• Vaccination
• Parasite Control
• Diet
• Housing
• Dental Care

Vaccination

Rabbits can be vaccinated against several potentially fatal diseases including myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease. Vaccinations can be administered from 10 weeks of age. VHD requires yearly injections, myxomatosis requires injections every 6 months.

Parasite Control

Rabbits are at risk from worms and lice, ask your vet if you have concerns that your rabbit may have parasites.

Diet

We reccomend using a complete pellet diet to stop your rabbit selectively feeding. Rabbits also require hay in their diets. If your rabbit is unable to eat they may have dental problems.

Measure how much you feed your rabbit as obesity is becoming more prevelent.

Housing

Provide enough bedding to keep your rabbit warm. Bedding should be safe for your rabbit to eat, e.g. dust-free hay. Provide untreated wooden toys to chew, such as fruit tree or willow sticks. Avoid toys made of plastic, as they may harm your rabbit if chewed and swallowed.

If housed outdoors you rabbit should be cleaned regularly, particulary in summer.  Flystrike can occur in rabbits where flys lay eggs in the coat which hatch to maggots that eat the skin of the rabbit. Daily checks of your rabbit are essential to prevent this problem, products can be opbtained from the practise to reduce the risk

Dental Care

Rabbits teeth continually grow and may require trimming if they grow too long. Check your rabbits teeth regulary as it may impair their ability to eat if they have dental problems.

• Diet
• Housing
• Parasite Control

Diet

Guinea pigs require a special diet as they need vitamin C. You should only feed a diet that is made for guinea pigs to avoid health problems.

Guinea pigs’ teeth grow continuously throughout their life and need to be worn down and kept at the correct length and shape by eating grass, hay and leafy green plants. Failure to eat the right diet can result in serious dental disease.

Housing

Provide enough bedding to keep your guinea pigs warm. Bedding should be safe for your guinea pigs to eat, e.g. dust-free hay. Provide untreated wooden toys to chew, such as fruit tree or willow sticks. Avoid toys made of plastic, as they may harm your guinea pigs if chewed and swallowed.

Flystrike can occur in guinea pigs where flys lay eggs in the coat which hatch to maggots that eat the skin. Daily checks are essential to prevent this problem, products can be obtained from the practice to reduce the risk.

Parasite Control

Guinea pigs can suffer from skin parasites, so their coat should be checked regularly. If in any doubt, see one of our vets.

Fly strike is a potentialy fatal problem that can occur in both rabbits and guinea pigs.

To prevent this problem-

1. Check you rabbit daily. Ensure the  fur is clean and dry
2. Clean soiled bedding daily
3. Throughly disinfect the hutch once a week

If you find any faecal matter stuck to your pet it is important to remove it as soon as possible. If you find fly eggs or maggots in your pets coat or hutch we would advice seeking veterinary help as they can be difficult to fully irradiate.