JSPCA PRESS RELEASE

January 2007  

Help support National Rabbit Week: 22nd - 28th January 2007

Every year the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter receives many rabbits and small mammals for re-homing.  National Rabbit Week provides a wonderful opportunity to promote the correct dietary needs of rabbits, in addition to highlighting how to properly address your rabbit's health and husbandry requirements.

Most health problems found in pet rabbits are associated with basic errors of husbandry (particularly feeding), which is a welfare problem, with dental disease, gastro-intestinal problems, obesity and myiasis (“fly strike”) being all too common. Additionally, viral diseases such as Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease can cause fatal illness, while bacterial and parasitic diseases such as pasteurellosis, coccidiosis and infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi are a particular problem in breeding and other large colonies of rabbits. 

Channel 103 will kindly be supporting the JSPCA Animals' Shelter in promoting National Rabbit Week and encouraging rabbit owners to visit the Animals' Shelter to pick up information leaflets about rabbit care, including details on nutrition, neutering and the unfortunately very common problem of "fly strike" in rabbits, which is a very unpleasant and distressing condition that can usually occurs in the warmer summer months and can have serious, sometimes even fatal, consequences for rabbits.

Owner education about the needs of rabbits kept as pets is still vital.

    

The most important aspects of every pet rabbit is its health and nutrition and the purpose of National Rabbit week is to highlight common problems seen in pet rabbits, such as dental problems, obesity and poor nutrition.

Feeding Rabbits:

One of the most important factors contributing to the health and welfare of domestic rabbits is their husbandry, and their nutrition.  A poor diet is one of the most common reasons for domestic pet rabbits becoming ill, often occurring through the owner’s lack of knowledge and understanding.  It is estimated that there are between 1.6 and 2 million pet rabbits in the UK and of these pet rabbits, in the UK alone, approximately 80% of are not being fed correctly. 

Approximately 75% of pet rabbits seen by vets are diagnosed with dental problems.  Uneven dental wear can cause the formation of molar spurs, which are sharp points on the edges of the molars that can scrape and damage the tongue and cheek, causing the rabbit pain and irritation and often preventing the rabbit from eating.  Dental disease caused by an improper diet may not be evident for years; rabbits with dental disease attributed to poor nutrition usually present at three years of age or older. If the diet is not quickly corrected, advanced dental disease can occur.

By correcting a rabbit's nutrition, many of the commonly encountered health problems can be subsequently prevented.

Many common health problems in pet rabbits are often unknowingly caused by incorrect feeing.  A healthy diet for a pet rabbit should mimic the diet of his wild relative, the wild rabbit.  The rabbit is a herbivore.  Daily access to a large outdoor run on a grass lawn offers the rabbit the opportunity to graze, hence retaining the benefits of a grass-based diet.  However, with many rabbits now enjoying a house rabbit lifestyle, it is important that all rabbit owners understand how to feed their pet properly.

The rabbit's diet should include dried food, meadow hay, fresh vegetables and water.  Feed only a small amount of rabbit mix or pellets, about a handful a day per medium sized rabbit.  Offer at least two cups of different vegetables a day and smaller amounts of carrot and fruit, as they are high in sugar.  Good quality hay should make up to 75% of a rabbit's daily diet, as it is essential as a source of roughage, alongside plenty of fresh water; a good handful of hay and access to water should be available at all times.

Hay is vital for healthy rabbits!

Unlimited access to good quality hay (sweet smelling, with minimal dust) should be the basis of a healthy diet for all pet rabbits.  Hay not only meets the rabbits basic nutritional requirements, but it helps to keep rabbits occupied, reducing boredom and hence helping to prevent some behavioural problems.  Hay is necessary for ensuring the rabbit has strong, healthy teeth and jaws and also provides the correct type of fibre needed to maintain healthy gut movements.  

Even if your rabbit is fed a 'complete' rabbit food, it should have constant access to good quality hay.

Always remember that the bulk of a rabbit's diet should consist of hay.  This should be complemented with a large selection of leafy greens and vegetables (such as kale and cabbage) and a small amount of commercial rabbit mix or pellets.  You should not cut out the commercial pelleted foods altogether as these do provide important nutrients for the rabbit.

Any changes in a rabbit's diet must be made slowly.  If you feed rabbit mix, it must be completely eaten, otherwise the diet may become unbalanced.  If your rabbit is a fussy eater, consider switching to a pelleted product.

Obesity is a serous, and unfortunately common, health hazard to rabbits.  Ask your veterinary surgeon for feeding advice when you take your rabbit for his vaccinations and health check.  Remember, if your rabbit stops eating for more than 24 hours, take him to your local veterinary surgery, even if there appears to be no other problem, as there could be a serious health problem developing.

Coprophagy:

You may see your rabbit eating his own soft droppings (caecoliths).  These are rich in valuable nutrients the rabbit needs to stay healthy.  This process is known as coprophagy and is a normal activity in all rabbits.

The hard dry droppings the rabbit produces are waste products, but rabbits also normally produce dark, shiny pellets called caecotrophs or caecoliths.  These are normally eaten directly from the anus ("coprophagy") and you do not often see them.  If you start noticing that your rabbit is producing lots of caecoliths, which are remaining lying in the hutch and not being eaten, there may be a possible problem.  Possible causes include obesity, reduced mobility and dental disease, but dietary problems are by far the most common.  Contact your local veterinary surgery for advice.

Remember:

Neutering rabbits:

Keeping an animal is a big responsibility.  It is important to be completely aware of the extra responsibilities that owning an animal will involve, such as obtaining veterinary treatment for the animal if it becomes sick or injured and arranging for it to be properly cared for while you are away from home.  Neutering is another big responsibility that all rabbit owners must recognise, so as to ultimately help reduce the number of unwanted animals and pets.

Neutering is a routine surgical procedure, which involves removing the animal's reproductive organs and hence its capacity to breed.  Female animals are 'spayed' and male animals are 'castrated'.

Rabbits can reproduce faster than dogs or cats therefore it is very important to consider neutering pet rabbits.  Neutered rabbits:

Male rabbits (bucks):  male rabbits can be neutered as soon as the testicles descend (at ten to twelve weeks of age), but it is recommended to contact your veterinary surgery for advice on the actual timing of the operation and the general procedure.

Female rabbits (does): Neutered females are likely to live longer lives than their non neutered sisters.  Up to 80% of un-neutered female rabbits develop uterine cancer by the age of 5 years.  Female rabbits can be neutered from 4-6 months of age, but it is recommended to contact your veterinary surgery for advice on spaying rabbits and the actual timing of the operation.

For more information about rabbits, including house rabbits, house-training rabbits and mixing and introducing rabbits, visit the "Animal information" section of this website.

ENDS