By Dr Duncan Houston
Good rabbit care depends on what happens every day: eating hay, moving freely, spending time with a compatible rabbit and passing normal droppings. A spacious home and a familiar routine make those habits easier to maintain.
Rabbits can hide illness. Knowing your rabbit's usual appetite and behaviour helps you spot a change before it becomes a crisis.
Quick Answer
Rabbits need unlimited grass hay, fresh water, an appropriate diet, a secure exercise space and compatible rabbit companionship. Combine daily health checks with grooming and preventive care from a vet experienced with rabbits. If your rabbit eats less, produces fewer droppings or seems painful, contact a vet immediately rather than waiting until tomorrow.
What should a rabbit's home include?
A hutch alone does not provide enough living space. The RSPCA's housing recommendation for two medium-sized rabbits is at least 3 m by 2 m, with 1 m of height, including shelter and exercise space. Larger rabbits need more room.
- Room to move: connect the shelter to a secure exercise area so rabbits can run, stretch and stand upright whenever they choose.
- Comfortable footing: provide dry, non-slip surfaces and resting areas. Avoid exposed wire floors.
- Places to retreat: offer hiding spaces with more than one exit, allowing rabbits to rest together or apart.
- Protection: prevent escapes, predator access and exposure to heat, damp or draughts. Indoor rooms need protected electrical cords and removal of toxic plants and chewable hazards.
Review shade as the sun moves. An enclosure that is comfortable in the morning may become dangerously hot later.
What should rabbits eat?
Keep fresh, good-quality grass hay available at all times. Timothy, orchard and suitable meadow hay are examples. Hay should remain the main food, rather than being crowded out by pellets or treats.
Offer appropriate leafy greens and a measured amount of plain, high-fibre rabbit pellets. Introduce dietary changes gradually. Your vet can tailor portions for a growing, overweight, pregnant or unwell rabbit; one adult feeding plan will not suit every life stage.
Provide clean water continuously. A heavy bowl is practical for many rabbits; if using a bottle, check that it flows freely. Wash containers and replace dirty water daily. Fruit and carrot are occasional small treats, not the foundation of the diet.
Do rabbits need another rabbit?
Plan for a compatible, bonded rabbit companion. Human attention is valuable, but it does not provide all the social contact another rabbit offers. Ask a rabbit rescue or experienced vet for help with introductions; putting unfamiliar rabbits straight into the same enclosure can lead to fighting.
Let rabbits approach you at floor level. When lifting is necessary, support the chest and hindquarters securely. Never lift by the ears or scruff, and do not turn a rabbit onto its back to make it freeze. Children need adult supervision.
Which changes need veterinary attention?
| What you notice | What it means for care | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Normal appetite, usual dry droppings, comfortable movement | No obvious change from the rabbit's normal pattern | Continue daily checks and preventive care. |
| Weight loss, drooling, a dirty bottom or reduced willingness to move | Possible dental disease, pain or another health problem | Contact your vet promptly for an assessment; reduced eating increases urgency. |
| Eating less, smaller or fewer droppings, hunching or loud tooth grinding | Possible pain and digestive slowdown | Call a vet immediately for urgent assessment. Do not wait for droppings to stop completely. |
| Difficulty breathing, collapse, marked abdominal swelling, watery diarrhoea or maggots | Potentially life-threatening illness | Go to an emergency veterinary service immediately. |
The Merck Veterinary Manual's rabbit illness guidance explains why appetite loss, abnormal movement and breathing changes deserve rapid veterinary attention.
Why might a rabbit stop eating?
Dental pain, other illness, stress and an unsuitable diet can all reduce appetite. Gastrointestinal stasis means food is moving too slowly through the gut; it is a consequence of an underlying problem, not a complete explanation by itself.
A blockage is an important alternative that owners cannot reliably distinguish at home. The vet may examine the teeth, assess hydration and pain, and recommend imaging or blood tests. Treatment and recovery depend on the cause and the rabbit's condition. The University of Illinois guidance on rabbit GI stasis also explains why assisted feeding is inappropriate in some unstable rabbits or when obstruction is suspected.
What should you do in an emergency?
Call the nearest veterinary service that treats rabbits and arrange immediate care. Transport your rabbit in a secure, well-ventilated carrier with non-slip bedding. Keep handling gentle and avoid overheating.
Report when eating and droppings last seemed normal. Do not start syringe-feeding, laxatives or leftover medication without veterinary instructions. A rabbit that is struggling to breathe should not be forced to take food or water. Do not delay transport to attempt home treatment of flystrike.
A practical daily and preventive care plan
- Watch each rabbit eat. In a pair, one rabbit finishing the food does not prove both are eating. Check droppings and activity too.
- Keep the home clean. Remove wet bedding and soiled litter daily. Check the bottom for urine, stuck droppings or skin damage; check twice daily in warm weather.
- Groom according to the coat. Brush short-haired rabbits regularly and long-haired rabbits daily, with extra attention during moulting. Check nails routinely and have them trimmed when needed.
- Make movement interesting. Offer tunnels, safe chewing materials and foraging opportunities using part of the usual food. Introduce a new box or activity gradually while retaining familiar resting places.
- Arrange preventive visits. Book a health examination when adopting and at least annually afterwards. Older rabbits or those with chronic disease may need more frequent reviews. Discuss dental health, body condition and desexing, including prevention of uterine disease in females.
The Merck Veterinary Manual's routine care advice supports regular grooming, veterinary examinations and discussion of desexing.
Do indoor rabbits need vaccines?
Indoor housing does not remove infectious disease risk. Ask your local vet which vaccinations your rabbit needs, including protection against rabbit haemorrhagic disease, and when boosters are due. Recommendations depend on local disease risks and available vaccines.
Myxomatosis vaccination is not permitted in Australia, so reducing exposure to biting insects and wild rabbits is especially important there. RSPCA Australia's rabbit care guidance covers these regional differences. Use only parasite treatments your vet confirms are safe for rabbits; fipronil must not be used.
Common rabbit care mistakes
- Assuming a quiet rabbit is simply relaxed when it has stopped eating.
- Providing plenty of pellets but little hay.
- Restricting exercise to a short session outside a small hutch.
- Treating a persistently dirty bottom as a cleaning problem without checking for illness.
- Using dog or cat medicines without rabbit-specific veterinary advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can rabbits live indoors?
Yes. They need enough space, secure rabbit-proofing, comfortable flooring and opportunities to exercise and forage.
How often should I take my rabbit to the vet?
Arrange a check after adoption and at least annually. Do not wait for a routine appointment when appetite, droppings or behaviour change.
Is a small hutch enough if my rabbit gets daily playtime?
No. Rabbits need an adequate living and exercise space available when they are active, including outside your usual playtime.
Can I wait overnight if my rabbit is not eating?
No. Contact a vet immediately. Even partial appetite loss can matter, especially with fewer droppings or signs of pain.
Does grooming prevent all digestive problems?
No. Grooming removes loose fur, but diet, pain and other illnesses can also affect digestion. A rabbit eating less needs assessment even if its coat is well maintained.
Build care around your rabbit's normal routine
A useful daily check is simple: is each rabbit eating, passing its usual droppings and moving comfortably? Support those habits with space, hay, companionship and preventive care, and act promptly when the pattern changes.
For more practical rabbit care information, explore ASK A VET™. If your rabbit is unwell, contact a veterinary service directly so care is not delayed.
The ASK A VET™ Tracker logs live location and activity trends, so a change in routine never goes unnoticed.
Every ASK A VET article is written and reviewed by qualified veterinarians.
