Easter is nearly upon us, and having seen a few posters reminding people that bunnies are not toys, I thought it would be good to compile some bunny welfare facts that you may not know.
1) You cannot keep rabbits alone.
I’ll be honest, until speaking to @philovesophist, who works as a vet with a special interest in rabbits, I did not know how few people are actually aware of this. You cannot just have one solitary rabbit. They get lonely, and believe it or not, your companionship is not enough for them.
2) It is incredibly important you spay a female rabbit you don’t intend to let reproduce.
Rabbits are very fertile. An un-spayed, fertile, female has about an 80% chance of developing uterine or ovarian cancer. Your female hasn’t developed it, you say? You’re the lucky 20% and that’s not an excuse. In addition to the myriad of health problems, a female rabbit that is fertile but isn’t being impregnated can turn into a rabbit from hell, showing violent and aggressive behavior. It is also important that they do not get a partial spay. They need everything removed.
While males do not carry the same risks as a female, studies have shown that neutering them increases life expectancy.
3) Rabbits are considered “exotics” and not just any vet is able to treat a rabbit.
While rabbits may seem like common pets to you, just like cats and dogs, from a veterinary point of view, they are considered exotics. Treating them requires special equipment and special training; equipment not every vet has and training not every vet gets. You absolutely need to check out vets in your area and see which are able to handle your rabbits’ needs.
4) Carrots are not the only thing you should feed your rabbit, and you should never feed them pellets.
Pellets are a high risk food for rabbits, leading to a myriad of problems, including obesity, dental disease, soft stool, periodic refusal to eat, heart and liver disease, calcification of blood vessels, and bladder and kidney stones.
So what does your rabbit need? Loads of fresh hay, and grass. Did you know your rabbit needs no less than 3 different types of greens every day? Acceptable greens include but are not limited to: broccoli, dandelions (both the flower and the leaves), celery, leaf lettuce, brussel sprouts, water cress, and kale.
5) Those tiny cages they sell in pet shops are nowhere near adequate to their needs.
Because rabbits are not supposed to be kept alone, and most cages are designed for singular rabbits, the sizes are far too small for rabbits. The bare minimum of what a rabbit should have is 6 times their size when they are completely stretched out. That’s per rabbit, and again, that’s the bare minimum. Good animal welfare is going above the bare minimum.
In addition they should ideally have plenty of time spent outside on the fresh grass. It’s a great way for them to take in a part of the greens they need for the day and get exercise. A small dog play pen or baby crate is a great way to keep them enclosed with adequate space.
6) Rabbits live more than just a couple years and are every bit as much a long term commitment as a dog or cat.
A rabbit kept in optimal conditions can live 8-12 years! They last through Easter and they are living, breathing animals that require love and care and work just like any other pet.
Before acquiring rabbits, please do the necessary research. They are not a novelty item.