How to Help Your Pet Rabbit Get Fit and Active

As more people commit to healthier lifestyles, it’s important to extend that care to your pets, including your pet rabbit. Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits don’t have a natural fitness routine maintained by regular walks or outdoor roaming. This means owners need to be proactive about their rabbit’s activity levels, waistline, and overall fitness.

Regularly checking your rabbit's weight every six months once fully grown is a key starting point. Compare this against breed standards or guidance from your vet. Consulting your vet or attending nurse clinics can offer tailored advice and early identification of any weight concerns.

Obesity in rabbits can significantly increase the risk of health problems such as sore hocks, arthritis, and heart complications. Encouraging your rabbit to exercise and stay active helps prevent these conditions and supports a longer, happier life.

1. Play with Your Rabbit

Interactive play is an excellent way to encourage movement and strengthen your bond. Get down to your rabbit’s level and introduce new toys and games that spark their curiosity. Use gentle encouragement to prompt them to run and hop around.

2. Teach Tricks and Set Up Challenges

Many rabbits enjoy learning simple tricks or navigating small obstacle courses. You can use treats to reward them for jumping over low barriers or coming when called. This not only provides physical exercise but also valuable mental stimulation.

3. Provide a Digging Burrow Box

Digging is a natural behaviour for rabbits. You can create a safe digging area by filling a sturdy box or children’s paddling pool with shredded, non-toxic paper free from ink. This satisfies their urge to dig, giving them exercise and engagement safely indoors.

4. Make Outdoor Runs Interesting and Rotating

A large run or pen is beneficial, but keeping it engaging is crucial. Regularly move the run to different garden spots to offer new sights and smells. Refresh the layout and add toys or obstacles to maintain your rabbit’s interest and motivate exploration.

5. Use The Confinement and Release Strategy

Sometimes rabbits become accustomed to a large run and lose interest. Temporarily confining them to a smaller space or hutch for an hour, then releasing them into the full run, can reignite their curiosity and activity levels. Include new toys or obstacles to make the run feel like an adventure.

6. Create a Consistent Exercise Routine

Rabbits are naturally crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Schedule their exercise time around these periods, aiming for 3 to 4 hours total daily exercise. This can be split into multiple short sessions to mimic their natural activity bursts and rest cycles, promoting wellness without overstressing them.

7. Engage with Your Rabbit Daily

Spend quality time interacting with your rabbit outside their enclosure. Gentle petting combined with encouragement to move reinforces the habit of exercise. Use treats wisely to motivate without leading to overfeeding.

Keeping your rabbit active is not only about physical health. Mental enrichment through varied activities helps reduce boredom and associated destructive behaviours, contributing to their overall wellbeing.

Responsible Ownership Tip: Always ensure exercise areas, indoors or outdoors, are secure and free from hazards. Prevent access to toxic plants or dangerous substances that might harm your rabbit.

By integrating these seven strategies into your care routine, you can help your pet rabbit stay fit, active, and happy throughout their life.

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