Nutrition

Rabbits feed on hay, vegetables, green fodder, concentrated feed and occasionally fruit, etc. There should always be enough hay and water available. We recommend regular rabbit food as well as fresh vegetables, lettuce, or fruit every day. Especially when feeding with dry food and fresh water, which is always a must! Cabbage should be used in small quantities since many animals get bloated from it. Vitamin drops for drinking water are particularly advisable if the animal receives less nutrition, which leads to deficiency symptoms. Salt lick stone, rodent stone, as well as dried bread (12 times a week) or branches of fruit trees to gnaw their teeth can also help them nutrition-wise.

Cage Sizes

This depends entirely on the animal. Generally, the bigger the better. For a single dwarf rabbit, it should be at least 100 x 50cm in size, although larger cages, which should always be preferred, are usually not much more expensive. The cage must be larger for several animals or larger rabbits. The animal should also have a hatch/dormitory. Outdoor accommodation must provide the rabbit with the wind, rain, sun, and cold protection. Make sure the rabbit “stable” is marten-proof and escape-proof (Rabbits shouldn’t be able to dig out). Commercial small animal litter and some straw can be used as bedding.

Rabbit Spout

Even the largest cage cannot replace the daily(2 hours a day) spout (For example in the apartment or in a garden enclosure). Rabbits are very clean animals and therefore usually adopt a litter box very quickly and a rabbit with a lot of exercise is much more balanced and peaceful. Another advantage is that the rabbits’ claws wear through playing around a lot. Nevertheless, they should be checked regularly and cut if necessary (possibly by a veterinarian). Be cautious around outlets. Rodents like to nibble on cables and adhesives (e.g. on the wallpaper!)

Vaccinations  

They should be repeated every 6-9 months, depending on the vaccine, if year-round protection is required. Despite all claims, including from veterinarians, a vaccine with a 12-month effect is not yet available! So please note the package insert. Unfortunately, vaccination does not offer 100% protection either, but it is the only way to protect your animal, especially if your rabbit is allowed outside. If you want the most comprehensive vaccination protection, you should also have your animal vaccinated against RHD(Disease from China). This vaccination is only necessary yearly.

Their Attitude 

Generally, rabbits, like guinea pigs, pack animals, live normally in colonies, and would be very happy to have a partner. It works best between a (neutered) male and a female. If your rabbit male is not yet neutered, speak to your veterinarian, otherwise, there will be a lot of offspring quickly and there will be plenty of them. After neutering, most rabbits stop marking their territory by the annoying “splashing”. Females usually get along well, but males only rarely. Of course, guinea pigs and rabbits can also be kept together, but a rabbit can do more with one of its kind and therefore 2 Rabbits are preferred when it comes to owning rabbits as a pet.

Image Source: Neil McIntosh from Cambridge, United Kingdom

Are several animals being kept? In that case, special attention must be paid to a large cage/run, since animals that otherwise understand each other can also have a noise. If the cage/spout is too small, biting is easy, which the rabbits often no longer understand.

Do you have a single animal at home? Well, take the opportunity to take another animal home for a “rehearsal” and to get used to your darling (if possible, place the animals next to each other for a few days, then leave them together in a larger run and see if they get along). That way, they’d have more company and be less lonely.

If the animals do not get along, then you can bring the “borrowed” animal back at any time, because animals also do not like every conspecific animals.  

Rabbit Lifespan

Typically, for pet rabbits, their lifespan falls about to 8-12 years of age contrasted to wild rabbits, who could only live for at least 1-2 years. Dwarf Rabbits and Himalayan Rabbits can survive for more than 8 years, while Giant Rabbits and Rex Rabbits have shorter lives, living for 5-6 years. However, if you neuter a Rex Rabbit, their life expectancy would lengthen to about 8-11 years.

Normally, New Zealand Rabbits are typically known to reach approximately 5-7 years. For Lionhead Rabbits, their lifespan would last 7-9 years. Polish rabbits have 8-10 years for their life expectancy.

Photo By: Peter Jung

Lop Eared Rabbits have more variety when it comes to their lifespans. Mini and dwarf lop rabbits have a span of 9-10 years, differentiating from larger breeds of lop-eared rabbits which would remain alive around 5-6 years. Holland lop rabbits can live a year longer, up to 5-7 years. Just like other rabbit breeds, lop rabbits could survive for 10 years after getting neutered.

Researching about your Rabbit

If you have never had a rabbit, we recommend literature about rabbits to learn more about them. You will receive many useful tips, it will help you to understand your animal better and to recognize diseases in a good time. It’s best to do this when you want to own a rabbit someday.

If you don’t feel the desire to use any books, then looking up things online will do! Reading online articles and watching YouTube videos could work too. As long as you learn one way or another, you can understand your future pet more, doing your pet and yourself a favor.

Myths & Facts

Myth: Rabbits are the perfect pet for children!

With this misconception, nothing will come of the longed-for cuddle time. The widespread genus of the rabbit family is an escaped animal that initially waits rigidly for signs of danger. Only with a lot of consideration and patience can they gain one’s trust. Beware of knocking noises with the hind legs: rabbits warn their group members of dangers. When you hear the knock as you approach, it feels threatened and should not be pushed any further. First of all, teach this to your child and respect the freedom of your four-legged friend.

Photo By: Besovich

Myth: All rabbits are the same! They only differ in size!

Not even close. Because not only the outward appearance shows strong differences. Most types of rabbits are born naked and blind and are nest stools. Rabbit cubs, however, are nest-breeders, with fur and open eyes.

Another feature is that rabbits feel much more comfortable in groups called hordes or colonies, whereas rabbits are loners. Rabbits are also known for their earth tunnels, unlike rabbits that only crouch in hollows when they are looking for protection. Otherwise they live freely on the field.

Myth: Rabbits need Hard Bread to rub their teeth.

This is the nutritional lie par excellence. Bread is harmful to small animals due to its ingredients such as raising agents, salt, preservatives, and starch. Kidney and liver diseases are particularly common, as is flatulence and life-threatening diarrhea. The far better alternative for bread is a branch. This way, wild animals keep their teeth in the right length.

Myth: I am well looked after with the initial equipment from the pet dealer.

The houses offered in pet shops are usually much too small, little to no isolation and are clearly eager to nibble. Plastic toilets cause considerable damage to your rabbit! The typical lattice boxes are also not a species-appropriate home. Rabbits need a lot of exercise and should best be kept outdoors with enough shelter made from natural materials.

Myth: A Guinea Pig is a suitable partner for my Rabbit.

Nowadays, due to the variety of specialist reading, it should be well known that rabbits should not be kept alone. You urgently need social contact, but not with a guinea pig, but with another rabbit! But be careful with the composition of the genders! Even two females from the same litter are extremely sensitive to conflicts. You will not enjoy the mutual attacks. The best duo for rabbits is neutered and always a female. Why neutered? Because rabbits are genetically influenced to reproduce in order to maintain species protection because they live much shorter in the wild. So, save your furry companion from this frustration.

Photo by Jannes Pockele from Ekeren, Belgium