHD2) in a combined vaccine.

Unfortunately these severe diseases are common in our area and have an extremely high mortality rate, and can be transmitted from wild to domestic rabbits. As such, protection is pivotal, so please book a vaccine appointment with one of our wonderful rabbit vets and learn more about our vaccinations on our dedicated page.

Rabbits are famous for being ‘masters of disguise’, masking signs of illness or weakness, so regular health checks are crucial to their wellbeing.

Soon after you’ve brought your new friend home, book an initial health check with us and avoid introducing them to other rabbits until we’ve given them the all-clear, to avoid infection spreading to other pets. Following this, we’d recommend bringing them in every six months for check-ups.

At this health check, one of our experienced vets will perform a full-body examination to assess your rabbit’s general health, such as their eyes and ears, muscle and fat levels and hydration levels, while also checking for anaemia – a lack of red blood cells. Teeth will also be examined, but if their incisor teeth look normal, a full dental check will not be required.

We will be looking for any evidence of parasites on their skin or infectious diseases, along with evaluating their gut function and diet, determining whether the foods and amount are suitable and if any dietary changes are required to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

After reaching six years of age, your rabbit will be classed as a senior, but this may be dependent on their breed size. Along with a full-body physical examination, we recommend a blood test every six – 12 months that screens for underlying kidney or liver issues. Pressure sores can also impact older rabbits due to restricted movement, so we make sure to check for this also.

Book a health check for your rabbit at Claygate Vets.

Rabbits only eat carrots? You’re definitely myth-taken! Though certain cartoon characters popularised this misconception, your rabbit will need a lot more than that.

Along with 24-hour access to fresh water – test either a sipper bottle or water bowl and see what they prefer – we’d recommend the following for your bunny:

– Domestic rabbits are gentle herbivores, requiring a high-fibre diet with virtually no fat and restricted carbohydrates and protein. By comparison, wild rabbits survive on a diet of grass and leaves, and over time, this made their gut adapt.

– People may call lettuce ‘rabbit food’ but that’s only partly true – they also enjoy pak choi, broccoli leaves, bell peppers, spinach, parsley, and yes, carrots. These are essential to their diet as they provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals. Avoid giving your rabbit iceberg lettuce as this can make them unwell.

– Pellets are acceptable, but at Claygate Vets, we recommend limiting this to a small amount for adult rabbits – or more specifically, only two soup spoons worth. A larger amount can be given if your rabbit is under six months old, pregnant, sick, or senior. Pop in and talk with our rabbit vet for the exact amount your pet needs.

– Like humans, rabbits need their treats, too – and for them, that’s delicious fruit. This can be given once or twice a week, in small amounts.

– Unlimited amounts of high-quality, loose hay – first cut or high-fibre – should always be available for your rabbit whenever the mood strikes. Alternatives are orchard grass, botanical or mountain hay – alfalfa hay is best avoided, as it contains too much calcium and protein.

– Bacterial imbalances in your rabbit’s gut can be fatal, so make any changes and introduce new food gradually over the course of a week so their tummy can adjust.

You’ve heard the old phrase “breeding like rabbits”. This is one of the many reasons to get your rabbit neutered, as it can result in accidental litters. But it’s not just about babies – it also brings many other health and behavioural benefits, too!

Female rabbits 

As they get older, diseases and cancers connected to the female rabbit’s reproductive system become even more prevalent, so we recommend neutering at around seven or eight months of age. The removal of the ovaries and uterus protects your rabbit from these, while also possibly reducing territorial aggression.

When we perform the procedure, your rabbit will be placed carefully under general anaesthesia, and the ovaries and uterus will be removed via an abdominal incision by our experienced vet surgeons. To ensure they’re as comfortable as possible, they will be administered intravenous fluids during and after surgery to lower the risk of dehydration. To get your bunny bouncing back to perfect health, our nurses will walk you through aftercare you’ll need to provide – alongside your typical doting pet parent duties, of course.

Male rabbits

It is recommended that you neuter your male rabbit from five to six months old, but it can be done once their testicles have descended. This eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, prevents accidental breeding, reduces aggressive and dominant behaviour, and lessens occurrences of territorial urine marking.

The procedure will be performed under general anaesthetic with painkillers and fluids administered to keep your best bunny relaxed and comfortable. Once they’re awake, we’ll advise you on how to help the – typically quick – recovery process, knowing they’re in the best possible hands – yours.

A serious condition affecting bunny bellies is gut stasis, and as a pet owner, it is important to monitor for any signs of this as it’s treated as a veterinary emergency. If you have noticed that your rabbit has not eaten or passed faeces in the past 12 hours, contact us immediately.

It can occur for a number of reasons, including a change in diet, stress, dental disease, liver or kidney problems, over-grooming, dehydration, or an overload of sugar or carbohydrates.

To reduce the risk of gut stasis, we recommend the following:

• Follow any advised dietary requirements and ensure they stick to a high-fibre, hay-based diet
• Avoid overfeeding them with pellets or junk food
• Ensure that fresh water is accessible
• Groom your rabbit as often as possible
• Encourage exercise
• Limit stress-inducing environmental changes
• Introduce any dietary changes gradually and smoothly

Flystrike 

As a pet owner, it is important that you remain aware and informed about signs of flystrike and monitor your rabbit constantly, as this is an extremely serious condition.

Also known as myiasis, flystrike is most active during the warmer months due to increased fly activity, however, rabbits can be affected at any time of the year.

These flies will lay eggs onto your rabbit’s fur that soon hatch into flesh-eating maggots, resulting in life-threatening tissue damage and infection. Timely intervention is crucial, so if you believe your rabbit is suffering from flystrike, please contact us immediately – this is a veterinary emergency.

These are the measures you can take to reduce the risk of flystrike in conjunction with the regular checking of your rabbit:

Hygiene: To avoid attracting flies, clean your rabbit’s living areas and remove any damp or dirty bedding on a regular basis.

Fly control: Protect your rabbit’s home by providing a fly screen or fly trap, along with cleaning the area regularly.

Regular grooming: By keeping your rabbit’s fur clean and free of any faecal matter – especially around their rear end – the risk of flies laying their eggs is reduced.

Bunny-proofing: Protect their hutch by using very fine mesh to prevent flies entering their home, making them less susceptible to the condition.

Fly repellent: If you’re unsure of which products are safe to use around your rabbit, have a chat with our vets.

Fleas 

If you notice them scratching, licking or experiencing discomfort, these blood-sucking pests might have taken up residence on your rabbit. You can help prevent this by maintaining regular grooming and cleaning their living area. If you need help deciding on an appropriate flea treatment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Mites 

There are two different types that might come into contact with your rabbit:

Ear mites: These tiny parasites can make your pet feel extremely uncomfortable, causing itching, head shaking, and inflammation of the ears. Check your rabbit’s ears regularly for signs of ear mites, such as darkened ear wax.

Fur mites: Itching, hair loss, and inflammation of the ears are just three of the signs to watch out for, as this may indicate your rabbit is suffering from these microscopic parasites. To reduce the likelihood of them being affected, ensure you are cleaning bedding and grooming your pet regularly.

Contact our team if you suspect your rabbit is displaying any of these symptoms, and we can advise on the best possible treatment options.

Ticks 

These are parasites that feed on animal and human blood by attaching themselves to the skin, and to keep your entire household healthy, we advise checking for signs of ticks on a regular basis. If you happen to find one on your rabbit, contact us for the most effective approaches to removing them. Doing so incorrectly can result in infection, so a vet’s expertise is best.

Intestinal parasites 

The most effective preventative measure you can take to avoid intestinal parasites is good hygiene and a clean, balanced diet. To learn more about how to best avoid certain intestinal parasites in your rabbit – such as pinworms or roundworms – talk to our friendly team.

To keep your rabbit at their hoppiest, follow basic hygiene and grooming procedures and ensure their home is as clean as possible to avoid any pesky parasites – and if you do suspect they have snuck in, make sure to contact us immediately. That’s what we’re here for.

Our furry friends have an adorable pair of chompers, so it’s important to stay on top of their dental care as a pet parent, especially as dental disease is very common.

A rabbit’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and need to be consistently worn down with the correct diet, as failure to do so can result in their jaws changing position and the appearance of sore wounds in their mouth.

As you’d expect, this is incredibly painful, and some animals are reluctant to eat or starve without proper care and attention.

The most common signs and symptoms of this are:

• Lack of appetite
• Salivation
• Dropping foods when eating
• Change in attitude, such as becoming more aggressive or affectionate
• Weight loss and producing less faeces
• Hearing a grinding or clicking sound when they open or close their jaw

To help fight against dental disease and protect your pet’s oral health, we’ll perform an examination of their mouth under general anaesthesia and use specialist equipment that can file down teeth and sharp edges, or remove any if needed. Before you know it, your rabbit will be back to nibbling like normal!

We want our fur babies to live forever – and while the secret to immortality has yet to be discovered, what you can do now is keep a close eye on your rabbit’s weight.

This is particularly important as they mature, so feed them the correct diet and encourage regular exercise to prevent them becoming overweight. If you think your rabbit needs to slim down, our veterinary nurses are more than happy to help at a weight consultation. We’ll give you advice about your rabbit’s ideal body condition and tailor a special weight loss programme, and to keep them on-track, make free weight monitoring appointments every couple of months with our experienced nurses.

Book a weight consultation for your rabbit

Given they’re social butterflies, rabbits love attention and company – in the wild, other rabbits even help protect them against predators while they’re busy digging and roaming their surroundings! Nothing feels quite like home does, so try to bring these activities to them, allowing them to do what they know – and love – best.

Their personalities may differ, much like humans – from shy and timid to energetic and silly – but one thing that they have in common is their fascination with the world as they thump-thump their way into our hearts. To encourage this, make sure their cage is high – so their ears have enough room – around 1-1.5m long, and multi-layered, so they can get different perspectives on life.

Of course, even the most social creatures need time to themselves, so ensure they have a safe, secure space in their cage that mirrors their burrow in the wild, where they can switch off. When they’re ready to hop back to it, let them out of their hutch once a day to get some exercise and enhance their mental wellbeing in a rabbit-proofed area. Vitamin D is necessary for their gut health, so exposure to sunlight is important – but keep them away when it’s too hot, and be mindful of predators.

Rabbits also love working for their food – and the feeling of being rewarded – so keep them on their fluffy toes by doing the following:

• Instead of throwing that toilet or paper towel roll away, reinvent it into an opportunity for foraging by filling it with hay.
• During free-roaming, scatter pellets around for them to find – you’ll quickly see how excited they get!
• Get creative with that cardboard box you keep forgetting to put in the recycling bin and turn it onto a forage box with hidden hay and pieces of vegetables.
• Place pieces of vegetable in higher spots of their cage so they have to stretch to reach them – another benefit to high cages!