Rabbit Care Videos

Click below to see Dr.Campbell on the web, discussing basics of rabbit care and health for About.com

Beginner Rabbit Care	Rabbit Proof Your Home	Common Health Problems

Your Healthy Rabbit's Annual Exam

Every rabbit should have an annual, comprehensive physical exam where the eyes, ears, teeth, heart, lymph nodes, skin, and abdominal organs are evaluated. Since animals can not express their symptoms verbally, the annual physical is a very important part of their care in order to detect problems early. This is the perfect opportunity to ask questions about your rabbit's behavior. The doctors will not give any tests or vaccinations without your consent. If your pet has been seen at previous vets, please contact them about faxing the old records to us at: 212-665-3459.

The Special Medical Needs Of Rabbits

Anyone who has a pet rabbit needs to know of their special needs and health issues. Although rabbits are often considered low maintenance pets suitable for children, they actually need a great deal of adult supervision. In order for a rabbit to lead a fulfilling life, and for the owners to appreciate his or her personality, the bunny must be allowed at least several hours of exercise out of the sleeping cage. This requires a fair amount of rabbit-proofing, to prevent unwanted and dangerous chewing of electric wires, carpet and furniture. Small children should not be permitted to pick up a rabbit, since the rabbit's spine can easily break if the animal struggles.

Diet

A proper diet is crucial for the rabbit's health and longevity. There is a great deal of misinformation from petshop employees regarding rabbit feeding. Basically rabbits should eat large amounts of grass hay like timothy, small amounts of plain pellets, and a variety of fresh vegetables. We recommend the Oxbow Hay company (800-249-0366) for mail order delivery of wonderful rabbit diets and fresh hay.

Spaying & Neutering

All females must be spayed to prevent cancer of the uterus, which approximately 70% of unspayed females will develop. Neutering a male rabbit is not medically necessary, but will help with litter box training, and will reduce aggression and allow harmony in multi-rabbit households.

Things To Watch Out For

Rabbit owners should know that a rabbit who fails to eat for even half a day can develop life-threatening intestinal disorders. Lack of feces or diarrhea are also considered urgent problems in rabbits and need rapid veterinary attention.

More Information

Please visit the house rabbit society webpage for a complete source of information on all things bunny.