Health checks
PLEASE NOTE: Some rabbits are more comfortable being examined on the floor.
Wrap a towel around them if you need to and wrap it diagonally from the shoulder to the hip.
Regular health checks
Carry out health checks on your rabbit every other day in the summer and once a week in the winter. By carrying out the health check in a room your rabbit is not familiar with, will help if your rabbit is always struggling to get away.
It all depends on how well behaved your rabbit is and how confident you are at handling your rabbit, as to the best way to groom or health check your bunny. If you are not confident placing them on a work top or table, or if your rabbit is likely to jump, then kneeling on the floor with your bunny between your legs is a safe way.
Check nose is clean and dry
Eyes clean and bright
Ears clean and dry
Skin/fur is even and shiny
Tail & bottom is clean and dry.
More thorough health check
Trim their nails if they are longer than their fur (This doesn’t apply to breeds like the rex, where their fur is very short). Check for any bumps.
Brush out any matted fur. Never cut away matted fur, as there is a good chance you could accidentally cut their skin too.
If you have a long haired rabbit, check their mouth area for matted fur, especially if they drink out of a bowl. Trim any hair around their rear end, if it is quite long. This will help keep them cleaner but be extremely careful. Take them to your vets for a nurse to help you if you are not confident to do this yourself.
You may feel guilty putting your rabbit through health checks and worry about losing their trust. This is very common in rabbit owners but it is very important to still carry out regular health checks, as you will feel much worse if your rabbit becomes sick from something you could of easily spotted or prevented happening.
Always remember to praise your rabbit after you have completed the health check and give them one of their treats. They will soon forgive you and you as a rabbit owner, will feel much better, knowing you are keeping them in tip top condition.
Carry out health checks on your rabbit every other day in the summer and once a week in the winter. By carrying out the health check in a room your rabbit is not familiar with, will help if your rabbit is always struggling to get away.
It all depends on how well behaved your rabbit is and how confident you are at handling your rabbit, as to the best way to groom or health check your bunny. If you are not confident placing them on a work top or table, or if your rabbit is likely to jump, then kneeling on the floor with your bunny between your legs is a safe way.
Check nose is clean and dry
Eyes clean and bright
Ears clean and dry
Skin/fur is even and shiny
Tail & bottom is clean and dry.
More thorough health check
Trim their nails if they are longer than their fur (This doesn’t apply to breeds like the rex, where their fur is very short). Check for any bumps.
Brush out any matted fur. Never cut away matted fur, as there is a good chance you could accidentally cut their skin too.
If you have a long haired rabbit, check their mouth area for matted fur, especially if they drink out of a bowl. Trim any hair around their rear end, if it is quite long. This will help keep them cleaner but be extremely careful. Take them to your vets for a nurse to help you if you are not confident to do this yourself.
You may feel guilty putting your rabbit through health checks and worry about losing their trust. This is very common in rabbit owners but it is very important to still carry out regular health checks, as you will feel much worse if your rabbit becomes sick from something you could of easily spotted or prevented happening.
Always remember to praise your rabbit after you have completed the health check and give them one of their treats. They will soon forgive you and you as a rabbit owner, will feel much better, knowing you are keeping them in tip top condition.
Cleaning their bottoms
Never plunge a rabbit into water, as they can die of shock. Rabbits should not be bathed, unless in extreme cases advised by your rabbit savvy vet. All you need to do is use damp cotton wool or tissues to clean the effected area only. Trimming long hair around this area, helps to keep it clean. Use curved scissors when trimming their fur. Vaseline & sudocrem help with preventing urine stained skin becoming inflamed and infected. A wire comb is also very helpful for removing soiled fur.
You also need to clean their scent glands. To do this use a damp cotton bud, to gently clean out the glands.
Never plunge a rabbit into water, as they can die of shock. Rabbits should not be bathed, unless in extreme cases advised by your rabbit savvy vet. All you need to do is use damp cotton wool or tissues to clean the effected area only. Trimming long hair around this area, helps to keep it clean. Use curved scissors when trimming their fur. Vaseline & sudocrem help with preventing urine stained skin becoming inflamed and infected. A wire comb is also very helpful for removing soiled fur.
You also need to clean their scent glands. To do this use a damp cotton bud, to gently clean out the glands.
Handy health check items to have
Mite spot on
Curved scissors
Metal comb
Claw clippers (for small animals)
Kwik stop or Trimmex Powder to stop bleeding claws
Syringes
Towels
Kitchen roll
Vaseline
Sudocrem
Neutering and spaying
Neutering/Spaying has lots of health and behavioural benefits & is very important for the following reasons:
-Obviously it stops unwanted litters.
Mite spot on
Curved scissors
Metal comb
Claw clippers (for small animals)
Kwik stop or Trimmex Powder to stop bleeding claws
Syringes
Towels
Kitchen roll
Vaseline
Sudocrem
Neutering and spaying
Neutering/Spaying has lots of health and behavioural benefits & is very important for the following reasons:
-Obviously it stops unwanted litters.
-Did you know? Rabbits can get pregnant again 1 hour after giving birth
-Around 4-6 months old rabbits reach sexual maturity & you may see a difference in behaviour.
-Uncastrated rabbits will fight & cause stress to other rabbits if kept in groups/pairs.
-Around 4-6 months old rabbits reach sexual maturity & you may see a difference in behaviour.
-Uncastrated rabbits will fight & cause stress to other rabbits if kept in groups/pairs.
-They can also become aggressive towards you
-After being neutered or spayed they become calmer & happier and healthier
-They can live longer when neutered/spayed, as the risk of many illnesses is reduced
-It will help your rabbit stop spraying urine
-It helps make litter training easier
-It reduces aggression.
Female rabbits can be spayed at 4-6 months old.
-After being neutered or spayed they become calmer & happier and healthier
-They can live longer when neutered/spayed, as the risk of many illnesses is reduced
-It will help your rabbit stop spraying urine
-It helps make litter training easier
-It reduces aggression.
Female rabbits can be spayed at 4-6 months old.
Male rabbits can be neutered around 3.5 to 4 months old.
