RABBIT CARE
Rabbits require a proper diet to stay healthy. Please review the recommendations to keep your new rabbit happy and healthy.
DIET
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Rabbits require a specialized diet of hay, pellets, greens and fresh water.
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Timothy hay for adults should make up 85% of their diet followed by a serving of fresh greens roughly 10% then a high quality pellet like Martin Mills Little Friends or Oxbow given by weight. Most rabbits do not need more than 1/4 cup of pellets once a day.
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Remember that carrots and fruit should be limited and only given as treats.
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Young bunnies under 8 months of age need alfalfa based pellets and hay to help them grow. Once they reach 6-9 months switch to a timothy based hay and pellet as directed by your veterinarian. Larger Breed rabbits should stay on alfalfa based pellets longer for proper development.
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Pellets should not contain any cereal treats or seeds as these are not safe for rabbits to digest.
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Any treats that contain dairy, honey and seeds are not safe and can cause intestinal upset. They should not be fed to your rabbit. Most Pet Store toys are not safe. Rabbits do not need salt licks or mineral sticks. These are a marketing gimmick
HEALTH
Rabbits require yearly exams, that includes their booster vaccine for RHDV2.
Rabbits teeth never stop growing, having a rabbit savvy vet is necessary to ensure proper dental care.
Rabbits need enrichment. Chew toys, daily exercise and attention are all beneficial for a happy rabbit. They are social animals, and adopting rabbits in pairs is ideal.
Bunny-proofing is a must to prevent injuries. Rabbits naturally chew and dig. Wires are always enticing for rabbits, but they are very dangerous. Hiding wires and items that they should not chew on are essential to keeping your rabbit safe.
Houseplants are also dangerous and most are toxic to pets. They need to be kept away from your rabbit. *Some rabbits may chew baseboards or wood furniture, please be aware of this before committing to adoption.
Spaying and Neutering
Reproductive cancers are very common in unaltered rabbits. Both male and female rabbits are at risk. Spaying and neutering your rabbits will help to prevent cancer.
Behaviour issues are very common in unaltered rabbits due to hormones. Spraying urine, litter box issues, circling feet, aggression and being destructive are all typically associated with hormones. Unneutered male urine is very fragrant! You can eliminate litter box odours by neutering.
Prevent accidental litters! Rabbits can reproduce as soon as they are sexually mature, sometimes as early as 4 months of age! They have large litters every 28-30 days as female rabbits are induced ovulators. That means they can get pregnant the day the give birth!
Of course not to mention that there are many wonderful rabbits already waiting for forever homes in rescues.
VET CARE
Having a Rabbit Savvy Vet is absolutely necessary. Most vets do not see rabbits as they are considered exotic animals.
Any time a rabbit stops eating or pooping it is an emergency and you must go to a savvy vet.
Rabbits need yearly exams, just like a cat or dog. They have ever growing teeth. An exotic vet will examine the rear teeth to monitor any abnormalities. Rabbits also require a yearly vaccine for RHDV2.
Locally we recommend:
Dr. Kate Sweetman
Downtown Veterinary Hospital
154 Tuscarora St.
Windsor ON
519-258-9963
Dr. Quinn
Fort Malden Animal Hospital
280 Sandwich St. Amherstburg ON
519-736-6472
Dr. Cockburn
Dr. Horsman
Walker Road Animal Hospital 24 hr
3577 Walker Road
Windsor, ON
519-972-9000
In Michigan:
Dr. Golombek
Berkely Animal Hospital
3996 12 Mile Rd
Berkley, MI 48072
Phone: 248.545.4933
Grooming Services
Our own Volunteer Tiffany, an RVT offers in home nail trims and grooming. Available on Saturday's and Sunday's Only in Essex County
Contact: tmartini88@outlook.com
VACCINE FOR RHDV2
RHDV2, Rabbit Hemoraghic Virus is a highly contagious and often fatal virus that affects both wild and domestic rabbits. It spreads easily on fabric, car tires, and other materials. The only prevention is to vaccinate. There is no treatment.
HOUSING
Many rabbits do well as free roam rabbits with some safety measures put in place. Rabbits do like to chew wires so all wires should be hidden or covered prior to your new rabbit coming home. Houseplants are often toxic and should not be in the home or safely out of reach.
If you prefer to keep a home base set up for your rabbit, X pens work well as do bunny condos. You want a minimum height of 30-36 inches high. They give enough space for your rabbit to exercise while they are waiting for free time. All rabbits should have at least 4 hrs. of supervised play time outside of their pen.
Pet Store rabbit cages and hutches DO NOT provide enough room.