Like all of us, you are what you eat and when you're a rabbit designed to be grazing grass all day your diet is extremely important to ensure that your guts are working properly.
Most people over feed on the nice muesli or pellets, but the most important part of the diet for your rabbit if FIBRE.
Print out a feeding pyramid here and check that you are feeding your rabbit properly.
There are 2 deadly infections that you can have your rabbit vaccinated against. These are Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease. Nowadays there is one vaccine that covers for them both for 1 year and can be given to your rabbit from the age of 5 weeks.
If your rabbit is grazing outside in your garden then we would recommend that you get them vaccinated.
Rabbit Myxo RHD vaccine costs £26.17 per rabbit including your health and weight check.
Male rabbits
Male rabbits (bucks) make
responsive pets, but have the same
drawbacks as tom cats if they're not
castrated. Most are territorial and
frequently spray urine, and aggression is
a common problem. They will also have to live
alone, which isn't fair on an animal that needs
company.
Neutered males are much happier and more relaxed. They
can enjoy life without constantly looking for a mate and
are less aggressive and smelly! Nearly all neutered males
will stop spraying urine even if the operation is performed
later in life.
Castration can be
performed when the rabbit is 4 or 5 months
old.
Female rabbits
Having female rabbits (does) spayed is even more
important. Most females become territorial and aggressive
from sexual maturity onwards (4-6 months). They have
repeated false pregnancies, and may growl at, scratch and bite their owners as well as attacking other
rabbits. Keeping two females together - even if
they are sisters - can make things worse.
Spaying reduces and sometimes eliminates these
behavioural problems. Spayed females are likely to live
longer then their unspayed sisters. Up to 80% of unspayed
female rabbits develop uterine cancer by 5 years of age.
Females who are not spayed when young and in good health may
have to undergo the operation in later life if a pyometra (uterine
infection) or cancer develops, although usually it is too late and
the cancer has already spread.
Spaying is a bigger operation than castration. We usually performed it when the rabbit is at least 4 or 5 months old. The uterus and both ovaries are removed via the abdomen, and stitches are usually dissolving.
Is it safe?
In the past, rabbits gained a reputation for being difficult to
anaesthetise, but the risks of rabbit anaesthesia have fallen
significantly in recent years.
However, low risk does not mean no risk. Surgery on any animal
can have unexpected complications. But for most rabbits the
benefits of neutering far outweigh the very small risk.
How much does it cost?
As a very rough guide, expect to pay £70 -90 for a male rabbit to
be castrated and £80-100 to spay a female.
Pre-operative care
Bring your rabbit for a check up well before the operation date to discuss the procedure. Don't change the diet in the
week or so before surgery. Rabbits can't vomit, so they don't
need to be fasted before surgery. They should be offered food
and water right up to the time of surgery and as soon as they
wake up so bring a snack with them for later.
Post operative care
Your rabbit should be awake, alert and preferably eating when
you collect it after surgery. They will have had pain relief but will require to be kept warm and carefully observed during the first evening home.
If your rabbit is running about in a pen outside and digging etc usually they keep their own nails pretty trim. if you have a house rabbit though sometimes they require their nails to be trimmed - usually once or twice a year.
We provide this service at all of our clinics and it costs between £5 - £10 per rabbit.
Lots of great advice leaflets available for download ranging through general health, disease, behaviour and top tips for coat care.
How to get to us >
We currently operate three surgeries in the Scottish Borders. Find out which one is the nearest to you and how to get there.
