Rabbit Care Guide
Written by Shula Berg BVSc CertAVP(GSAS) GPAdvCert(SASTS) MRCVS
Clinically reviewed by Elizabeth McLennan-Green BVM&S CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS
Table Of Contents
- Intro
- General Care
- Feeding
- Veterinary Care
- Common Problems
Rabbits are intelligent, interactive animals that typically live for 10-12 years. They are members of the lagomorph family and, in the wild, live in huge family groups. Although many will learn to enjoy some human contact, rabbits generally do not like being picked up and prefer interaction on their own terms. Rabbits are naturally a prey species; they generally dislike loud or busy environments, and are known for hiding signs of illness. They require a specific diet, plenty of space, and regular veterinary care, but with the right level of commitment can make great pets. Rabbits are not recommended as children’s pets.
General Care
Rabbits are social creatures and should be kept in pairs or larger groups. Introducing adult rabbits can lead to potentially lethal fighting; don't be tempted to get one rabbit and add a friend later. Once two or more rabbits are bonded, they should remain together, including for vet trips. It is no longer recommended to keep rabbits and guinea pigs together as it is very difficult to meet both animals’ needs.
Rabbits need space to run, hop and stand up to safely express their normal behaviours. A bonded pair of rabbits need an enclosure a minimum of 3x2m in size, and at least 1m tall. This should include places to hide and items to jump on or over, as well as things that are safe to chew, such as wooden toys. Enclosures must be secure (as rabbits are great diggers) and protected from predators such as foxes. If there is no access to grass within the enclosure, a separate run of the same size should be provided for regular access. Hutches are not suitable for keeping rabbits in as they do not permit a normal range of movement.
Most rabbits will choose to toilet in one space and can easily be litter trained. This tray/area must be cleaned regularly to prevent attracting flies.
Feeding
Providing the correct nutrition for your rabbit can prevent a lot of common health problems. A rabbit’s diet should be predominantly fibre, as they need to chew almost continuously – their teeth grow throughout their lives and chewing helps prevent them overgrowing. A rabbit’s diet should include:
Hay/grass
One rabbit will eat a pile of hay the size of their body every day, and this should always be available.
Fresh vegetables
Preferably leafy greens including weeds and herbs, such as broccoli, courgette, kale, spinach, mint, dandelion and even nettles. Sugary veg such as carrot, or fruit, should be saved as an occasional treat.
Pellets
A complete pellet should be given, but only in small amounts; an average-sized rabbit needs just 1 tablespoon per day. Avoid muesli mixes as rabbits will pull out the bits they like rather than getting a balanced diet.
Rabbits are coprophagic, meaning they produce soft pellets (called cecotropes) which are re-ingested. Once these have been digested a second time, they are excreted as small, round, dry droppings. Rabbits usually eat cecotropes as they are produced, so finding soft squishy droppings in their enclosure can suggest a problem.
Rabbits excrete calcium in their urine. Avoid feeding high calcium foods (such as alfalfa hay and brassica vegetables) as this can encourage formation of bladder stones.
Veterinary Care
Rabbits need annual vaccinations, just like cats and dogs. Vaccinations protect against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD), both of which can be fatal.
It is recommended to neuter all rabbits. Male-female pairs require neutering to prevent breeding, but same-sex pairs can fight if not neutered. Female rabbits also have an 80% chance of developing cancer of the uterus during their lifetime, which is eliminated by neutering.
Common Problems
There are several health problems that we see commonly in rabbits. They include:
Dental disease
A rabbit’s teeth erupt continuously throughout their lifetime, and if they do not wear evenly this can cause painful dental issues.
Gut stasis
Not only do rabbits chew constantly, but their intestines are also always moving. If a rabbit stops eating, even for a short period of time, this can cause problems with the intestines that can be challenging to resolve. Gut stasis can be triggered by stress, pain or other illness, so if your rabbit stops eating or passing droppings they should see a vet urgently.
Fly strike
Fly Strike typically occurs during the warmer months, when flies lay eggs around a rabbit's back end. These hatch in to maggots which bury in to the rabbits skin, causing severe pain and sometimes even death. Making sure your rabbit stays clean round the back end will help prevent fly strike, but rabbits should be manually checked twice daily from spring to autumn.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.
Page last reviewed: 11th March 2025
Next review due: 11th March 2027