New Owners

If you can possibly go to a breeder for your new rabbit, it is more sensible as you can gain more valuable information than from a dealer. It is useful to see the parents of your new rabbit so you can assess the probable size that your rabbit will be when it is fully grown. You will be able to ask questions and get important advice from someone who has the specialist experience of keeping rabbits.

When you go to choose your new pet, you should always remember that the minimum age should be between 8 and 10 weeks old. If you are offered an animal any younger, just make a polite excuse and leave! It is also important that the breeder should not only check the sex of your chosen rabbit, but show you their findings. Another important check is that the teeth should be viewed to ensure the bite is the right way round. The upper two teeth should be over the lower two.

The breeder should supply you with a small amount of the food that the rabbit is currently being fed so that any change in diet can be achieved gradually. Upton Lops recommend the Burgess diet named Excel. More details on feeds can be found on the feeding page.

Once you have your rabbit home, you should start to make enquiries amongst local vets to arrange vaccinations. These should be done after an initial settling in period but as soon as possible. The two annual vaccinations recommended are against Myxamatosis and Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD). We have heard of vets recommending one and not another of these shots, but would recommend that the new owner insist on them both being done, around a fortnight between. The Vet may claim that one of the diseases is not common in your area - but you wouldn't like your rabbit to be the first! These diseases are really horrible and painful and usually fatal.

Although you may read that rabbits need company, here at Upton Lops, we do not ascribe to this belief. Companionship should be supplied by his owners as they are, after all, meant to be companion animals - the definition of 'pet'. To confine two animals in a restricted space together for a long period of time is merely asking for trouble. If a guinea-pig (cavy) is chosen as a companion, it will have a shorter life span, leaving the rabbit alone eventually anyway, plus the cavy has a totally different dietary requirement to the rabbit. Should a new owner chose another rabbit as a companion one can often find nasty wounds inflicted upon each other as they fight to establish their 'pecking order'. We feel this is cruel and unnecessary. We do recommend that you spend plenty of time with your rabbit and even provide him with a variety of toys and entertainments when you are unavailable.

When pet rabbits leave Upton Lops for their new homes, we like their owners to contact us within a week to update us on their progress. We also offer an "MOT"-style service once or twice a year. This includes a full check on the rabbits health and condition with advice offered on any matters that arise from this. The rabbits toe nails are checked and trimmed if necessary. We do not charge our owners for this service as we feel it gives them a feeling of confidence and gives us an opportunity to check the rabbit is safe, healthy and happy. All we ask is that the owner contacts us beforehand and books a convenient appointment.