Rabbit Awareness Week: 7 things you may not know about rabbits

21/06/2016

It’s Rabbit Awareness Week, but how much do you know about our long-eared friends? Here are some interesting facts.

1. Rabbits are social animals. They can get sad and lonely without a companion. They enjoy the affection and company of other rabbits. A lack of stimulation can result in poor health and behavioural problems. The primary objective of this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week campaign will be a Buddies for Bunnies pledge to inspire pet owners to consider suitable friends for their single rabbits by encouraging re-homing from welfare centres.

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2. Essential foods. If you want to give a treat to your rabbit, opt for veggies and fruits, however their digestive systems require fibre. Hay and grass are essential to a rabbit’s health, without it, they can become malnourished.

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3. Superb eyesight. Rabbits have top notch eyesight. They can see almost 360 degrees around them, except for a minor blind spot in front of their nose.

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4. Sensitivity to heat. Rabbits are sensitive to heat; therefore, it is important to keep them cool in the summer months. Wild rabbits burrow underground to keep cool, but this isn’t possible in a domestic environment. Give them plenty of water and access to shade as the temperatures rise.

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5. Inability to vomit. One of the reasons it is very important to be aware of feeding the correct foods to your rabbit is that they can’t become sick like us humans. This can cause problems if they eat the wrong thing.

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6. Teeth. Rabbit teeth grow constantly, which makes it imperative that your rabbit gets Timothy Hay and wooden toys to chew on. If your rabbit’s teeth stop grinding, he or she may find eating very painful.

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7. They require a lot of tender loving care. Many people think that rabbits require less of a commitment than dogs or cats. However, rabbits may require even more attention and effort than their feline or dog companions. Remember that rabbits can live 10 years or greater, so make sure that you’re ready for the responsibility of a lifetime.

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For more information, please read an in-depth rabbit guide found here on our website.