You got yourself a bunny to give your girls a cuddly and furry pet. You love it a lot and your family loves it more, so you must also know the probable life expectancy of a pet rabbit.
If you do not know its life span and you lose it after a short time, then you may become depressed yourself. Here is some information related to your pet rabbit’s life span and how to extend that lifespan.
Lifespan of a Rabbit
Rabbits, in general, live up to 3 years in the wild. But if kept indoors under captivity, they might get an extended lifespan.
Any rabbit can live up to 9 – 11 years when kept as a pet under the right conditions and care. But if you are keeping a rabbit in your backyard hutches, their lifespan may be less than the above mentioned average.
Factors affecting the lifespan of your pet Rabbits
There are many factors that can affect your rabbit’s lifespan. These factors can either prolong or shorten the years. Some actions are myth based and most people who exercise them end up endangering their rabbits.
Vaccination
Any rabbit needs a vaccination shot from the age of 5-weeks. It takes 3 weeks for the immunity to develop. After that, they require annual shots of Myxomatosis-RHD1.
They also need oral liquids / pastes or some spot-on treatment to prevent or get rid of worms. This treatment can be done every three months beginning at 8 weeks of age as necessary.
Apart from that, you need to consult your veterinarian for every small problem before it turns into a big one.
Feeding
You need to take care of your rabbit’s feed even if you are not with them for a day or two. They cannot survive only on a bowl of rabbit food and carrots.
Grass hay is the most important component of a rabbit’s diet. It should be provided free choice over the day, daily. But you need to monitor the amount of pellets you feed them - as they can cause stomach and intestine problems if fed in excessive amounts.
Not excessive but adequate feeding is necessary.
Cleanliness
Rabbits are immaculately clean, and if spayed and neutered correctly, they never soil their living quarters.
You also need to take care of the litter. If you do not clean the litter box twice daily, it can lead to the growth of microbes that can travel to their intestines in their next visit and can cause several medical issues. This is also necessary for an odor free home environment.
Mood
You also need to take care of its mood. When they require your attention, you have to play with them or give them some time in your lawn to interact with nature.
Rabbits need an exercise time of at least 3 hours, outside on a grassy lawn.
Also, it is rare, but rabbits can go into a fright shock and may take days to recover. A sudden fright can cause a heart attack and may be fatal.
Stroke their fur or around the chin, give them a proper bed with proper food and your rabbit might live for a record time of 19 years.