Rabbits and guinea pigs are popular pets with kids as well as adults.  However these small pets are highly susceptible to heat stroke, mosquito borne diseases and poor husbandry practices.

rabbit care

Diet is a big key for a healthy rabbit.  A rabbit's diet should consist of 80% grass or plain hay and 20% fresh leafy green vegetables such as broccoli leaves, cabbage, diced celery, endive, silverbeet, Asian lettuce but not iceberg lettuce.  Occasional treats such as apple, carrot, banana are ok, but limit this to a dessert spoon amount.

Never feed grains, seeds (unfortunately common pet food mixes!), nuts, corn, breads or breakfast cereals.  These foods can upset the normal bacteria in the rabbit's and cause gut stasis and cause dental disease from poor chewing and teeth of grinding.

All rabbits require a minimum of 2-3 hours of unfiltered sunlight and exercise a day.  You rabbit should be able to hop at least 3-5 strides in its enclosure.  Heat stress is very common so if the daily temperature is expected to rise over 28º C, the rabbit should be brought inside. Shade and ice blocks are not adequate to reduce ambient air temperature your rabbit breathes.  Outdoor hutches should also have a solid floor with very deep hay, never wire or slat floors which can cause pressure sores on feet.  Mosquito netting is important if your hutch is outside.

It is recommended to desex rabbits to reduce male aggression and female uterine cancer.  Calicivirus vaccination at 10-12 weeks of age is advised. A booster is recommended every ten months.

guinea pig care

Health care is very similar to rabbits.  They do require Vitamin C rich foods such as strawberries, kale and parsley.   Desexing females to reduce ovarian cysts forming.  It is not advisable to keep guinea pigs with rabbits as healthy rabbits can introduce respiratory diseases to guinea pigs.

If your rabbit, guinea pig or other pocket pet needs to see the vet, Our Pet Mobile Vet will travel to you.