Rabbits

1. What should I feed my rabbit?

Plants can be either commercially available or wild. Green leafy plants are recommended. Commercially available examples are broccoli, cabbage, chicory, chard, parsley, watercress, celery leaves, endive, raddichio, bok choy, dock, basil, kale, carrot and beet tops. Wild plants include bramble, dandelion, chickweed, plantain, sunflower, wild strawberry, dock, yarrow. Green plants are a useful to provide variety, micronutrients, water and dental wear, but it should be remembered that as they are generally 90-95% water and often relatively low in fibre excessively large amounts would need to be consumed to fulfil daily needs. Therefore they should not be fed in very large quantities.Any greens should be introduced gradually and preferably fed consistently in order for caecal bacteria to adapt.

Here's a page (book by Frances Harcourt Brown) that could come in useful. Click here to read more.

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2. Why is my rabbit shedding?

Shedding or moulting is common for rabbits especially in our hot and humid climate. Due to their thick fur coat, the shedding is a way where the fur changes according to the climatic change. Regular brushing is important to keep a healthy fur coat for your rabbit. Making sure your rabbit stays in a clean, dry and well ventilated area at home could minimize the shedding. Normal shedding should not result in bald patches or intense skin itch. In such cases where there are extensive fur loss with skin itch or injury, there could some skin diseases. Fungal infection is common in Singapore as our weather is very hot and damp. If your rabbit is staying in a poorly ventilated area with no regular brushing of the fur, it is very easy for the skin to be affected by fungus. This will result in excessive fur shedding and bald patches with dry crusty skin. Fur mite infestation is also another common cause of excessive shedding with intense skin itch. Fur mites are external parasites that are passed from one rabbit to another. Fur mites will also affected guinea pigs and cats. A medical check up is needed to confirm the presence of the fur mites. To the naked eye, the fur mites appear to be like dust like particles on the fur. A vet will need to confirm the infestation and prescribe appropriate medication for treatment.

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3. Why is my rabbit not eating?

Rabbits are really fragile and sensitive creatures. Some of the rabbits will stop eating when they are emotionally stressed or depressed. Loud noises, sudden movements or even the changes in its diet and routine can stress a bunny. When a rabbit does not eat, it is very dangerous because they can develop gut stasis. This occurs when there is slowing down in the movement of the intestines. As this happens, gas can build up and cause painful bloat. This often result in loss of appetite and intense discomfort and pain. In such cases, it is very important that medical attention be given to your rabbit. Another common disease is dental malocclusions. This mean that the teeth on the upper and lower jaw are not aligned properly, resulting in overgrown teeth and gum / tongue injury. When the teeth overgrows, the rabbit cannot eat and swallow its food. There will be signs of pain, teeth biting, drooling ( with a lot of saliva caked at the chin and neck area) and ill thrift. A medical check up is needed to confirm the severity of the dental problems and most often, dental trimming and filing will be require. Other causes of loss of appetite can include skin infection, urinary bladder infection and chest infection. If you observe that your rabbit is not eating for more than 18-24 hours, medical check up and treatment must be given immediately.

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4. Is the rabbit a suitable pet for children?

Yes, no, maybe. We've found a very good website that will help you in this exploration.

Please visit here.

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