Rabbits are the third most popular mammalian pet in the UK, after cats and dogs and it’s easy to see why! They’re full of character, entertaining, intelligent and incredibly cute. Being clean and quiet also adds to their appeal. Although they are often thought of as ideal pets for children, their care needs are often underestimated. They need more than a hutch and food to keep them happy and healthy. They also need companionship, frequent attention to their overall health and despite being small they need ample space – more space than you might think. Depending on the breed they may also need regular grooming.
Choosing the right breed is just one part of preparing to welcome a rabbit to the family. Continue reading to discover more about caring for rabbits, along with some of the most popular breeds found in the UK.
Are rabbits the right pet for you?
Rabbits can make great pets but they’re not as easy to care for as many people think. Here are just a few things to think about before bringing rabbits home to join the family. Before committing do plenty of research and make sure that pet rabbits are a good fit for your home and lifestyle.
Rabbits are social animals
So, they will need the company of a least one other rabbit. In the not-too-distant past it was usual and acceptable to keep just one rabbit or to keep a rabbit with a guinea pigs. We now know that these two species are not suitable co-habitants. Rabbits are happier and calmer when they have other rabbit friends and it’s also recommended that rabbits kept together are neutered.
Although children can help with caring for rabbits, they are not a “children’s pet”
An adult must take the overall responsibility for their health and welfare. Rabbits are also prey animals so are nervous and can be easily frightened, they can form bonds with their human companions but need gentle handling and generally don’t like being carried around or lots of noise. They can even be aggressive especially if they are stressed so might not be suited to families with young children.
Rabbits can potentially live for 8-12 years
Make sure you are ready for this long-term commitment involving daily feeding, cleaning and TLC along. If you are getting rabbits with children in mind, consider that the novelty may wear off or children’s interests may change over the lifespan of a rabbit.
Rabbits need more than a hutch and a small run, rabbits need SPACE!
They can live indoors as house rabbits or outdoors but the minimum space requirement is 3m long x 2m wide x 1m at all times; this 3m length allows them to run rather than just hop. This is the minimum, more space is better! The sleeping area, such as the hutch should have a minimum area of 1.8m long x 0.6m wide x 0.6m high. The upper storey of a two-storey hutch should not be included in the footprint of the minimum space requirements. As well as space they will benefit from environmental enrichment such as tunnels, hiding places and toys. Giant breeds will need a larger area than this.
Can you afford the cost of ongoing rabbit ownership?
This would include bedding, food, insurance and veterinary fees? The PDSA estimate that over their lifetime a pair of rabbits can cost between £7700 and £11000. Similarly to different breeds of cats and dogs, different breeds of rabbits may be more prone to certain health conditions (see below)
Popular breeds of Pet Rabbit in the UK
If you’ve decided that rabbits are the ideal pet for you and that you have the space and the time, the next step is choosing a breed. There are many breeds of Rabbit, here are some of the more popular breeds in the UK.
Dutch:
When my siblings and I were children we had a lovely grey Dutch Rabbit so of course, I do have a soft spot for them. This small to medium breed is known to be gentle yet intelligent and playful and I would agree. They are relatively easy to care with short coats and erect ears but it’s still important to keep an eye on their overall health and spend time with them. All bunnies need TLC!
English Spot:
This attractive, medium sized breed, like the Dutch is easy to care for as well as generally having a good temperament meaning they can live outdoors or as a house rabbit. Their friendly, curious personality shouldn’t be taken for granted, rabbits are prey animals and careful handling is still important to ensure your rabbit is relaxed and wants to spend time with you!
Miniature Lop and Dwarf lop:
Of these two breeds the dwarf is larger weighing around 2-2.5kg, compared to mini lop who weighs around 1.5kg. Both breeds have medium length dense fur which will benefit from grooming 2-3 times per week. The Dwarf lop is reported to be more docile and may be more suited to the lifestyle of a house rabbit than the more playful, energetic mini lop. Both breeds are friendly but gentle handling is important, especially with the mini lop to prevent them become nervous and skittish.
Lionheads:
These small rabbits, as the name suggests are known for the mane around their head, ears and bib. This mane benefits from daily grooming to prevent mats. Lionheads can be friendly but are usually quite timid which can lead to skittishness and aggression so although they do look cute they may not be the most suitable breed for families with younger children, and see below for health problems associated with their short noses.
Netherland Dwarf:
These rabbits are tiny with an adult bodyweight of around 1kg, they are very cute but are typically more timid than some other breeds which can lead to aggression and skittishness. So although they are playful, energetic and entertaining they may be best suited to homes with older children and adults.
English lop:
These long eared, lop-eared rabbits are quite large reaching an adult bodyweight of around 5kg, although their short coats are easy to look after and they are thought to have a laid back yet intelligent temperament they aren’t an easy-care breed. They aren’t as mobile as other breeds of rabbits due to their very long ears so are prone to obesity, they may also struggle in the cold due to the surface area of their ears. They need lots of space and a very clean living environment as their ears touch the ground.
Angora Rabbit:
These medium breed rabbits are known to be good-natured but they do require frequent grooming of their long coats (see below for health problems associated with long haired breeds)
Continental and Flemish Giants:
Giant rabbits are known for their calm and affectionate temperaments but can grow to a considerable size and therefore need plenty of space! Don’t underestimate the room they need to enjoy an active lifestyle, hop fully, stretch out completely and explore. If not given ample space they can become bored, they are also prone to obesity and due to their size they are more prone to sore hocks and joint strain. Despite being gentle giants, they can be more difficult to handle due to their size and strength.
Are some breeds of rabbit more prone to health problems?
ALL breeds of rabbits need routine health monitoring, in particular check their nails, make sure they have clean bottoms, look out for any signs of dental disease or inappetence. Not eating is very serious in rabbits and you should contact your vet if they’re off their food. Rabbits can get “snuffles” so check that their eyes are bright and clear and that their noses are free from any discharge. Rabbits are also susceptible to two diseases and should be vaccinated for protection against myxomatosis and rabbit viral haemorrhagic diarrhoea.
It’s important that bedding is kept clean and dry, did you know you can litter train a rabbit? This makes cleaning their living area much easier and is particularly useful if you have a house / indoor rabbit.
Particular health issues are however seen with some breeds:
Lop Breeds:
It may not surprise you to hear that these breeds are more prone to ear problems such as narrowed ear canals, excess wax build up, and ear pain which can also lead to ear-based abscesses. It’s also thought that the associated skull shape of lop-eared breeds also means they are more likely to suffer from dental problems
Brachycephalic breeds:
This means shortened heads and flatter faces. It’s not only dogs like pugs and French bulldogs and cats such as Persians and British Shorthairs that suffer with this conformation type, a brachycephalic skull shape is seen in many breeds of rabbit including dwarf breeds, lop eared breeds and lionheads. In rabbits its long been thought that this can cause crowded or maloccluded teeth and dental problems leading to dental pain, difficulty eating and being unable to groom themselves. Problems with the inflammation and draining of tear ducts (dacryocystitis), leading to eye infections and weeping eyes can also happen. These conditions require Veterinary treatment and often reoccur.
Long coated breeds:
Long coated breeds will need daily grooming to prevent matted fur and skin infections, their eyes should also be kept clear of fur. Long haired rabbits are more prone to flystrike (maggots) which can be fatal. In addition to this they can ingest excess fur during self-grooming, particularly when they are moulting, which can lead to gut stasis (wool block), this is when the gut stops moving and can be fatal. So be realistic about how much grooming you can manage.
A note about dental disease
Studies like the one linked above have shown a link between skull shape and dental disease, however a more recent study found that there wasn’t a strong link between ear shape and head type and dental problems and that a balanced and nutritional diet may be more important along with regular veterinary health checks to detect early diseases. It’s likely that more research will be done in this area but be aware that pet rabbits can get dental problems so it’s worth knowing the signs of dental disease in any breed of pet rabbit. Feeding them a good diet is important for dental and overall health.
Conclusion
Rabbits can make wonderful pets but it’s important to understand the level of care they need before bringing them home. Taking the time to learn about their needs including any breed specific care requirements will help ensure you’re well setup to give them a happy and healthy life. When choosing rabbits, although certain breeds have general traits such as having a calmer nature remember that they all have their own individual personalities. The practical side of rabbit care is also important to consider with shorter coated breeds and those with upright ears easier to care for on a day-to-day basis.
There is a wealth of information available but always make sure you are getting your information from reputable sources such as the Rabbit Welfare Association and fund or other respected, registered animal charities such as the RSPCA, Blue Cross or PDSA.
Sadly all too often the initial novelty fades and there are rabbits looking for a new home through no fault of their own so you may want to consider rescuing or rehoming rabbits. Remember to register your new pets with your Veterinary Practice.
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