Getting ready for your baby rabbit’s arrival with Alpha Vets
August 21, 2022
If a baby bunny rabbit is your idea of an excellent new addition to your home, then you are in for a treat. Rabbits can make great pets and caring for youngsters can be a rewarding experience, but one that’s not without effort and responsibility.
If you’re looking to bring a new bunny home, there are a few basics to consider beforehand, so our Vet Darren Partridge has compiled a checklist to guide you.
Book your rabbit’s first health check
If you still have questions after reading the advice, please don’t hesitate to contact Alpha Vets and our friendly team will be happy to answer them.
Baby rabbit advice
When to bring a bunny home
If you’re getting a baby rabbit they will need to have been weaned, so you shouldn’t get one that’s less than eight weeks old. At this stage they should be eating pretty much the same diet as a mature rabbit (mostly hay and pellets) but as their digestive systems are still maturing it’s best not to make any sudden changes to their diet.
Companionship
Rabbits are sociable creatures and like the company of their own kind, so it’s wise to think about getting two. A neutered male and a neutered female rabbit make the ideal pairing and you should look for rabbits of a similar age so they can relate to each other more easily. You can introduce other combinations of neutered pets slowly, but not all rabbits will get on. Rescue centres in and around Greater London are a great place to start looking for new pet rabbits.
Space
Rabbits need quite a lot of space to run and jump around in, so a good-sized pen is necessary, along with a cosy hutch for them to snuggle into. They also like to burrow, so it’s a good idea to provide a tray filled with dirt for them to get their claws into. Make sure your rabbits cannot burrow out of their hutch or run, or you could have some escape attempts to deal with!
Health
All rabbits should be vaccinated against myxomatosis and both strains of viral haemorrhagic disease (R-VHD1 and R-VHD2), which are nearly always fatal. Make an appointment to get this done at their 1st health check and to discuss neutering, which is also recommended. Rabbits can also be susceptible to fly-strike in hot weather, so they must be regularly checked, and their hutches (and them) kept clean and dry.
House rabbits
If you’re thinking of keeping your rabbits as house pets, do take extra care to make all cabling secure and put all houseplants out of reach in case they are toxic to rabbits.
We hope Darren’s checklist helps as a very basic guide, and of course you can always pop into Alpha Vets or contact us on 0208 943 2303 for further information.
If you’ve found your new baby (or adult) rabbit companions and are bringing them home soon, we can’t wait to meet them! Book their 1st health check with our team now.
