Rabbit Care:

                 In order to keep your rabbit in the best possible condition, you will need to  handle him daily,  check him over for signs of illness and injuries. Rabbits, unlike many animals, have a tendency to "suffer in silence".
They may be very sick, but unless you are looking for specific symptoms, you may not realise he is ill until he is very ill.

This daily check list will help you spot signs of trouble or illness early enough for the vets intervention and treatment of the problem.

Daily Check List:

                  To make sure your rabbit is healthy and doing well, carefully check the following every day.

Water Bottle.

                       Check your bunnies drinking water. A bunny that is not drinking water, is almost certainly not eating either. This is a danger sign that you need to investigate more thoroughly. Make sure he has clean, fresh, cool water at all times, especially during the hot summer months. Also, make sure that the water bottle is not leaking, or  blocked.

Food Dish.

              One of the first signs that a bunny is sick is that he stops eating, Check the food dish every day, check around and underneath to make sure that your bunny had eaten his food and not just thrown it around.   Never top up the half-full food dish. As it becomes stale very fast, and moulds and toxins can build up which can be very harmful to rabbit's.

Hay.
                 Always maintain a fresh supply of Quality hay such as Supreme Hay for your bunny, remove any left from the previous day. Always store your hay in dry conditions as damp hay goes mouldy very quickly and must not be fed to your bunny.

Fresh vegetables.
                 Feed your bunny fresh greens, but remember everything in moderation, what seems like a little to us is a lot for a bunny.
Cauliflower Heads, a few leaves, carrots, celery, dandelion leaves, brussel sprouts leaves, Kale and Herbs like Coriander and Parsley is good for lactating does as it will increase their milk yield. Cabbage may be fed in small amounts but it sometimes causes upset Tums.
Never Feed :
                 Lettuce……………………………. is poisonous to Rabbits.
                 Runner Beans & Leaves…………. are Poisonous to Rabbits.
                 Rhubarb Leaves…………………..are Poisonous to Rabbits.

General  posture.

               Take a good look at your bunny. Does he look bright and alert, or is he just sitting around in a listless sort of way. Is he relaxed,  hunched up, or grinding his teeth. Is your bunny behaving the way he usually does?

Many experienced rabbit owners will tell you the first sign that they have of  illness is: "the rabbit just didn't act the same".

Eye condition.

                        A healthy bunny has bright, alert eyes. Watery eyes, eyes with lots of redness, and pus  are all signs of an eye infection that needs veterinary attention. Dull eyes indicate that the rabbit isn't feeling well, and you need to investigate further to determine the cause.

Ear condition.
                       Look in your bunnies ears. Are there signs of a wax build-up or a grey-black debris? If so, the rabbit needs to be checked for ear-mite, and treated if needed. Redness and signs of infection need to be looked at by your vet .

Previous Page

Next Page