Rabbit Health and Wellbeing

Keeping rabbits healthy
151 Pins
·
1y
By
RWAF
and
Ros Lamb
two women in a kitchen petting a cat on a pink towel that is sitting on a counter
Rabbit Health Checks 🐰🩺
With the new year being a timely reminder for most of us, have you remembered your rabbits’ health check-up? 🐰🩺 If you haven’t, now is the time to book in a health check with a rabbit savvy vet and make sure your rabbits are up to date with all their vaccinations! Need help finding a rabbit savvy vet? 🧑‍⚕️ Hop on over to our website for an extensive list of RWAF recommended vets.
a close up of a cat with its eyes closed
Can Rabbits Catch Colds? 🤧
Rabbits can’t catch colds, but they can get ‘snuffles’ which is a lot more serious. Rabbits with snuffles develop cold-like symptoms, such as runny eyes and nose and coughing and sneezing. If you notice these symptoms, then you must consult a rabbit-friendly vet immediately as it is very contagious to other rabbits. This can be treated with antibiotics, but it is vitally important to wipe away the mucus, disinfect everything your sick rabbit has been in contact with, and keep them warm.
a small rabbit sitting on top of a blue surface
Pain Prevention in Rabbits
Rabbits are a prey animal, which means they often hide signs of pain and distress. So how can we be aware of when they are in pain? The best method of pain prevention is spending time with your rabbits so you can instantly recognise any unusual or out of character behaviour. Also, delicately check your rabbits for matted fur, sticky bottoms, or physical injuries. Please do not let them suffer in silence and wait until it’s too late!
three rabbits sitting next to each other in front of a white background with one rabbit looking at the camera
Hoppy #InternationalRabbitDay!! 🥳🎉🐰
For us, every day is International Rabbit Day! 💁‍♂️ For pet rabbits to lead hoppy and healthy lives, they need to have 5 essential rabbit welfare requirements. These are: A suitable environment 🏡, behaviour and enrichment 🐰, companionship 👯, a healthy diet 🌿, and regular health checks and vaccinations 🩺. Each welfare requirement is just as important as every other, and every rabbit owner must take responsibility to ensure each requirement is met. To read more, please visit our website.
a rabbit is being examined by a doctor
Rabbit Welfare Requirement 5: Health 🧑‍⚕️🩺
Unbeknown to many, rabbits require annual vaccinations! There are many diseases that can be fatal to your buns, so keeping them up to date on their vaccinations is a welfare must! As rabbits are classed as exotic animals, checking-in with a rabbit savvy vet is also important. We have a list of quality standard rabbit savvy vet practices on our website to find one near you.
two rabbits are sitting in the grass together
Rabbit Welfare Requirement 3: Companionship 👯‍♀️
While everybun loves a nice home and plenty of activities, it’s no fun alone! Rabbits are very social animals and should always have a compatible companion to share their life with 💞 Bonding bunnies is known to ease stress and depression, but finding a suitable mate can take time, so please take care to bond your buns with neutered partners 🐰💘🐰
a rabbit sitting in the grass next to two bowls with food inside it and one bunny sticking its tongue out
Don’t let the heat be bunbearable! 🐰🌡🥵
Just like us, your rabbits need to keep hydrated in the hot weather, so please make sure to provide your buns with plenty of clean, fresh water so they can stay cool and hydrated 💧 Even though many rabbit owners will have water bottles, it’s always best to give your rabbits a water bowl too as they can access more water that way. Sometimes your buns might lie in their water bowl to cool off, so always remember to check regularly to see if they need a top up!
a poster with the words say no to flystike in front of a blue background
Preventing Flystrike 🐰🪰
Flystrike is an awful disease that is extremely painful for your buns and can be fatal. However, it can be prevented. Flies are attracted by faeces, urine and rotting foods, so make sure to check your rabbits’ bottoms regularly and ensure their housing is clean. Although Flystrike can occur any time of the year, it’s especially common during the summer when the weather is hot and flies abundant. When it comes to Flystrike, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
a black rabbit eating grass in a cage
Myxomatosis Prevention 🐰💉🦟
Myxomatosis is a severe viral rabbit disease which can be fatal. Every rabbit is at risk so preventative measures should be taken. Myxi is spread through direct contact with infected rabbits as well as fleas, mosquitos, and mites that have bitten an infected rabbit 🦟 Annual vaccinations against Myxi are essential. While they cannot guarantee 100% protection, vaccinated rabbits with Myxi usually survive, whereas unvaccinated rabbits nearly always die. Please, get your rabbits vaccinated 💉
a rabbit is being examined by a doctor
Do I need to get my indoor rabbits vaccinated? 🤔💉
The bottom line: Yes. Just because your rabbits don’t live outdoors doesn’t mean they cannot contract infections and diseases. Bacteria and parasites can be tracked indoors through our shoes, other pets, and insects. This risk increases during the summer months as we spend more time outdoors, there are more insects about, and our windows are open. Please don’t take the risk and always get your rabbits vaccinated 🩺
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two small rabbits sitting in a pink bowl
How can you tell if your rabbits have a healthy digestive system?
What’s the best way to tell if your rabbits have a healthy digestive system? The proof is in the poop 💩 No, really! Check out our website to learn more!
a small rabbit sitting in the corner of a wooden structure with hay on it's floor
Introduce Rabbit Breeding Legislation
There is currently no rabbit breeding legislation in the UK, which means that there are no welfare regulations in place for rabbit breeders. This means that rabbits are subject to suffering in unbearable conditions, bred solely for profit. Please help us change this by signing and sharing our petition. Thank you.
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Don’t worry, be hoppy! 😄
What is it that makes your buns binky? A hoppy rabbit should have; 🐰 A healthy hay-rich diet (85% hay, 10% greens & 5% pellets); 🐰 Access to plenty of space and exercise at all times; 🐰 Lots of enrichment activities; 🐰 Companionship with other neutered rabbits; 🐰 Regular health checks and vaccinations.
We can easily look after the physical health of our pet rabbits, but how can we take care of their mental health? There are many factors that contribute to the mental health of your rabbits. Providing the right diet, companionship and environment are all essential to making sure that they can inhabit their natural behaviours and lead happy, healthy lives. Read up on how you can help improve your rabbits’ mental wellbeing on our website. Best Of Friends
Rabbit Mental Health
We can easily look after the physical health of our pet rabbits, but how can we take care of their mental health? There are many factors that contribute to the mental health of your rabbits. Providing the right diet, companionship and environment are all essential to making sure that they can inhabit their natural behaviours and lead happy, healthy lives. Read up on how you can help improve your rabbits’ mental wellbeing on our website.