Elderly rabbits

From WabbitWiki
(Redirected from Elderly)

This article is incomplete because it lacks depth or is unfinished. Help by expanding it.

As most healthy rabbits can live up to (and even over) 8 to 12 years with good care, any rabbit over 6 years of age is considered a senior rabbit or elderbunny. Giant breeds may reach their golden age a bit sooner with their lower 5-6 year life expectancy.

When are bunnies seniors?

Differences in care

Aging in rabbits can bring on changes in body condition and behavior. It is a good idea to bring your rabbit to a rabbit-savvy veterinarian every 6 months to catch any sicknesses or medical conditions early on for effective treatment. Your veterinarian may also recommend annual blood work, urinalysis, fecal, and radiographs as necessary.

101Rabbits. (2018). How I Care For My Elderly Rabbit Lulu
101Rabbits. (2018). Lulu's Senior Rabbit Care

Weight

Due to muscle loss from inactivity, elderly rabbits can easily lose weight as they age. It is important to weigh elderly rabbits regularly to keep track of progress, and it may also be a good idea to add more pellets or high calorie treats to help them keep on weight. See Underweight rabbits for more tips.

Mobility

Elderly rabbits are more likely to develop signs of arthritis or spondylosis, which may need an environmental change to support their lower mobility.

A few supplies that may be useful with elderly bunny mobility:

Hygiene

As elderly rabbits lose flexibility, they may not wish to bend over to eat cecals directly from their bottom anymore. This can make them prone to poopy butt, and it is important to help keep them clean to avoid more serious issues such as flystrike. Other times, as a consequence of arthritis and other similar health issues, rabbits may lose their litter habits completely and become incontinent with urine scald.

Depending on the degree of mess, regular sanitary shaves may help keep the area clean, but butt baths may be necessary if trimming the fur, dry baths, and combing are not sufficient.

Online support communities

The following are communities that specialize in providing help to elderly and senior rabbits.

Further reading

See also