Pet Habitat South Africa

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16 Nov 2017

How Long Do Rabbits Live?

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Rabbits | Pet Care

Everyone wants their pet to live a long and healthy life. For many years in South Africa it was thought that rabbits live maybe three to five years. Overall, rabbits are living longer these days thanks to a combination of specially trained veterinarians and better knowledge of how rabbits should live and what they should eat.

Domestic rabbits usually live between 10-15 years, in contrast to wild rabbits, which may only live a few years because they deal with disease, starvation, and predators. Though there are a variety of rabbit breeds, it’s difficult to determine whether specific breeds live longer than others. Larger breeds often have a shorter lifespan than smaller rabbits, but there are many rabbits which can prove you wrong. The oldest domesticated rabbit on record is 18 years. Today people are feeding rabbits much better food than in the past and keeping them inside more often, which protects them from weather and predators and can help them to live longer.

How to Make Your Rabbit Live Longer

Rabbits aren’t as low-maintenance as they seem and much of a rabbit’s longevity depends on how well an owner cares for them. Many of the tips to help your rabbit live a long life fall into four important categories:

Food
The majority of a rabbit’s diet (80-90%) should be a high quality feeding hay and not the commercial pellets that used to be popular in the past. Rabbits need to consume incredible amounts of fibre in their diet. This is why they are now called Fibrevores to highlight the importance of fibre in their diet. There is really no nice way of telling pet owners that muesli diets can kill rabbits. Commercial food should only constitute 10% of the diet, a supplement to fresh foods and definately not a replacement for hay and grass. For example a rabbit should only be fed about an egg cup full (50g) of high fibre Burgess Excel Nuggets each day. Treats should be given sparingly. Many rabbit owners are now following the Excel 5 Step Feeding Plan for rabbits.

Housing
Rabbits should be housed in a hutch or shed with a run permanently attached to it. The hutch/shed provides shelter; the run provides space for the rabbits to express natural behaviour such as running, digging, jumping and exploring. The two areas should be connected by a tunnel or the run built onto the front of the hutch/shed. The minimum sizes recommend by animal welfare organizations for a small-medium pair of rabbits are 2 metres long by 0.6 metres deep by 0.75 metres high. All doors should have strong bolts on to keep safe from predators and remove swivel latches. Many pet owners also keep rabbits indoors but before you let your rabbit roam freely in your home, cover all wires, move books from bottom shelves, and make sure your rabbit won't have access to any special furniture. Ensure your rabbit can’t access stairs or high places, as they can jump up and often get injured. Indoor rabbits in general live longer than outside rabbits due to weather conditions and the stress of predators.

Veterinary Care
Another reason rabbits are living longer today is that veterinarians simply know more about them. We recommend taking your rabbit to the vet as soon as you get it and return for yearly check-ups, as long as there are no apparent health issues, in which case you may need to see your vet more often. Frequent veterinary visits are especially important for elderly rabbits, which can experience rapid changes in a small amount of time. Spaying and neutering can also increase life expectancy, as females are at high risk for uterine and mammary cancer. Before deciding on a vet, ask about their experience, including how many rabbits they usually see a week. You want to be certain to always take your rabbit to a vet who is very experienced in treating them.

Toys and Mental Stimulation
Rabbits tend to get bored with toys easily and if they’re not mentally stimulated you can expect to find them digging holes in your carpet or chewing at your baseboards. We recommend giving your rabbit new toys to discover whenever possible. Toys don’t necessarily need to be store-bought, either. A cardboard toilet paper tube stuffed with hay can be endless fun for a rabbit.

Common Causes of Death in Rabbits

One common cause of death in rabbits is Gastro Intestinal (GI) Stasis, which can kill rabbits quickly. GI stasis can have numerous causes, from stress to dehydration to a blockage. Feeding muesli foods to rabbits over time increases the risk of GI Stasis developing because high starch content in food increases the acidity in their gut and slows down their digestive system. Other frequent causes of death include heatstroke (for rabbits that are outside), injury, poisoning, infectious disease, cancer, and heart attacks due to stress. Overall, it’s important to pay attention to your rabbit’s health and consult your veterinarian if something seems wrong. Rabbits tend to hide their illnesses very well, so when you notice a rabbit isn’t doing well, in many cases it's probably too late.