How to take care of your

rabbits

www.rspca.org.uk
How to take care of your

rabbits
Owning and caring for rabbits can be
great fun and very rewarding, but it’s
a big responsibility and a long-term
commitment in terms of care and
cost. If you own or are responsible for
rabbits, even on a temporary basis,
you are required by law to care for
them properly.

The biology and behaviour of pet rabbits is

very similar to that of wild rabbits. This means
they have very complex needs and although
traditionally thought of as good pets for
children, this is not the case as they are not
easy to look after well. Typically, rabbits live
for 8-12 years, but some may live for longer.

HOW
HOW
TO TAKE
TO TAKE
CARE
CARE
OF YOUR
OF YOUR
RABBITS
RABBITS 33
Contents
Environment 6 | Diet 12 | Behaviour 14 | Company 18 | Health and welfare 20
 There is no one ‘perfect’ way to care for
all rabbits because every rabbit and every
situation is different. It’s up to you how you
look after your rabbits, but you must take
reasonable steps to ensure that you meet
all their needs.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, pet

owners are legally obliged to care for
their pets properly – as most owners
already do – by providing the following
five basic welfare needs.
l A suitable place to live.
l A healthy diet including fresh,
clean water.
l The ability to behave normally.
l Appropriate company, including


any need to be housed with, or

apart from, other animals.
l Protection from pain, suffering,
injury and disease.
 Environment
Make sure your rabbits have a suitable place to live
Rabbits are active animals so they need to be able to hop, run, jump, dig,
stand fully upright on their back legs, and stretch out fully when lying down.
They need regular and frequent opportunities to exercise every day to stay fit and healthy,
as well as an appropriate place to toilet.
To do all this, rabbits need lots of space their shelter could be an indoor pen or
– a well matched pair of medium-sized even a ‘rabbit proofed’ room in your house
rabbits requires a living area where they can – you’ll need to protect wires and cables
exercise and rest of at least three metres by covering them or moving them out of
x two metres, and one metre high (groups reach as rabbits love to chew.
of three or more rabbits and large/giant
However you choose to house your rabbits,
breeds will need larger accommodation).
it’s important their living area consists of an
It can be difficult to buy purpose-
built accommodation measuring these area where they can exercise and behave
dimensions, but there’s no reason why you normally and a permanently attached main
can’t build your own! shelter where they feel safe and can rest
together if they choose.
Many people are now using children’s
playhouses or sheds as rest areas for their Giving rabbits permanent access to all areas
rabbits and attaching them to a large of their accommodation (i.e. exercise area
secure area where they can exercise freely. and shelter) provides them with the space
Alternatively you can place a shelter within they need to move about, as well as choice
an exercise ‘run’. For rabbits kept indoors, and control over their environment – so

6 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

they can perform the behaviours they a suitable sole and permanent home for
want to, when they want to! Only if it is any rabbit as it will not meet their needs
absolutely necessary should you secure for exercise and stimulation and could
rabbits in their shelter, preventing access to cause health and behaviour problems.
their exercise area. Rabbits are most active
Rabbits are inquisitive animals – they
in the early morning and late afternoon, and
may easily injure themselves if there
overnight. This is when they like to graze,
are hazards within their environment –
forage for food and be sociable, so ensure
so their home should be safe, secure
they can use a large area for exercising at
and free from hazards.
these times in particular.
Rabbits must be able to hide from things
All areas of your rabbits’ home must be
that scare them and – as they are a prey
well ventilated, dry and draught-free and
species – away from the sight and smell
they need to be protected from predators
of predators such as foxes, cats, dogs,
and extremes of weather and temperature.
ferrets and birds of prey. So they need
Living in draughty, damp, hot, poorly
constant access to safe hiding places, as
ventilated or dirty environments can cause
well as platforms from which they can
suffering and illness.
scan their environment for threats. Rabbits
Providing housing that meets your rabbits’ are intelligent; if they are bored and do
complex environmental and behavioural not have enough to do, they may suffer
needs is an important part of responsible – see pages 14-17 for tips about toys and
ownership. A traditional small hutch is not activities to keep your rabbits occupied.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 7

 Creature comforts House proud
Your rabbits will need enough bedding Your rabbits’ toilet area(s) should be
to keep them comfortable and warm – it cleaned every day. The whole home
should be safe for them to eat so provide should be thoroughly cleaned regularly
suitable insulating bedding materials such – approximately once a week. Cleaning is
as dust-free hay and shredded paper. potentially stressful for rabbits so after
cleaning, a small amount of the used but
They will also need regular (ideally unsoiled bedding should be placed back
constant) access to a suitable place where into the toilet area and shelter as this will
they can go to the toilet which should be smell familiar to the rabbits and help to
separate to where they sleep. reduce the stress caused by cleaning.
If you provide litter trays, provide a tray for Only non-toxic cleaning products should
each of your rabbits (ideally, with one more be used and the housing should be dry
in addition) and use absorbent materials before the rabbits are replaced in it.
such as newspaper, hay, shredded paper
and/or paper-based, non-clumping, non-
expanding cat litter.

For information on the extra bedding and protection your rabbits need
during the winter months, please download our Winter care advice sheet at:
www.rspca.org.uk/rabbits/health

8 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

Holiday time Transporting rabbits
If you are going away, try to find someone When you transport your rabbits make sure
to care for, and meet all your rabbits’ they are comfortable and safe at all times.
welfare needs within their familiar home. Putting familiar smelling items in the carrier
If boarding your rabbits, try to ease the and the new environment can help make
move by keeping paired/grouped rabbits your rabbits feel more at ease. Rabbits that
together and leave them with familiar- live together and are friends should be
smelling items, such as toys. transported together to give reassurance,
and ensure the same scents are transferred
to all rabbits, helping to avoid the potential
problems associated with reintroducing
rabbits after a period apart.

You can download an advice sheet on Transporting rabbits from:

www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitsenvironment

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 9

 1

Our living shelter needs to be dry and We want to feel safe – we love having
1 4
protected from the wind and rain. places to hide away and platforms to jump
up on so we can check out what’s going on
We eat lots and lots of hay and grass –
2 around us.
using a rack above floor level helps our
hay to stay clean. We need to have some shade on a
5 sunny day.
We always need clean water to drink so,
3
every morning and evening, please check
we have a fresh supply.
 We have lots of space in
our secure, safe enclosure
We enjoy relaxing inside our large shelter but when
we are active we like to play, graze, and forage for
food so we love being able to go outdoors in our run,
whenever we want to.

9
4

We love eating a handful of different leafy We need to have enough space to run
6 8
greens every day – cabbage, kale, and mint around and we need to have lots of things
are some of our favourites! to do – we’ll get plenty of exercise and
entertainment if we have a variety of safe
We need each other for company but we
7 toys, tunnels and cardboard boxes to
also need you – please spend time with us
play with.
so you can be sure we have everything we
need to stay healthy and happy! We love to dig – a pit filled with child-
9
friendly sand or earth is ideal.
 Diet
Make sure your rabbits have a healthy diet
Rabbits are grazers and in the wild they eat only grass and other plants – in
fact, your rabbits’ digestive systems must have hay and/or grass in order to function properly.
Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously Food and drink
throughout their life and need to be worn Your rabbits need fresh clean drinking water
down and kept at the correct length at all times – without access to water they
and shape by eating grass, hay and leafy can become seriously ill. Check their water
green plants – if they don’t eat the right supply twice a day and make sure it doesn’t
sorts of food they can suffer from serious freeze if they live outdoors in winter.
dental disease. They produce two types Good quality hay and/or grass should make
of droppings – hard dry pellets, and softer up the majority of your rabbits’ diet and
moist pellets which they eat directly from should be available at all times. Each rabbit
their bottom and which are an essential needs at least a ‘rabbit-sized’ bundle of
part of their diet. good quality hay every day which should
Rabbits tend to eat for long periods of be sweet-smelling and dust-free. Feeding
time, mainly at dawn and dusk when some hay from a hay rack or hanging basket
they like to graze, forage for food and be keeps it clean and above floor level. Placing
a hay rack above your rabbits’ litter tray
sociable. How much an individual rabbit
may encourage them to eat more hay.
needs to eat depends on their age, lifestyle
and general health. But if a rabbit eats more Find out which plants are safe to feed
food than they need, they will become your rabbits. Offer them a variety of safe,
overweight and may suffer. washed leafy greens or weeds every day –

12 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

 For more dietary advice, check out www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitdiet

ideally five or six different types. Safe plants be fed. Feeding muesli can increase the risk
include cabbage, kale, broccoli, parsley and of rabbits developing serious teeth and
mint. Don’t feed them lawn mower clippings tummy problems (including obesity), which
as these can upset their digestive system can cause terrible suffering. If you currently
and make them ill. A rabbit’s diet doesn’t feed muesli, you need to gradually transfer
naturally include cereals, root vegetables or your rabbits onto a healthier diet. This
fruit but you can give them apples or root change should be done slowly over 14-28
vegetables like carrots, in very small amounts days to avoid potentially serious tummy
as an occasional treat. Avoid feeding any upsets (the exact time-scale will depend on
other treats as these may harm your rabbits. each individual animal). Mix a small amount
You can also feed a small, measured of nuggets into their current food, gradually
ration of good quality commercial rabbit reducing the amount of muesli, until it has
nuggets to help to ensure your rabbits get been completely replaced. Your vet can
a balanced diet, but remember that hay advise you on how to provide the best diet
and/or grass are much more important for each of your rabbits and how to safely
and must be available at all times. Make transition them onto a hay, leafy greens and
sure that any nuggets you provide are high nugget based feeding plan.
quality and contain high fibre levels.
Take note of the amount each rabbit eats
If you feed nuggets, for a healthy adult and drinks every day, and watch out for any
rabbit, allow 25g (an egg cup-full) of nuggets changes in an individual’s eating, drinking or
per kg of each rabbit’s body weight but toileting habits. For example, if the number
take care to adjust the amount given of droppings gets less or stops, or if there
according to individual rabbits’ needs, based are soft droppings sticking to their back
on their lifestyle, activity levels, age and end, talk to your vet straight away as your
state of health. Growing, pregnant, nursing rabbit could be seriously ill.
or underweight rabbits may need a larger
Don’t make any sudden changes to your
portion of nuggets. Make sure your rabbits
rabbits’ diet – introduce new foods and
have finished the whole portion before
make any necessary changes gradually to
giving them more, i.e. don’t keep topping up
avoid upsetting their digestive systems.
the bowl/food dispensers, as this may result
By keeping a careful eye on your rabbits
in them not eating enough hay and/or grass.
you will be able adjust how much you feed
Muesli-style foods are associated with them in order to make sure they don’t
health problems in rabbits and should not become underweight or overweight.

For tips about how to provide your rabbits’ food in interesting ways,
visit: www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitsdietaryenrichment

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 13

 Behaviour
Make sure your rabbits are able to behave normally
Rabbits are highly social, playful and inquisitive animals and need to interact
and play with other friendly rabbits. Many rabbits also enjoy interacting with people
through gentle petting and positive reward-based training (such as clicker training).

Rabbits need regular and frequent or develop unwanted habits, such as

opportunities to exercise every day. aggression or hiding. Signs that a rabbit may
Permanently attaching their main shelter be suffering from stress or fear can include
and living enclosure gives rabbits choice hiding, chewing cage bars, over-grooming,
and control over their environment and the altered feeding or toileting habits, over-
ability to perform behaviours whenever drinking or playing with the water bottle,
they want. If permanent access to all sitting hunched, reluctance to move, and
areas of the accommodation really is not repeated circling of their enclosure.
possible, provide access to a large exercise
Be observant. If your rabbit’s behaviour
area during their most active periods (early
changes or they show regular signs
morning, late afternoon and overnight).
of stress or fear, talk to your vet or a
The way a rabbit behaves will depend on qualified animal behaviourist. Never shout
their age, personality and past experiences at or punish your rabbits – they are very
but if one of your rabbits changes their unlikely to understand and may become
behaviour, they could be distressed, bored, more nervous or scared. If your rabbit’s
ill or injured. Rabbits that are frightened behaviour becomes an ongoing problem,
or in pain may change their behaviour talk to an expert.

For further information on finding a qualified animal behaviourist, take a look at

the RSPCA website at: www.rspca.org.uk/findabehaviourist

14 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

 Platforms allow rabbits to scan their
RABBITS NEED TO environment for threats and can help them
to feel safe. They can also help to build
HAVE LOTS TO DO up a rabbit’s physical fitness and bone
The size of your rabbits’ home is strength, as jumping on and off a platform
very important, but what’s in their is an important weight-bearing exercise.
enclosure is also key to their welfare.
But if your rabbits have previously been
An interesting environment gives
kept in a restricted environment with
your rabbits mental and physical
little or no opportunity to exercise and
stimulation, which means that they
jump onto objects, ask your vet for advice
are more likely to remain fit, healthy
before providing platforms, so that you can
and happy as a result. You’ll have fun
make sure they don’t injure themselves.
too, spending time watching them
exploring and enjoying themselves.
Find out more about the
importance of providing constant
Hiding places and platforms access to hiding places at:
Remember, your rabbits must be able to www.rspca.org.uk/
hide from things that scare them (see page rabbitshidingplaces
7). They need to be able to hide in a secure
Find out more about providing
place, away from the sight and smell of platforms at: www.rspca.org.uk/
predators such as foxes, cats, dogs, ferrets rabbitsplatforms
and birds of prey.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 15

 Play time Recognise and understand
Toys allow rabbits to perform normal your rabbits’ body language
behaviours such as digging, chewing,
chin marking and investigating. Different A happy rabbit
rabbits enjoy different types of toys, so try These rabbits are relaxed and happy.
providing a variety of items until you find Rabbits 1–3 show ears close together, facing
out which ones your rabbits like best! slightly backwards and pointing outwards.
Provide your rabbits with safe toys to play Eyes may be partially closed.
with and chew, and regular opportunities
to play with other friendly rabbits and/ Rabbit is lying down, with a relaxed
1 body posture and legs tucked
or people. Rabbits tend to love the simple
(and cheap!) things in life – here are a few under the body.
suggestions for toys and objects that could
be a hit with your bunnies:
PAPER shredded newspaper, paper bags Rabbit is lying down, with front paws
with the handles removed and telephone 2 pointing forward and rear legs
directories (with the glossy covers stuck out sideways. Body is
removed). You could even bundle up your relaxed and extended.
rabbits’ favourite food item in brown paper
as a parcel for them to unwrap!
CARDBOARD boxes with holes cut into
Rabbit is lying down with a fully
them make great hiding places. Cardboard 3 extended, relaxed body. Back legs
tubes can be stuffed with hay and healthy
are stretched out behind the
treats/part of their daily food ration.
body and the front paws are
TUNNELS plastic and fabric tunnels can be pointing forward.
purchased commercially. Tunnels can also
be made from cardboard boxes, cardboard
tubes and large ceramic pipes (with a
wide diameter). Rabbit jumps into the air with all four
4 paws off the ground and twists in
mid-air before landing.

You’ll find lots more ideas for

safe toys and objects that your
rabbits may enjoy playing or
interacting with at:
www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitstoys

16 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

A worried rabbit Digging and marking
These rabbits are telling you that they are Try to provide your rabbits with some
uncomfortable and don’t want you near them. form of ‘digging box’. A large plant pot or
Rabbit is in a crouched position, muscles litter tray filled with earth, a cardboard
1 are tense, head held flat box filled with shredded paper or a sandpit
to the ground, ears wide filled with child-friendly sand provides a
apart and flattened against safe place for them to have fun.
the back, pupils dilated. Rabbits use scent as an important means
of communication so provide objects
Rabbits who are worried and areas within your rabbits’ home where
2 they can scent mark using chin secretions,
or anxious may hide.
urine and droppings. This is a rabbit’s way
An angry or very unhappy rabbit of marking their territory and making it
smell familiar and reassuring to them.
These rabbits are not happy and want
These scents are not detected or noticed
you to stay away or go away.
by people
Rabbit turns and moves away Safety first
1 flicking the back feet. Ears
Make sure any items you give your rabbits
may be held against the back.
are safe and inspect them regularly
to check for potential injury points.
Rabbit is sitting up on back legs Repair, discard or replace any items that
2 with front paws raised displaying
become damaged or dangerous. You
boxing behaviour. Ears pointed should provide enough items for each
upwards and facing outwards, rabbit to help prevent competition or
rabbit may be growling. monopolisation. Always ensure your
rabbits can move away from a new object
Rabbit is standing tense, with back legs and keep a close eye on them when
3 thumping on the ground. Tail raised, ears first giving new items. If they do appear
pointing upwards and slightly turned stressed or frightened by a new item,
outwards, facial muscles remove it and watch their behaviour –
are tense and talk to your vet if you’re worried.
pupils dilated.
Regularly rotate the toys and objects that
you give your rabbits to maintain their
Rabbit is standing tense with body down
4 and weight towards the back, head tilted interest and prevent them from becoming
bored. To make sure your rabbits get the
upwards, mouth open and teeth visible.
most from the resources you provide, take
Ears held back and lowered, tail
a look at the RSPCA’s advice on enrichment
raised, pupils dilated.
at: www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitsenrichment

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 17

 Company


Make sure your rabbits have appropriate company
Rabbits are naturally sociable and normally prefer to be with another rabbit.
A rabbit left on their own can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if left without
company and nothing to do for long periods of time.
So please keep your rabbit with at Rabbits kept together will naturally form
least one other friendly rabbit, unless a ‘pecking order’ with some animals being
advised otherwise by a vet or qualified more dominant than others. A rabbit can be
animal behaviourist. bullied if they cannot get away from other
rabbits that they don’t like. So make sure all
A good combination is a neutered male
your rabbits have constant access to places
and a neutered female. It’s best to get your
they can go to get away from each other
rabbits neutered, unless they are intended
if they want to and that there are enough
for breeding and provisions have been made
hiding places for all your rabbits at all times.
to care for both parents and offspring.
Rabbits that are brought up together Introduce new rabbits gradually and under
will usually get on with each other but, if supervision, preferably in a space that
introduced for the first time as adults, they is new to both rabbits. Always talk to a
may fight. Neutering reduces the likelihood qualified animal behaviourist if you are
of fighting in both male and female rabbits, unsure or have problems.
and has other benefits (see page 21).

For more information on introducing unfamiliar rabbits visit:

www.rspca.org.uk/bondingrabbits

18 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

Hands on
If you take the time to handle your rabbits
regularly they will learn to see you as a
friend and companion, so handle them
gently every day from an early age. To hold
your rabbits correctly, you should pick them
up gently but firmly, making sure that one
hand supports their back and hindquarters
at all times and that they feel secure by
having all four feet held against your body.
Avoid holding rabbits on their backs – this is
actually a stressful experience for them.
For more detailed advice on how to handle IN GOOD COMPANY
and train your rabbits, visit www.rspca.org. When you are away, make sure your
uk/handlingrabbits. If you are unsure how rabbits are cared for by a responsible
to handle your rabbits, please ask your vet person. Never leave your rabbits
or a qualified animal behaviourist for advice. unsupervised with another animal
or person who may (deliberately or
If your rabbit has to be kept on their own
accidentally) harm or frighten them.
for some reason it’s especially important
that you interact positively with them every Rabbits will usually be scared of cats and
day to provide companionship. dogs because they are natural predators,
but if introduced to them carefully, early
Rabbits that receive little handling at an
in life, they can develop friendships.
early age, or rough handling at any age, may
Never leave your rabbits unsupervised
find human contact distressing. This can be
with a cat or dog, even if you know they
expressed as fearfulness, escape behaviour
are good friends.
and aggression. If you are concerned about
your rabbit’s behaviour, speak to your Rabbits and guinea pigs have different
vet for advice. It’s important to get your needs so keeping them together is
rabbit checked by a vet first to rule out any not advised. The best companion for
illness or injury that could be causing the a rabbit is another friendly rabbit.
behaviour problem. Your vet can then refer
you to a behaviour expert. Your rabbit’s For further information, including advice
reaction to handling is likely to depend on on what to do if you already have a
their past handling experience, so patience rabbit and guinea pig living together visit:
will be needed to help them grow more www.rspca.org.uk/rabbitsandguineapigs
confident and comfortable around people.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 19

 Health and welfare
Make sure your rabbits are protected from pain,
suffering, injury and disease
Rabbits feel pain in the same way as other mammals, including people, but they are not
very good at showing outward signs of pain and may be suffering a great deal before you
notice anything is wrong.
A change in the way a rabbit normally contact with wild rabbits or areas where
behaves can be an early sign they are ill or wild rabbits have been.
in pain. If a rabbit is not eating or is more Some breeds of rabbit have been selected
quiet than usual, they are highly likely to be for exaggerated physical features which can
ill, or in pain, in which case you should talk cause them to suffer and reduce their quality
to your vet immediately. of life, while certain breeds are particularly
Rabbits are vulnerable to many infectious prone to inherited disorders and diseases.
diseases and other illnesses, especially Feeding your rabbit the correct diet of
dental disease. They can catch deadly mainly hay and/or grass will help prevent
infectious diseases from wild rabbits so you a lot of common diseases such as dental
should prevent your rabbits from having and gut disease.

20 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

Health check
Before deciding to buy/acquire rabbits, make offspring. Unneutered female rabbits are
sure you find out how they have been bred, at a high risk of developing cancer of the
what they have been fed and how they womb, and unneutered rabbits are more
have been cared for. Also, check out if any likely to fight if kept together. If you are
of them have had (or may be prone to) any thinking of allowing your rabbits to breed,
health or behaviour problems before you talk to your vet to make sure they are
take them on and always ask a vet for advice suitable for breeding in terms of their
if you are unsure about anything. health and personalities and to get advice
You should also think about taking out on how to care for the parents
pet insurance so you’ll be covered for and offspring.
unexpected vets’ bills in the future and Feeding your rabbits the correct diet of
safeguard your pets’ health. A one-off mainly hay and/or grass will help prevent
payment for microchipping your rabbit a lot of common diseases such as dental
means you are more likely to be quickly and gut disease. Check that your rabbits are
reunited if they go missing and they will eating every day and that they are passing
receive prompt veterinary care if injured.
plenty of dry droppings. If your rabbit’s
The RSPCA also advises that you get eating or drinking habits change or the
your rabbits neutered, unless they are number of droppings gets less or stops, talk
intended for breeding and provisions have to your vet straight away as they could be
been made to care for both parents and seriously ill.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS 21

 Health checklist
l Make sure your rabbits are vaccinated droppings that are stuck will attract flies,
regularly – take them for a routine which can lay eggs and cause ‘flystrike’,
health check with your vet at least which is often fatal.
once a year. Vaccinations protect them
l Front teeth and nails should be checked
against myxomatosis and Rabbit (Viral)
at least once a week as these can grow
Haemorrhagic Disease (R(V)HD) There is
quickly but only a vet should correct
also a vaccine available to protect against
overgrown or misaligned teeth.
R(V)HD2, which is a new strain of the
disease. Your vet will advise how often l Give your rabbits treatment for
your rabbits should be vaccinated. external and internal parasites
(e.g. fleas and worms) as necessary,
l Rabbits that are stressed are much more
as advised by your vet.
likely to become ill so try to minimise
unnecessary stress, provide constant l Only use medicines that have been
access to safe hiding places and watch specifically recommended for your
to see if their behaviour changes or they individual rabbit by a vet – some
show regular signs of stress or fear, in medicines used for other animals can be
which case, seek advice from your vet or very dangerous to rabbits.
a qualified animal behaviourist.
l Groom your rabbits’ coats regularly to
l Check your rabbits for signs of illness or keep them in good condition. If you
injury every day. Make sure this is done are unsure how to groom your rabbits
by someone else if you are away. properly, ask your vet for advice.
l I n warm weather check the fur and skin Consult your vet immediately if
around your rabbits’ rear end and tail you suspect your rabbit is in pain,
area twice a day, as urine staining or ill or injured.

Poisoning
Never ‘watch and wait’ in any case of and glyphosphate herbicide products.
suspected poisoning. If you think your rabbit Preventing your rabbit from coming into
has been poisoned, act fast and contact a contact with poisonous substances and
vet for advice immediately. treating any accidental poisonings quickly
and appropriately are an important part of
Some of the most common, potentially
responsible pet ownership.
severe rabbit poisons are rodent poisons
(‘rodenticides’), ivy, rhubarb, foxgloves

For more detailed advice on what to do if you think your rabbit has been poisoned
and how to prevent poisonings go to: www.rspca.org.uk/poisoning

22 HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR RABBITS

Find out more…
Rabbits are amazing animals with complex needs
that must be met if they are to be kept healthy
and happy.
There’s loads more to learn about rabbits on the RSPCA website –
from our rabbit factfile to detailed advice sheets on various aspects
of rabbit care. So make sure you visit www.rspca.org.uk/rabbits

WHAT YOUR RABBITS NEED 19

 If you are thinking of looking after rabbits, you’ve
really researched their welfare needs and you’re
committed to taking care of them for the whole
of their lives, please think about giving a home to
some of the many rescue rabbits available
for adoption at RSPCA animal centres across
England and Wales.

There are no animals more deserving of

loving owners, and we are always pleased to
provide help and advice with choosing and
caring for rabbits.

This booklet
will help you
find out what
rabbits need to
stay healthy
and happy.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

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