Rabbits are popular pets and as they are highly intelligent and have great personalities, it can be very rewarding to welcome one into your family – ideally along with a bunny friend to keep them company as they are very sociable animals, says veterinary nurse Sarah Cottle.
While rabbits do make great pets, it’s important to be aware that they need lots of care and attention to keep them happy and healthy, including a suitable diet, regular grooming and exercise.
Just like cats and dogs they’ll also need regular veterinary care, including annual check-ups to ensure they stay in tip-top condition – your local vet practice will be able to help you access all the advice you need and some may offer special rabbit health clinics.
Here are some interesting pet rabbit facts that you may not have heard…
Rabbit’s teeth are always growing
Rabbit’s teeth are open rooted and grow continuously – they can grow up to 3mm a week! Feeding the right diet, which is high in fibre, is crucial to keep teeth worn down and prevent overgrowth and the health complications this causes.
Rabbits have a very delicate skeleton
Rabbits have lots of muscle, but a very delicate skeleton which can be easily damaged. This means that handling them correctly is essential to avoid serious injury.
Always hold your rabbit gently but firmly – cradle them against your body and use one hand to support their back and quarters. Keeping your rabbit at a healthy weight will allow them to stay active and will promote healthy joints.
Rabbits can’t vomit or burp
Rabbits can’t be sick or burp, meaning the only way for food or gas to make its way through their digestive tract is via the intestines and out of their bottom. Rabbits are hindgut fermenters, meaning they use a huge vat of healthy bacteria in their guts to help them digest fibre. These bacteria are very susceptible to changes in diet, and eating toxic or inappropriate foods can cause these healthy bacteria to die.
Similarly, the inability to burp means that if a rabbit gets a problem, such as a blockage in their digestive tract, gas may start to build-up that can’t escape by burping and instead maybecome trapped in the stomach, causing a dangerous condition known as bloat.
In both of these instances, the rabbit can become seriously unwell and will need urgent veterinary care.
Rabbits produce two types of poo – and eat one of them!
Rabbits produce both firm poo and softer night poos known as ‘caecotrophs’, which are usually eaten in the early morning. The caecotrophs are slimy droppings and you won’t normally see them in your rabbit’s hutch or litter tray as they are usually eaten as they are passed. This process is very important for the absorption of vitamins and nutrients.
If a rabbit is overweight, the process becomes difficult as they will struggle to reach their bottom to eat the soft droppings. This increases the risk of the rabbit getting a sticky, dirty bottom and suffering from fly strike (where flies lay eggs around the rabbit’s bottom that develop into maggots), especially during the warmer months.
Our sister title BBC Wildlife magazine takes a look at just how wild is your pet rabbit?
Learn more rabbit facts including how a wild rabbit differs to a hare and why rabbits have such long ears
If you have any questions or are concerned about your rabbit’s health, please reach out to your local veterinary practice for further support.
Qualified veterinary nurse Sarah Cottle is nursing team leader at Beechwood Veterinary Group in Leeds.
Beechwood Veterinary Group is part of VetPartners, a UK and European veterinary group, which includes first opinion practices for large animals, equine and small animals as well as a growing network of referral practices that offer specialist care for small animal and equine patients.