Caring for the Elderly Bunny

Rabbits develop limitations as they grow older. As your rabbit grows older, it may develop health problems, lose energy, and have different appetites. An elderly rabbit is only 7 years old. You want to care for your pet, but how you care for it in its prime age will determine this.

You'll need to adjust to an old rabbit's new metabolism, reduced mobility, and grooming issues if you want to care for him. It's possible that you'll need to give it dry baths, add more litter boxes, provide more water, or change its food. You'll need to take more drastic measures if your bunny has age-related problems like blindness, deafness, kidney problems, incontinence, sore hocks, or arthritis. This may affect how you interact with or feed the rabbit after medical intervention, as well as how the rabbit's enclosure is set up.

Even a healthy rabbit will need to make lifestyle changes. This may entail bringing its food and water closer to where it sleeps. It may require softer or warmer bedding. To help with joint problems, ramps may require a lower incline. Your bunny may crave more attention or require low-impact exercise. You can buy an X-pen for your rabbit’s exercise.

Obesity, dental problems, and other health issues in older rabbits can all be traced back to their diet. Obesity in senior rabbits can cause heart disease, arthritic flare-ups, respiratory symptoms, sore hocks, and liver disease (fatty liver), all of which can exacerbate any other illnesses your rabbit may develop. On the other hand, some older rabbits may have difficulty maintaining their weight. This could be the result of digestive issues, dental issues, or other illnesses. You may also face issues if you have decided to adopt a bunny who has experienced domestic abuse.

Rabbits are considered elderly when they reach a certain age.

Rabbits are generally considered elderly when they reach the age of 6-8 years, with an average life expectancy of around 10-12 years. Larger rabbits with a shorter lifespan may begin to show signs of aging as young as four years old.

Symptoms of advanced age

As rabbits grow older, they will begin to show physical differences. Don't be surprised if your rabbit's physique and energy level change slowly over time, just like humans. Any sudden changes, on the other hand, could be a sign of illness, and you should consult a rabbit-savvy veterinarian.

• Fur is thinning

Your rabbit's fur will start to thin. It will be most noticeable in areas where there is less fur to begin with, such as the ears and eyes.

• Muscle mass has shrunk

Rabbits naturally lose their youthful muscles as they grow older, and they become weaker overall.

• Loss of weight

The rabbit will begin to lose weight as their muscle mass declines.

• They are less active

Rabbits in their senior years will, understandably, be less active. They'll sleep more and not zoom around nearly as much.

• Ears are scaling

It may appear that the rabbit has a small amount of dandruff on its ears, which is itchy for the rabbit.

Taking Care of an Elderly Rabbit

Rabbits slow down as they get older. This could be due to a lack of energy or mobility problems like:

• Lethargy
• Obesity
• Joint pain
• Arthritis

Each of these has its own set of issues. Make changes to your rabbit's environment to help it move more freely.

• Keep things close at hand. Make sure your rabbit has access to its litter box, food, and water, as previously stated.
• Make the bedding softer. If your bunny has a gentle, supportive place to rest, joint pain can be greatly reduced.
• Reduce the angle of the ramps. An aging rabbit will find it much more difficult to jump, run, or climb. After all, the rabbit's joints are less supple, and the rabbit has less energy.
• Increase the number of litter boxes. If your bunny is running around the house, it may not have the energy to make the trip to the litter box. Instead, scatter a few around your house. An elderly bunny will appreciate not having to go to the bathroom in more than one room.
• Anti-slip mats are available. Hardwood or tile floors are difficult to navigate for any bunny. A fall, on the other hand, is dangerous for an elderly bunny. Anti-slip mats should be placed near ramps, furniture, and other areas where bunnies require traction.

Care for Senior Rabbits on a Day-to-Day Basis

It's fantastic if your rabbit doesn't get sick as it gets older. Its day-to-day care, on the other hand, will not be the same. You can ensure the bunny's health and happiness by making a few changes to the routine.

Veterinary Examinations
An elderly rabbit, whether or not it has health problems, requires more frequent visits to the veterinarian. Once it reaches the age of six, it should have a full physical examination, including blood tests, at least once a year. The blood results accomplish four things:

1. Your rabbit's health is constantly monitored by your veterinarian.
2. Early detection of genetic defects or diseases
3. Early detection of developing conditions, such as arthritis, allows treatment to begin.
4. Allows you to talk about dietary changes for the rabbit. This is especially true as the animal's appetite and nutritional requirements change.

Exercise
While older rabbits may be less active, they still require exercise to stay healthy.

High-power activities are not good for its joints. You can, however, schedule play sessions to keep the bunny active. This could consist of a few minutes of playing and exercising with your bunny as they require the right kind of movement to ensure that their muscle mass isn’t getting weaker along with making sure that they get the proper nutrition.

The above blog has discussed the basics of how you should take care of a rabbit. If you have an older bunny you need to put in extra efforts to ensure their life is long and safe.


Finally, do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About The Author
This is a guest post by Esther Praag Phd

This post has been selected as part of Twinkl Pets campaign and is featured in the ‘How to Take Care of a Pet - Essential Tips & Info’ post.

3 Essential Steps to Downsizing When You Have a Pet

Downsizing can be stressful for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for senior adults. There is a lot to think about, and it can take a significant toll on you physically, emotionally, and mentally. And when you have a pet, you must ensure that their needs are considered as well as your own.

Pets tend to rely on routine, so when you move them to a smaller living space, you will want to put some extra effort into helping them transition as smoothly as possible. Below, Taranet.co.uk outlines three critical steps to consider when downsizing with your pet.

1. Downsizing Your Belongings

Once you have decided to downsize your home, one of the first things to do is declutter. Go through all of your belongings and choose what to keep, sell, donate, or discard. For the items you want to keep but not immediately move into the new home, you might consider renting a storage unit. If you want to make a little extra cash, consider selling some of your gently-used items online.

This can be a particularly overwhelming time if you are handling estate planning or end-of-life transitions in addition to downsizing. Try to eat well, get sleep, and exercise regularly if you can. Moreover, make sure your pet stays comfortable and has a safe space in your home as you move items to and fro.

Lastly, keep in mind that downsizing your pet’s belongings can be a very stressful time for them. This is especially true when you’re moving homes. However, Bach flower remedies can help settle your pets during these stressful times. It may be important to look into holistic remedies prior to encountering any stressful behaviors from your pet.

2. Sprucing Up the Property

If you plan on selling your home, you will want to make sure the property is in tip-top condition. Think about curb appeal, and start with the landscaping. Plants and flowers are nice, but if you don’t have a well-maintained lawn, you will be hard-pressed to find interested buyers. Consider hiring a professional lawn care service to boost your home’s curb appeal. Search online to find local professionals. Most mowing services average £15 to £40 per hour, but you might pay more if fertilizing, pruning, or other landscaping services are involved.

Next, consider the home itself. Does the siding need to be repainted? Do you need to repair any broken steps or declutter your patio? Perhaps it’s time to patch up the hole in the driveway.

You will want the interior of the home to impress as well. If you have any shabby carpet, consider getting it professionally cleaned or replaced.

Remember that some household cleaning products are poisonous to your pets. Or some can smell very unpleasant to your pet. So choose cleaning options that will help your pet maintain good health. You can get more tips too with these 11 ways to keep your house clean with pets.

If your hardwood floors are worse for wear, consider getting them restored, or look into whether it’s worth the investment to replace them. Make sure all of the paint jobs are appealing and depersonalize the decor as much as possible. Just remember to keep receipts and make notes of any changes; these can help raise the value of your property’s appraisal value.

3. Finding a New Home

Chances are you will be looking for a new home before you sell your current one. If you will be taking out a mortgage, figure out your debt-to-income ratio because lenders will use that to estimate what kind of monthly payment you can afford. To get started, you can calculate your DTI by dividing all of your existing monthly debt by your gross monthly income.

One of the best things you can do when trying to sell your home and buy a new one is to hire a real estate agency with expertise in your area. Just remember to consider the needs of your pet along the way. Depending on what type of pet you have, you might want to ensure your new home is in a pet-friendly neighborhood, that the property has a nice backyard with a fence, and that your pet will have easy access to their living space.

Also think about where your new home is. Is it near a park or open space you can walk to, or easily access? Variety in places to walk, and a chance to enjoy different sights and sounds is important for your pet's mental health.

Routine is critical for pets, and downsizing can be especially difficult for them. As you prepare for the next chapter in your life, consider the tips above for downsizing your belongings, boosting the appeal of your property, and finding your new home. And keep looking for other ways you can navigate this challenging time as smoothly and stress-free as possible.

Please remember that if your horse, dog or other animal is unwell. Or on any kind of medication or other supplement. Then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon first before using any supplement or therapy. Even natural ones. To avoid any possible issues.

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

About The Author
This is a guest post by Cindy Aldridge