Rabbit Advice

From overgrown teeth to seasonal problems like “flystrike”

Vaccinations

Rabbits need vaccinating yearly against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD).

They can currently just have 1 vaccine which will combine protection against both, but they do require yearly boosters to keep them protected. Myxomatosisespecially is passed through insects such as mosquitos, so even if your rabbit doesn’t live near wild rabbits they are still open to contracting this untreatable disease. Rabbits can be vaccinated from 10 weeks old.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Parasite Control

For external parasite control against fleas and mites, we use a product called Xeno spot-on. Your rabbit would need to be weighed to get a correct dosage for your rabbit. The dosing is weight dependant to it is important to bring in your rabbit for a free weight check whenever you need another treatment.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Dental

Dental care in animals is a very important area to keep on top of. You can do this by bringing your pet in for a dental check in any of our branches and getting some advice on the dental care that your pet requires.

Starting early on in your pet’s life will help to prevent the majority of dental issues that older pets now face.

We have many dental kits available for both cats and dogs which include a small toothbrush, a finger brush and a tube of toothpaste that is flavoured like fish for cats and meat for dogs to encourage them to enjoy it. Daily or at least weekly brushing can help prevent them needing a general anaesthetic and full blown dental when they are older and at a higher risk from anaesthetics.

If an older pet does require dental treatment, we can offer a pre-anaesthetic blood test to ensure that the liver and kidney function is at a high enough level to support the body under an anaesthetic.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Flystrike

Rabbits need to be protected during the spring and summer against Flystrike. Flystrike is a nasty attack from the common blowfly which lands on the rabbit laying its eggs under the rabbit’s skin, and therefore being severely injured by hatching out maggots.

Unfortunately, if the rabbit is not treated to prevent flystrike it will not be noticed until the maggots are hatched. In severe cases this can lead to death for the rabbit.

Flystrike can be prevented by using a product calledRearguard. Rearguard should be applied to the rabbit in the spring, and re-applied every 12 weeks through the summer. Rearguard can be purchased from any South Wales Vets branch, but the rabbit will need to be brought in and weighed.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Diet

Fibre is the most important aspect of a rabbit’s diet and should come from good quality hay and grass. Hay is excellent for the digestive system and also helps wear down the teeth which constantly grow in rabbits.

Rabbits will pass out the fibre as soft caecotrophs which are then re-eaten and re-digested.

The hay can be supplemented with small amounts of pellets however we do not advise using a muesli style diet as rabbits will become selective and eat the more tasty parts. This can lead to an imbalanced diet meaning they are missing out of vital nutrients. Some vegetables can be offered in small amounts such as dark leafy greens however you should never feed lettuce.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Environment

Rabbits are very energetic animals that require plenty of space to run, jump, hop, dig and stretch around. They need to have toys and such in their environment to entertain them as they are intelligent animals, but also places to hide such as tubes and a hutch when they feel scared or threatened.

Rabbits should be kept in a well-ventilated area but one that is also protected from the elements, with plenty of warm bedding such as dust-free hay. If their living area becomes damp, hot or dirty they can quickly become ill. Rabbits can be litter trained and require a place with permanent access for them to go to the toilet, but their living and toilet areas should be cleaned regularly.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.

Other Rabbits

Rabbits are naturally very social animals and prefer to be kept with another rabbit than on their own. Rabbits left alone can develop abnormal behaviours.

However, when keeping rabbits together rabbits of the same sex can fight if not properly introduced, neutering will help to prevent this.

Also, rabbits can breed quite quickly so mixing a male and female rabbit together will undoubtedly result in a litter of little babies, even brother and sister rabbits will mate. If this is a situation you would like to avoid we neuter rabbits from 5 months old, and is worth keeping males and females separate from 4 months old.

We offer a rabbit package which includes:

  • 1 x combined myxomatosis and VHD vaccine
  • Filavac vaccination against RHD1/2
  • 1 x Panacur wormer
  • 1 x xeno spot-on
  • Microchip

Please contact the branch for more information.