🐰 Keeping Your Rabbit Healthy and Happy
Rabbits are affectionate, curious animals full of personality. They make wonderful companions and can be the perfect pet for homes with limited outdoor space. Many rabbits enjoy toys, social interaction, and will often show pure joy by doing a binky — a playful leap into the air.
Rabbits can also be litter trained, making them ideal indoor pets. They are naturally social and most active during the morning and evening, which suits owners with busy daytime schedules.
A constant supply of hay is the foundation of a healthy rabbit diet.
Suitable hays include:
- Timothy
- Oaten
- Wheaten
- Pasture
- Paddock
- Meadow
- Ryegrass
Hay provides essential fibre for gut health and encourages long chewing sessions, which help keep teeth naturally worn and healthy.
🌾 80–90% Fresh Hay
🥕 Diet & Nutrition
What rabbits should eat every day
Rabbits are strict herbivores and need a diet rich in fresh plant material. Variety is essential, and all food should be fresh.
🥬 10–20% Fresh Greens
Offer two cups per kg of body weight daily.
- Great options include:
- Cos, romaine, rocket
- Bok choy, silverbeet, endive
- Broccoli leaves, cauliflower leaves
- Celery (especially leaves)
- Carrot tops
- Snow peas, brussels sprouts
- Spinach (in small amounts)
- Herbs: basil, mint, parsley, coriander
- Small amounts of kale
🍓 5% Healthy Treats
🩺 Rabbit Health
Rabbits should visit the vet at least once a year. Your vet will check:
- Teeth — ensuring they are not overgrown
- Vaccinations — especially for calicivirus
- Eyes, ears, skin, nails — checking for infection or irritation
- Body condition — weight, hydration, and general health
⚠️ Signs of Illness
Seek immediate veterinary help if you notice:
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Noisy or difficult breathing
- Hair loss or skin irritation
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss or reduced appetite
- Behavioural changes
Rabbits instinctively hide illness, so symptoms often appear late. Quick action is essential.
🧼 Grooming Your Rabbit
Keeping coats clean, healthy, and mat‑free
Rabbits shed year‑round, especially in warmer months. Grooming helps prevent hair ingestion and keeps their coat in good condition.
💉Vet checks and vaccinations
Limit to three tablespoons daily.
Suitable treats:
- Carrot
- Green capsicum
- Apple (no seeds)
- Banana (with peel)
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Sultanas
Visit us in store for personalised enrichment ideas to keep your rabbit’s mind and body active.
🐇 Short‑Haired Rabbits
- Groom weekly
- Use a soft rubber brush
- Brush in the direction of the fur
🐇 Long‑Haired Rabbits
- Groom daily
- Use a slicker brush or comb
- Regular clipping or plucking may be needed
Long‑haired rabbits are at risk of woolblock, a dangerous gut blockage caused by swallowed fur. Early signs include:
- Reduced appetite
- Smaller droppings
Keeping long‑haired rabbits indoors and litter trained helps keep their coats clean.
✂️ Nail Trimming
Rabbits’ nails should be clipped regularly. Each nail contains a blood vessel (the quick), so trimming must be done carefully. A vet or groomer can show you how.
🧩 Enrichment & Exercise
Keeping your rabbit active, stimulated, and happy
Rabbits need daily mental and physical stimulation. Provide a variety of enrichment items such as:
- Wooden chew toys — support dental health
- Hiding boxes — cardboard boxes work perfectly
- Tunnels — for play and security
- Treat toys — like hay balls
Hay/grass tubes — store‑bought or homemade using cardboard tubes
Contact Information
Opening Hours
Principal Pets
184 Telegraph Road
Heswall
Merseyside
CH60 0AJ
Tel: 0151 342 9635
Email: info@principalpets.co.uk
VAT : 178 3864 58
Free Local Delivery
Monday Closed
Tuesday 09:00 to 17:30
Wednesday 09:00 to 17:30
Thursday 09:00 to 17:30
Friday 09:00 to 17:30
Saturday 09:00 to 17:30
Sunday Closed