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Questions
- Rabbit life expectancy
- Factors that can affect their life span
One of the key pieces of information you might look for when it comes to getting a new pet may be how long you get to have them in your life. Albeit oftentimes smaller pets don’t live as long as larger animals, the smaller size of your new addition doesn’t mean you will bond with them any less – it’s about the quality of life spent, not necessarily the number of years, after all. The eventual loss of a pet is always difficult to think about so when you’re making the choice to bring one home, it’s not something to dwell too much on but how long they live is undoubtedly going to play a factor in your decision.
Rabbit life expectancy
In the wild, a rabbit’s life expectancy may be as short as only a year or two, however, with the right care and attention a domestic rabbit can live for eight to twelve years! Many bunnies live for over a decade so you don’t have to worry about the joy of having a furry friend being short-lived.
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Rabbits make great companions and can live to a ripe old age so you don’t need to be overly concerned about their longevity. Depending on what age you bring your bunny home, you should have many years of fun, love and affection from them! For such a small mammal, they have a good inning, so this is a great choice for a smaller pet that you get to spend a longer time with.
Factors that can affect their life span
There are several factors that will play a key role in how long your beloved pet rabbit lives and some are within your control while others are not. Instead of worrying about the things you can’t manage, you can just be prepared to maintain their welfare and health to manage the aspects you do actually have a say in. That way, you know you’ve done the absolute best for your bunny but you don’t spend time sweating the small stuff when you should be enjoying the time you do have with them!
Genetics
Genetics are one of the factors that play a role in how long bunnies live that you don’t have all that much say in. Genetics play an important part in all of our lives. They can help to tell what illnesses you might be more inclined to suffer from and it works in exactly the same way for rabbits. Hereditary issues can be as major as cardiovascular diseases right down to how likely their teeth are to become overgrown or grow uneven.
You are very limited when it comes to how much control you have over your bunny’s genetics, but sourcing them from a good breeder could make a substantial difference. Getting your rabbit from a source where you know the genetic line means you can choose a bunny who comes from a family of long-living relatives to give them the best chance at living to become a bunny pensioner!
Health care
While you may not be able to directly control your rabbit’s genetics, you can do the next best thing and provide them with the best possible health care. When you bring your bunny home, it should go without saying that any sign of illness should be checked by a vet. Rabbits are a prey species so they will do their best to hide any ailments. When they do show symptoms, it’s best to get them seen to quickly as it could be more serious than it appears.
Providing the best care for your bunny means getting them vaccinated against preventable diseases. Even if your rabbit lives in the house with you and they don’t get much time outdoors, they can still pick up illnesses and diseases. Vaccinations are important as they help to prevent diseases that can become fatal. It’s a small price to pay to protect your bunny against illness. Alongside emergency care and preventative health care, you should be getting your bunny checked at least annually to make sure they are in good health. Some may require more frequent visits if they need their teeth trimming.
Diet
Your bunny’s diet plays an important role in your pet’s health and longevity. Not only do they need a constant source of hay to wear down their permanently growing teeth to avoid them becoming overgrown but they need a balanced pellet diet and fresh fruit and vegetables. While dogs and cats can consume all the vitamins and minerals they need in one complete diet, rabbits need a range of different food sources to keep them healthy. While it might seem like an intimidating task to start, once you get into the swing of it, it’s actually very easy and a great way to provide them with a broad and interesting diet.
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Lifestyle
Not only do rabbits need a healthy and varied diet but they also need an active lifestyle. While they can happily live in a hutch in the garden, they need time outside of their home. Without time to exercise, their physical and mental wellbeing will suffer. It would be like living in a house and never going outside or seeing the world, they need the stimulation of being able to run around and stretch their legs. Providing them with lots of toys and a run like The Hutch Company Croyde 6ft (180) Single Hutch will keep them happy and healthy and living to a ripe old age!
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