Rabbits are the third mostly commonly kept domestic pet in the UK and whilst puppy parties and junior health checks for dogs and cats are commonly run at veterinary practices, few veterinary surgeries are offering this service to their rabbit clients. Not only is this missing an ideal opportunity to educate rabbit owners on the proper care required for their rabbit, it is also missing business potential for the veterinary practice. Offering your clients rabbit clinics is an ideal way to get your message across and help to prevent many of the common rabbit ailments related to poor diet and lack of basic knowledge.

Benefits to the Owner and Rabbit

Many rabbits are bought on impulse and few owners receive the correct advice on caring for their rabbit at the point of sale. Rabbits who are offered the correct care from the beginning are much more likely to live long and healthy lives.

Benefits to the Veterinary Practice

Owners who have received good advice are more likely to return to the practice for routine treatments, such as vaccinations, neutering, flystrike control and to purchase food. Nowadays many rabbits are viewed as a part of the family, much like dogs and cats, and these owners are willing to pay for any necessary veterinary treatment or will have insured their rabbits for such eventualities.

Starting Your Clinics

You need to get your message across and not only reach those owners who already frequent your practice, but also reach out to new clients who may never have brought their rabbit to the practice before. These are the ones who often need the most educating.

Decide who will be running your clinics. Do you have a nurse who has a special interest in rabbit medicine or a team of nurses with this common interest?

Information can be mailed out to clients (even if they don't have a rabbit registered) with the booster reminders that are mailed out each month.

If you design a notice board to advertise your clinics ensure you have the following information featured:

 Who the appointment will be with (registered veterinary nurse (RVN), student VN, veterinary surgeon)

 Days and times when the appointments can be booked and how long they last

 What the health check will include and the advice that will be given

 If the appointment is free or how much will be charged

 How clients can book and who to contact with queries

The Rabbit Consultation

I would suggest allowing a 20-minute appointment for one rabbit or 30 minutes if the client is bringing two rabbits as there is far too much information to get through in just a 10-minute slot, especially if the owner has lots of questions.

You should aim to cover the common rabbit-related health and welfare topics during the consultation, as well as health checking the rabbit and sexing it correctly. I ensure that I check the following during the consultation:

 Eyes and ears for any discharge, and ask the owner if the rabbit has been seen to shake its head a lot.

 The incisor and molar teeth (and look at the chin and inside of the forelegs) to see if they have been salivating.

 Auscultate the abdomen to ensure that gut sounds are present and feel the abdomen to make sure there is no bloating nor any masses (especially in unspayed does).

 Listen to the heart and lungs.

 Check the claws and clip them if necessary.

 Ensure their back end is clean, and clean it if it is dirty.

 The hocks for pododermatitis.

 The skin for signs or flaking and/or mites.

Discussion and advice on the following aspects should be offered:

Vaccinations

All rabbits, including house rabbits, must be vaccinated annually against viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD/HVD) and 6-monthly against myxomatosis. The myxomatosis vaccine can be given from 6 weeks of age, with the VHD vaccine being given from 10 weeks, with 2 weeks between the two vaccines.

Diet

Rabbits are designed to eat grass! Owners need to be aware of the need for a high-fibre diet and that good-quality hay/grass and water must be available at all times.

A huge amount of owners still feed the cheap, muesli-type concentrated diets which allow for selective feeding and the development of dental and digestive problems. This problem should be explained with the recommendation of changing to an extruded nugget to prevent the problem. If selective feeding is already established, then offer the client a free sample of an extruded nugget type food. Be sure to tell the owner that if they are changing the rabbit's food, then to do it slowly over 2–3 weeks to avoid serious digestive disturbances.

The average neutered, adult rabbit only needs 1 tablespoon of pellets per kg/day and should spend no more than half an hour eating this. It must be emphasised to owners that the commercial rabbit food should be fed in small amounts with the bulk of the rabbit's diet being made up of ad-lib hay, and then a daily portion of fresh vegetables (greens, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery etc.).

It is wise to advise owners to avoid all pet shop treats laden with sugar, even if they state they are suitable for rabbits.

Neutering and Companionship

Many owners are under the impression that unless they have one rabbit of each sex then neutering isn't necessary. Whilst this is true from the point of breeding, the other benefits of neutering should be discussed. This includes the benefits of eliminating the risk of reproductive neoplasia in does (affecting up to 80% of unspayed does by the age of 5 years), cessation of pseudopregnancies in does, cessation of spraying in both sexes but especially in bucks, reducing aggressive tendencies especially in female rabbits and lessening / cessation of amorous behaviour in both sexes.

Generally speaking bucks can be neutered from 3–4 months of age and does from 4–5 months of age, depending upon the breed.

The best combination for a rabbit pairing is one male and one female with both rabbits being neutered. Same-sex combinations can work if both animals are neutered but will have a higher failure rate, and owners should be told never to separate a bonded pair, even for a short time such as a vet visit, as this can lead to a permanent and irreversible fall out between the two rabbits. When visiting the vet, owners should be advised to take both rabbits with them.

Never advise guinea pigs as suitable companions for rabbits.

Exercise and Housing

Rabbits need to have the opportunity to exercise for several hours a day, be this in a secure run, designated rooms of the house or an escape-proof and safe garden.

Owners of house rabbits need to ensure all electric cables are out of reach, doors are not going to slam shut, no poisonous plants are within reach and dogs/cats do not have access to the rabbit, even if under supervision they are fine with each other.

Flystrike

Clients should always be warned about the risk of flystrike (myiasis) and be advised to check their rabbits for this vigilantly in the warmer months (April–September), although it can occur at any time of the year.

Rabbits should be checked two or three times a day to ensure that there are no fly eggs of maggots present, especially around their anus or rump. Rabbits who frequently have a dirty back end have a reason for this (e.g., poor diet, dental problems, spinal pain, excess weight, cramped living conditions). The root of the problem needs identifying and rectifying. Rearguard (Cyromazine), POMV, can be recommended as a preventative measure.

If the owner notices any maggots then they must be told to telephone the veterinary practice, day or night, as this is an emergency situation.

Pet Insurance

Many owners may be shocked about the potential bills for common problems such as gastrointestinal stasis or the intensive treatment that ill rabbits require. Quoting these costs and recommending that they insure their rabbit is a good way to get your message across.

Leaflets

Offer your clients information leaflets on the topics you have discussed. The Rabbit Welfare Association offers some excellent leaflets, so the owners can digest the information at home.

References

1.  Girling S, Fraser MA. Rabbit clinics and owner education. In: Rabbit Medicine and Surgery for Veterinary Nurses. 2009.

2.  Harcourt-Brown F. The rabbit consultation and clinical techniques. In: Mary Seager, ed. Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002.

3.  Meredith A. General biology and husbandry. In: Meredith A, Flecknell P, eds. BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine and Surgery. 2nd ed. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association, 2006.