21st January 2007

Look After Your Own Peter Rabbit

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As the UK goes hopping mad for rabbits this month with the release of the Beatrix Potter movie, it's also time for National Rabbit Week, which aims to make sure rabbits are being properly fed and cared for, without the need to break into Mr MacGregor's garden.

Rabbits are now the third most popular British pet and it is estimated that there are between 1.6 and 2 million pet rabbits in the UK. However, at least 80 percent of rabbits are not being fed correctly, which is one of the main contributing factors to pets becoming ill and suffering dental problems.

With this in mind, Burgess Supafeeds and Panacur Rabbit have joined forces with the Rabbit Welfare Association, the Rabbit Welfare Fund and the British Rabbit Council to launch National Rabbit Week, which will focus on the importance of correctly managing a rabbit's diet, the dental problems owners should be aware of and steps that should be taken to prevent these problems occurring.

National Rabbit Week runs from Monday 22 January and culminates with the biggest event of the rabbit lover's calendar, the Bradford Excel Small Livestock Show on 27 and 28 January 2007 at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

During National Rabbit Week, veterinary surgeries around the country will be carrying out free 'healthy hopper' MOTs for rabbits and educational evenings for owners. For further information call 0800 413 969 or visit www.nationalrabbitweek.co.uk.

"Poor nutrition is a continuing threat to the health and wellbeing of pet rabbits," comments celebrity vet, Matt Brash. "And with one top rabbit vet reporting that 90% of pet rabbits on mixed rations suffer from problems that are dietary related, it is essential that rabbit owners are aware of the implications of an inadequate diet. National Rabbit Week aims to educate rabbit owners on the importance of good nutrition to the overall wellbeing of their pets."

Of the 2 million pet rabbits in the UK, it is estimated that 30 percent are obese, possibly due to their sedentary life as domestic pets, compared to their life in the wild. On top of this, at least 80 percent of rabbits in the UK are not being fed correctly. One of the most common reasons for rabbits becoming ill is a poor diet, often lacking essential components such as forage.

Vets say that a huge 75 percent of the rabbits they see are diagnosed with dental problems. Rabbits' teeth grow continuously by about 2-3mm a week and whilst in the wild gnawing on rough vegetation wears them down, many domestic rabbits don't get the opportunity to do this and their teeth often need to be filed down by a vet. A rabbit's nails may also need to be clipped if the rabbit doesn't get enough exercise. Rabbits usually live to about seven or eight years old, but many live over 10 years, so that could be a lot of visits to the vet.

As well as making them overweight, rabbits who do not get enough exercise commonly suffer from osteoporosis. This disease can also be the result of a diet low in calcium.

It's not that rabbits are fussy eaters – their natural love of raw vegetables should make them some of the healthiest eaters around. A rabbit chews 120 times a minute and has 17,000 tastebuds. That's 7,000 more than humans and 15,000 more than dogs. It’s just that when a rabbit is kept in a hutch and not allowed to forage, graze and hop about, their natural instincts are not met and they can quickly become ill.

Seven steps to a healthy bunny

• It is essential that rabbits have enough space to hop around, both in their hutch and in the garden. Hutches can never be too big; the minimum size for the average rabbit is 5ft wide x 2ft high x 2ft deep. The ideal is to provide a permanent enclosure with suitable shelter, so they have access to unlimited exercise at their will. If you get a small hutch when your rabbit is a baby, you must remember that you will need to buy a bigger one, as your rabbit grows. When it comes to space, your rabbit just can't have too much!
• In the wild, rabbits spend their time hopping around the countryside. Exercise is very important for rabbits, and so if you can't provide a permanent enclosure with a run, then you must allow your rabbit a separate run to the hutch in the garden, which must be at least 8ft x 4ft x 2 ft high. Your rabbit should have at least 4 hours every day in the run so he can hop around quite happily. You also need to make sure this is secure and that shade is provided in hot weather
• Rabbits need companionship, so if your rabbit is kept in a hutch or permanent enclosure in the garden, the ideal is to find your rabbit a friend. The best combination is a male and a female, but you need to ensure that both have been neutered and their introduction should be done carefully and under supervision. There are countless rabbits in rescue centres across the country waiting for new homes. Many centres offer an 'introduction' service to see how your bunny gets on with a potential friend. Most rabbits love to bond with their owners and love affection so you also need to be able to spend time with your rabbit every day.
• Wild rabbits have the whole world to keep them occupied: foraging for food, hopping over logs, digging and burrowing in soil and nibbling on tree bark, to mention a few. Rabbits in hutches and runs will need extra stimulation to prevent boredom. Be creative and try to mimic their wild cousins by scattering their food around their hutch so they have to forage for it; provide litter trays full of hay to dig in; give them healthy snacks in addition to their hay and rabbit food; provide plastic tunnels or large planters for them to play with
• Neutering is very important. An un-neutered rabbit will be frustrated and this may cause behavioural problems. There is also a large risk of uterine cancer in unneutered females. Some people don't neuter their rabbit because of cost, but the procedure isn't very expensive - about the same as the cost of night out - and it's worth the small outlay to ensure a happy and healthy animal.
• Rabbits should be vaccinated against two killer diseases: myxomatosis ('myxi' or 'myxo') and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD or HVD). Rabbits can be vaccinated against myxomatosis from six weeks old and this should be repeated every 12 months (six months in high risk areas). Vaccinations against VHD can be given from 10 weeks of age and should be boosted every 12 months.
• Thousands of rabbits suffer because they are bought for children who see them as just another fluffy toy. When the novelty wears off many are forgotten and left alone in a small hutch. Responsibility is the name of the game; an animal should never be bought on a whim, only after long consideration. Rabbits can live for 10 to 15 years so it is important to take a long-term view and think about who will look after the pet when the child reaches his or her teens and may not be as interested as they once were.

Top feeding tips

Celebrity vet, Matt Brash, has produced his ten top tips for healthy hoppers:

• 1. Good clean, sweet smelling hay or grass should form the basis of all rabbits' diets. Rabbits require a substantial amount of fibre in the diet to help promote a healthy digestive system. Aside from containing many vital nutrients, nibbling hay or grass reduces boredom and behavioural problems and grinds down rabbits teeth naturally, maintaining good dental health. Forage should be fed in plentiful amounts and should be fresh every day.
• 2. To supplement the fibre gained from hay or grass, rabbits should be fed a wholesome balanced diet including all the vitamins and minerals they require, such as one of the Burgess Supa Rabbit Excel feeds. The benefit of feeding any of the Excel diets over a mix food is that the rabbit can't pick out the bits it likes and leave the rest (known as selective feeding), therefore ensuring that it gets a balanced diet in every mouthful.
• 3. Food for rabbits is best bought as a complete balanced diet, ideally as extruded nuggets in sealed packets from a specialist supplier or from your vet. Always follow the feeding instructions on the packaging and don't buy food by the scoop from a bin as you have no way of knowing whether the food has been contaminated.
• 4. Rabbits must have access to fresh, clean water at all times. Bottles are easier to keep clean, especially in the hutch environment, but some rabbits prefer water bowls. Bottles with a ball-bearing in the nozzle drip less, but you must make sure the bottle doesn't jam and prevent the rabbit from drinking.
• 5. Rabbits commonly suffer from osteoporosis which is usually due to a lack of calcium in the diet, but a lack of exercise is also often to blame. Supplements are available, but can lead to more problems than they solve. If a rabbit is a selective eater and/or you believe it's not getting sufficient nutrients, speak to your vet.
• 6. 30% of rabbits in the UK are obese, probably due to their relative sedentary life as domestic pets, compared to their life in the wild. If you believe your rabbit is overweight speak to your vet or call the National Rabbit Week helpline on 0800 413 969 and they will be able to recommend a lower calorie food, which will still provide your pet with all the correct nutrients.
• 7. Dental problems are the most common reason for rabbits visiting the vet. Rabbits' teeth grow continuously and need to be filed down by gnawing. Providing gnawing blocks can help, but feeding rough foliage like hay will also ensure your rabbit's teeth are kept ground short.
• 8. Rabbits have 7,000 more taste buds than humans so give them some variety in what they're eating. Stick to healthy treats such as fresh greens, chunks of carrot, broccoli or apple cores but feed them in moderation. An ideal measure is that they should make up no more than 20% of the rabbit's overall diet. Herbs are another good source of variety in the diet. Burgess Supafeeds' Excel range of healthy treats can also be fed daily as they're healthy! Avoid treats, which contain sugar or starch as they do your pet no good at all.
• 9. Never feed a rabbit human food, such as breakfast cereal or chocolate drops, together with garden waste such as lawn mower cuttings. Incorrect food not only results in malnutrition but it has the potential to harm or even kill.
• 10. Keep your rabbit's vaccinations and worming up-to-date, especially if you're out collecting grass for your pet. Myxomatosis is still common in wild rabbits and can be transmitted on foliage to domestic pets. During the summer months make sure you use a product to help prevent fly strike.