How can you help your rabbit thrive as they get older? From diet to vaccinations, here are some ideas when looking after an older rabbit.
How to care for a rabbit as they get older
Thanks to advances in vet and pet care, more rabbits than ever are living to a ripe old age.
Neutered pet rabbits live for around eight to 12 years, although this can vary depending on their health, lifestyle and breed. The longest-living rabbit on record reached an incredible 18 years and 10 months. On average, smaller rabbit breeds tend to live longer than larger ones.
When is a rabbit old?
It’s not easy to say exactly when a rabbit has reached their senior years, as different breeds age at different rates. Larger breeds such as the English Lop or New Zealand White are considered senior at four years old, while for smaller breeds such as the Netherlands Dwarf, it’s eight years or more. For medium-sized breeds, it’s around six years of age.
Just like us, our rabbits can slow down a bit as they get older and become more prone to certain health problems. You can help them stay in top condition by keeping up to date with their regular vet check-ups and vaccinations, as well as closely monitoring their health and wellbeing at home.
Senior rabbit care tips
From diet to home improvements, tweaking your rabbit’s routine slightly as they age could help them thrive.
Feeding older rabbits
It’s more important than ever to keep an eye on your rabbit’s weight as they age. Older rabbits can become less active due to conditions such as arthritis. This makes them more prone to a condition known as gut stasis.
All adult rabbits should be given a suitable diet of fresh hay or grass, leafy greens and pellet food. As they get older, it may be helpful to switch their pellets to a type specially formulated for senior rabbits’ nutritional needs and slightly increase their pellet intake if they’re losing weight.
Always talk to your vet about any weight gain or loss and don’t make any big changes to your rabbit’s diet without seeking vet advice first.
Elderly rabbit care checks
As a prey species, rabbits are biologically designed to hide health problems, so be alert for early signs of discomfort, confusion, loss of appetite or reduced mobility and get these checked by your vet.
Age-related conditions such as arthritis and spondylosis of the spine are often overlooked in rabbits but treatments are available.
You can also play your part in identifying potential health issues such as dental disease, which is found in many older rabbits, by carrying out regular health checks at home.
Unneutered female rabbits can sometimes develop uterine cancer after the age of three. Symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, blood in the urine or a bloody discharge and (in advanced stages) swelling in the abdominal area. Surgery may be possible if the cancer hasn’t spread but the best prevention is early neutering.
Your senior rabbit’s environment
Elderly rabbits still need exercise and stimulation but they might find equipment such as ramps more challenging to navigate. If that sounds like your rabbit, consider rearranging their living space to keep it accessible. Try to keep everything in their enclosure on ground level. Place food, water and toys within easy reach of their hiding and sleeping spaces.
Ensure elderly rabbits have plenty of thick, absorbent bedding and refresh it regularly to reduce the risk of pressure sores on their feet. This condition is more common in animals with reduced mobility.
If your ageing indoor rabbit is unsteady on their feet when navigating slippery floors, provide rugs or mats to help them explore more easily. And if they’re trained to use a litter tray, make sure the tray isn’t too high for them to enter and exit easily.
Grooming older rabbits
Loss of flexibility in senior rabbits can leave them less able to groom themselves and keep their bottoms clean, which puts them at greater risk of flystrike. Be vigilant about checking for this and give older rabbits a helping hand with grooming if they need it.
Less active older rabbits may not wear down their claws as quickly as they used to so they need more frequent clipping sessions.
With your care, support and attention, your rabbit is more likely to enjoy a long and healthy life.
Download our at-a-glance guide to elderly rabbit care.