23rd April 2009

Pet Rabbits Heading for Crisis

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Latest statistics from PDSA show that over the last five years the number of dental procedures carried out on rabbits at its PetAid hospitals has almost quadrupled. Over the same period, the number of rabbits seen increased by just 35%. Most of the dental disease seen in rabbits is attributed to their poor diet.

'Despite being the UK's third most popular pet, with an estimated 1.6 million currently kept, the welfare needs of domestic rabbits are widely misunderstood by their owners,' said PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley. 'Hundreds of thousands of rabbits face an unhappy, lonely existence in cramped accommodation, whilst being fed an inappropriate diet and suffering from a range of painful diseases. We should re-evaluate the ways in which we have traditionally kept pet rabbits and start providing them with what we know they need to lead healthy and happy lives.'

This view now carries legal backing, with pets' welfare needs defined, for the first time, under the Animal Welfare Act (2006). According to the Act, owners must ensure five key needs are met:

• A suitable environment
• A suitable diet
• To be able to perform normal behaviour
• To live with, or apart from, other animals (depending on the type of animal)
• To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Sadly, rabbits frequently fail to have their welfare needs met, often through ignorance rather than deliberate neglect, as follows:

1. A suitable environment

Rabbits should have a hutch that is as large as possible. A hutch should be at least spacious enough for rabbits to do a minimum of three hops from end to end and high enough for the rabbits to stand upright on their hind legs without their ears touching the top. A good size for many rabbits is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft high.

Many rabbits, possibly over 80%, are kept in hutches that are too small. Many hutches sold for rabbits are too small.

2. A suitable diet

The commonest health problems seen in rabbits are caused by their diet.

Rabbits should be fed at least their body size in hay each day, a handful of fresh vegetables morning and evening, and one tablespoon of commercial rabbit pellets once daily for rabbits under 3.5kg, or one tablespoon twice daily for rabbits over 3.5kg.

At least one in three rabbits (and probably more) are still being fed traditional muesli-type rabbit mixes which can lead to painful dental disease. A fifth of all rabbits (more than 300,000) may not be receiving enough hay in their diet. A rabbitís diet should always be changed gradually to avoid digestive upsets.

3. To be able to perform normal behaviour

In the wild, rabbits have a home territory that can be the size of 30 tennis courts. They therefore need a large exercise run; a recommended minimum size is 8ft x 4ft x 2ft high.

As well as lots of space, they also need suitable toys and objects so that they don't get bored. They should have shelters and tubes where they can hide and feel secure, and an opportunity to dig (e.g. a planter filled with potting compost).

Half of all pet rabbits may not get daily access to an exercise run. Of those that do, the exercise run is frequently too small.

Less than half of all pet rabbits may be given toys or objects to prevent boredom.

4. To live with, or apart from, other animals

Rabbits are very sociable animals and need company from their own kind. The best combination is a neutered male and a neutered female from the same litter. Care is needed when introducing a second rabbit and it's always best to seek veterinary advice.

As many as half of all pet rabbits in the UK (800,000) may be living alone, without a companion.

5. The need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

Because they are naturally a prey species, rabbits hide signs of pain and 'suffer in silence'. They are susceptible to a number of painful and distressing medical conditions.

Less than half of all pet rabbits may be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease, two deadly but preventable rabbit diseases. PDSA saw a dramatic increase in the incidence of myxomatosis last year with vets working in the charity's facilities at Romford and Hull reporting rises of more than 300%.

Every summer rabbits are presented to veterinary surgeons with 'flystrike', a condition where rabbits have become dirty and soiled, flies lay their eggs in the dirty fur and maggots hatch out and eat the rabbit's flesh. It is important to check under the tail of rabbits at least twice a day in summer. Some cases can be associated with unhygienic living conditions, so the hutch should be cleaned out frequently.

Anne Mitchell of the Rabbit Welfare Association said, 'We totally support PDSA in raising awareness of rabbit welfare and want to encourage potential rabbit owners to think of the responsibility involved before purchasing a rabbit.'

There may be different reasons why these problems arise, but many rabbits are bought for young children without understanding that there will be a big commitment for child and parent alike to look after them properly. As many as a fifth may be bought for children under ten years old. Many of these purchases may be made on a whim, as a result of a child's 'pester power'.

Rabbits have an average lifespan of five to ten years but many live longer, so unfortunately the initial novelty of owning a rabbit may wear off. This is when rabbits can become forgotten and neglected.

Rabbits may also cost more to look after than people expect. A typical lifetime cost can be over £3,000. This money is spent on necessary things such as food, bedding, vaccinations and veterinary treatment when they become sick or injured.

Under the Animal Welfare Act (2006) it is now illegal not to meet a rabbit's five welfare needs. In addition, a child under 16 cannot have legal responsibility for an animal so the childís parent or carer commits an offence if these needs are not met.

Anyone thinking about getting a pet rabbit should find out if they are likely to be suitable for their lifestyle and circumstances by visiting PDSA's new interactive tool www.your-right-pet.org.uk. This is a novel and engaging way for both children and adults to find out about the things their rabbits would need throughout their life to be healthy and happy.

You can also hear senior veterinary surgeon Sean Wensley talk about rabbits in crisis on www.pdsa.org.uk.

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