LOOKING AFTER YOUR GIANT RABBIT
The giant breed rabbits include British Giants, Flemish Giants, French Lops, English Lops and Giant Papillons.
Before homing a giant rabbit, you should consider the amount of space it will need and the financial demands involved with owning this type of pet.
Due to the weight, size and power, the larger breed of rabbits may not be suitable for young children to handle. The average life span of a giant rabbit is less than smaller breeds and may be as litttle as four years.
The giant rabbit should have its own personal space and somewhere to sleep if it is to be kept as a house rabbit. An indoor dog crate with a plastic base is ideal. All rabbits like to chew and gnaw and this can unfortunately include the wiring, skirting boards and carpets in your home. Therefore it is essential that these areas are safe and rabbit proof. Wooden toys for gnawing on are fun and and will provide hours of distraction. The larger breed rabbits may even play with toys designed for the smaller breed of dogs.
If your bunny is to be kept outside they will need the largest size accommodation possible, a shed, wendy house or a very large hutch. It is extremely important that you handle your large rabbit frequently from an early age. All rabbits need to be health checked regularly. This includes examining your rabbits bottom to check for signs of dietory problems and flystrike. If your rabbit will not allow you to check its bottom without a struggle you will both become stressed and could accidently hurt each other in the process.
Neutering/Spaying is essential as a giant rabbit can mate with smaller rabbits which can cause problems. Neutering also helps to prevent uterine cancer in female rabbits. Another reason to have your rabbit neutered is that it will become calmer. An Un-neutered rabbit can be difficult to house train and handle once it reaches puberty, it may show undesirable behaviours such as spraying.
The size of a giant rabbit can create health problems such as sore feet and back problems. A rabbit that doesnt have enough room to exercise may become obese and will need to be given a controlled diet. Veterinary care can be expensive and it is recommended that you take out pet insurance.
Bunnies Barn recommend that you carry out research and carefully consider the commitment involved in caring for a giant rabbit before you offer a rabbit a new home.