RABBITS
Flystrike advice
Flystrike is a term given to a disease where blowflies (bluebottles and greenbottles) lay their eggs on a rabbits’ body. Generally, we think of this happening when rabbits have dirty bottoms, but that doesn't always have to be the case. The flies will lay their eggs anywhere where they are attracted to a smell of…
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Fleas and rabbits
Wild rabbits and Myxomatosis Fleas are important in the spread of Myxomatosis in wild rabbits. The virus is ingested by the feeding flea and transmitted to another rabbit, which then becomes infected when the flea feeds. Although cases have been reported, generally pet rabbits are less at risk. If you live in the countryside, your…
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Why is my rabbit sneezing?
Rabbit snuffles We are used to humans with their coughs and colds. However, if a rabbit presents with an upper respiratory tract infection it is invariably a serious bacterial condition in need of antibiotics. You may notice some or all of the following symptoms: Sneezing/ coughing Snoring sound when breathing Watery or sore eyes Discharge…
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Skin problems in rabbits
What is normal for a bunny’s skin and coat? The skin and coat of a rabbit should look clean, sleek and even shiny. With long haired fluffy breeds it can be less easy to spot a skin problem, but the coat should still look healthy. Brushing rabbits regularly is a great idea as it enables…
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Dental problems to look out for in your rabbit's teeth
What is special about rabbit’s teeth? The layout of a rabbit's teeth is unique, and similar only to other lagomorphs such as hares. Rabbits have 28 teeth and these are usually divided into two groups: the incisors and the cheek teeth. The cheek teeth are often called premolars and molars, although there are no differences…
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How to exercise your rabbit during winter
Rabbits in the wild lead very active lives. They are constantly nibbling grass, hopping, running about, jumping and of course burrowing! Anyone keeping a pet rabbit should give their bunny a suitable space and environment to exercise so they can do all of these things in captivity. Top tips on how to exercise your rabbit …
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Body condition scoring your rabbit
Why is it important to keep your rabbit in good shape and a healthy weight? At least a quarter of all pet rabbits are thought to be obese. Overweight rabbits suffer from a variety of serious health risks, including not being able to clean themselves or reach their bottoms to eat their caecotrophs. This in…
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Taking care of your senior rabbit
Rabbits come in many shapes and sizes and age differently, so when a rabbit is said to be “senior” isn’t set in stone. Some rabbits may show signs of ageing sooner than others, and therefore individual rabbits should be assessed rather than categorising on age alone. The smaller breeds such as the Netherlands Dwarf or…
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Preparing your rabbit for autumn
As the nights draw in and the leaves start to change colour, it is a reminder to all rabbit owners to prepare for the winter months ahead. Autumn can be a beautiful season, but it can also be very damp, windy and cold. Even though extreme, snowy weather usually doesn’t hit us until after Christmas,…
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History of rabbits
We love our rabbits today, we even let them live in our homes with us! Let’s find out how rabbits came into our lives as pets. History of rabbits through the ages All the wild rabbits in this country and all the 305 global rabbit breeds have descended from the European rabbit. Recent research has…
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