Rabbit Health Information

Rabbits are soft and cute, and they make great house pets. However, they do require some degree of maintenance and supervision, so they should not be given to small children as pets. If you are interested in adopting a cuddly bunny, find out what to expect during its life cycle.
         Birth

1. • The act of mating causes ovulation in a female rabbit, and 29 to 31 days after she becomes pregnant, the babies are born deaf, blind and naked, and about the size of a mouse. By two weeks old, the babies have hair, and their eyes and ears are open. At three weeks, they will fit in an average-sized human hand, and they are ready to leave the nest by six weeks old.

   Adolescence

   • By the time the rabbit is three or four months old, it is considered an adolescent, and though capable of breeding, females should not be bred until at least six months old.
   
   

   Precautions

   • Rabbits have very light and delicate skeletons. Because their backbone is very fragile, it can break when a rabbit is struggling violently or accidentally dropped. Most rabbits do not like to be held, but enjoy snuggling as long as their feet remain on the floor.

   Life Expectancy

   • Five to eight years is the average life expectancy of a pet rabbit, though some live to be 10 to 15 years old. Wild rabbits live between one to two years

Rabbits are popular pets, and with proper care, these animals often live 10 to 15 years. Before sharing your home with a rabbit, understand the health considerations so you can provide for a healthy life and have the best chance of experiencing the wonderful companionship a rabbit offers.

1. Digestion

   • Monitor the droppings. Rabbits should produce pellet-like feces every day to maintain a healthy digestion. Diarrhea, which is more liquid and foul smelling, can be fatal and must be treated immediately. The complete absence of droppings is also a warning sign that the rabbit should see a vet and possibly start a round of antibiotics.

   Housing

   • Rabbits enjoy cages with enough room to stretch and stand up to full height so they are not cramped and can move around. The bedding that covers the floor and litter pan is an important consideration because cedar or pine shavings produce hydrocarbons and make a rabbit develop serious lung and liver damage. Instead, use an organic litter.
   
   

   Malocclusion

   • The teeth of a rabbit may become misaligned and prevent the animal from eating properly or may even keep it from being able to eat at all. The teeth never stop growing so be sure to watch for signs, such as a wet chin due to drooling, to determine whether the front or back molars are growing improperly. A vet can trim down the teeth on a regular basis or show you how to take care of this yourself.

   Shedding

   • Every three months a rabbit sheds its hair, which may be light or heavy depending on the month. Rabbits must be tended to so they do not develop hairballs. Unlike cats, rabbits do not have the ability to cough up the hair. Prevent dangerous situations by brushing your rabbit to remove the fur quicker and provide an unlimited supply of hay to allow the fiber to pass the hair through the rabbit's system easier. In addition to daily exercise, commercial cat hairball remedies will help.