How long do rabbits live

A rabbit, just like any other animal, has specific nutritional requirements and we know that what we feed our pet rabbits has a direct effect on their lifespan.

Nutrition goes hand in hand with the overall health of a rabbit and if it isn't getting the appropriate vitamins, minerals, fiber content, and other ingredients in its diet, it isn't going to be healthy and therefore it will not live as long.

Special pelleted diets for rabbits, hay, and vegetables should make up the diet for a pet rabbit. Some treats and fruits can be given in moderation but if an unbalanced diet is fed, it will result in an unhealthy rabbit. Some people will only feed their rabbits pellets from the pet store, but this may be lacking in vitamins and minerals that a rabbit needs.

In addition to the food you feed, many things play a role in the health of your rabbit. Rabbits can develop illnesses or get parasites, and if left untreated, these health concerns may shorten your rabbit's life. Practicing good hygiene by washing your hands before and after handling your rabbit, as well as regular cage cleaning, are good ways to keep your rabbit healthy.

Regular check-ups with your veterinarian will also help catch any problems that your rabbit may be developing before its too late to do anything about it. Spaying or neutering your rabbit can also help lengthen its lifespan. Female rabbits are prone to mammary and uterine cancers and male rabbits can develop testicular cancer.

By getting a rabbit spayed or neutered, you will drastically decrease the likelihood of your rabbit developing cancer and therefore increase its odds of living a long life. Rabbits need a lot of space and mental stimulation, but unfortunately, many people think they are happy being kept in a cage their entire lives. Rabbits, while able to live indoors or outdoors, need large areas, such as a bedroom, to call their own, as well as toys , things to chew on , and items to play on.

Rabbits that don't get the proper space and enrichment aren't usually as healthy as those that do and therefore may not have as long of a lifespan as they should. It is also important to provide a calm home for your rabbit. Extreme amounts of stress can cause your rabbit to die. Being taunted by a cat or dog, grabbed by a child, or being hurt can result in your rabbit going into shock and dying.

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest rabbit to ever live was a wild-born rabbit named Flopsy, who was slightly more than 18 years old when he passed. A secure backyard where no other animals particularly cats or wild rabbits can enter is great, but a sectioned off area of grass is also good.

Ensure that if you leave your rabbit outside for long periods of time they have access to their hutch or a weather proof area with bedding so they can rest. Rabbits are social species and prefer to live in groups. If you decide to own a rabbit, always have at least 2 rabbits. However, if you don't have the room or time or money to keep two rabbits you will need to become your rabbit's companion. This means that if you are away for long periods more than 4 hours every day you will need to provide your rabbit with enrichment activities and toys to keep them occupied and prevent them from becoming lonely or suffering from stress.

If you have 2 or more rabbits it is important to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Separate males and females into different pens or have your veterinarian desex them. Males will be less likely to fight each other if introduced at a young age. Females and males can be prone to fighting amongst each other so make sure you help new rabbits get used to each other in a supervised environment or through a mesh fence before they co-habit.

Rabbits are playful and inquisitive and require the stimulation of other rabbits or humans and their environment. They are active animals that need to exercise and play regularly. Ensuring your rabbit is adequately stimulated is an important aspect of caring for your rabbit. This can be achieved through environmental enrichment. Rabbits are most active during the early morning, late afternoon and evening.

This is the best time for you to interact with your rabbit. Rabbits are a prey species, they are the animals that other animals catch and eat. Therefore, rabbits naturally hide from things that scare them. Your rabbit's environment must cater for this. You need to provide them with places in their enclosure to hide. Rabbits are vulnerable to a number of health problems, in particular diseases such as Myxomatosis and Calicivirus. These diseases are generally fatal for pet rabbits.

They have been introduced into Australia to control the wild rabbit population. Unfortunately pet rabbits are just as susceptible to them. Try to reduce the risk of mosquito bites to your rabbits as mosquitos can carry Myxomatosis from the wild rabbit population to your pet.

There is a vaccine for Calicivirus. You can have your rabbit vaccinated against this disease every 6 months by your vet. Rabbits can develop dental problems. It is important that they are constantly chewing on something, either grass, hay or a gnawing block.

Their teeth grow at a rate of 2 to 3mm per week. Overgrown teeth can lead to weight loss, severe pain and discomfort. If you think your rabbit's teeth are getting too long, talk to your vet about some suitable options for reducing their length and maintaining an appropriate length. Rabbits are susceptible to mite infestations. Symptoms include hair loss and itchiness. Thoroughly clean out and disinfect the hutch. The rabbit should be treated by a vet. Many animal welfare shelters are inundated with unwanted pet rabbits, which have been bred by accident.

If you do not plan to breed with your rabbit, discuss desexing with your vet. In male rabbits this is a relatively simple procedure. In female rabbits it is a more major operation. Desexing can help reduce nesting behaviour and improve toilet training. Rabbits can suffer from heat stress. It is important not to place the hutch in direct sunlight during the warmer months.

Keep it in the shade even on warm to cool days. It does not take long for heat to build up in small areas. On hot days it may be necessary to provide a frozen drink bottle or ice brick in the nesting area of the hutch to reduce the temperature. You could opening a window if there is a breeze which will help cool your rabbit. Many of the tips to help your rabbit live a long life fall into four important areas:. Rabbits need a high-fiber diet full of leafy greens like endive and kale.

Treats should be given sparingly and think twice before you grab a colorful box in the grocery store. Tim Patino, president of the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, recommends mint, or a slice of carrot or fruit as an occasional treat. Housing: A rabbit-proofed room or a large pen is a must-have. Pierce recommends a square-foot pen, but notes that rabbits should still have plenty of time to be active outside of the pen—about three or four hours a day.

Keeping your rabbit indoors is also key. Keeping rabbits outside is not ideal due to weather conditions and the threat of predators, Charland said. Veterinary care: A reason rabbits are living longer today is that veterinarians simply know more about them and many have special training to care for rabbits.

Patino recommends taking your rabbit to the vet as soon as you get it and returning for yearly check-ups if there are no apparent health issues. Frequent veterinary visits are especially important for elderly rabbits, which can experience rapid changes in a small amount of time. Spaying and neutering can also increase life expectancy, as unspayed females are at high risk for uterine and mammary cancer.

He recommends giving your rabbit new toys to discover whenever possible.