Rabbit care basics: diet, housing, company and health

Rabbits are intelligent, social and affectionate, and can live 8–12 years. They're often thought of as easy starter pets, but they have very specific needs.

Diet: hay, hay and more hay

A rabbit's teeth grow continuously and its gut is designed for a high-fibre diet. Getting the diet right prevents the two most common rabbit health problems: dental disease and gut stasis.

• About 85% hay or grass — unlimited, and at least a bundle the size of the rabbit every day
• About 10% fresh leafy greens — a variety of safe greens and herbs, washed
• About 5% pellets — roughly an egg cup (25 g) per kg of body weight daily. Avoid muesli-style mixes, which encourage selective eating.
• Fresh water, always available

Carrots and fruit are treats, not staples — they're high in sugar.

Housing: they need space

Rabbits need to run, jump and stand up. For a pair of medium-sized rabbits, the recommended minimum is an enclosure of about 3 m × 2 m × 1 m high, including a sheltered sleeping area. Rabbits must be able to:

• stand on their back legs without their ears touching the roof
• stretch out fully
• hop several times in a row

A hutch alone is not enough. In a Greek summer, make sure there's deep shade and good ventilation — rabbits overheat easily.

Company

Rabbits are social animals and should live with at least one other rabbit. A neutered male and neutered female usually make the best pair. Neutering also prevents some cancers and reduces aggression.

Vaccinations

Vaccinate against myxomatosis and rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease (RVHD-1 and RVHD-2), starting from about five weeks of age, with yearly boosters. Indoor rabbits need them too — insects and clothing can carry the viruses.

Health warning signs

A rabbit that stops eating or stops passing droppings needs a vet the same day. Gut stasis can become life-threatening within hours.

Also watch for drooling, wet chin, weight loss, overgrown teeth, a dirty bottom (flystrike risk in warm weather) and head tilt.

Rabbits normally have a fast heart rate (180–350 beats per minute) and a temperature of about 38.6–40.1 °C.