Some rabbits come with an added health complexity to their care needs. These rabbits are no less deserving of love or a forever home, and they often make excellent companions for other special needs rabbits.
What are special needs rabbits?
These are rabbits that have additional care requirements. We do not class blind or deaf rabbits as having SN unless they have additional care needs (this is because most domestic rabbit breeds have partial sight/hearing and adapt as any normal rabbit).
Special needs can include:
Special needs can include:
- Extreme dietary/severe gut conditions such as Megacolon disease or having no teeth requiring liquid feeding
- Mobility issues - tripod buns, severe arthritis, lack of hind leg mobility, head tilt, splay legs
- Active EC with regular flare ups
- Ongoing ear / dental disease
- Chronic respiratory conditions such as Pasteurella/Bordatella
Can SN rabbits be bonded with 'normal' rabbits?
Absolutely. The SN itself must be taken into account as well as the severity and impact stress plays on the condition itself. The other rabbit/s they are being bonded to must be matched well and bonding must be done slower and more delicately.
Some SN rabbits deal better living in with a healthy group and others deal better with just one other SN rabbit, we assess each rabbit individually case by case.
If the condition is contagious or a risk to other healthy rabbits, we will not adopt this rabbit out to live in a household with healthy rabbits that do not also have the condition (for example Pasteurella).
Some SN rabbits deal better living in with a healthy group and others deal better with just one other SN rabbit, we assess each rabbit individually case by case.
If the condition is contagious or a risk to other healthy rabbits, we will not adopt this rabbit out to live in a household with healthy rabbits that do not also have the condition (for example Pasteurella).
What do you need to offer a special needs rabbit a home?
- Lots of patience and love to give., you could provide a perfect home for a rabbit with additional needs.
- Time at home - these rabbits may need a more extensive a care routine and may not be able to be left for long periods of time so your lifestyle needs to be taken into consideration.
- Experience (or willing to learn) caring for sick or ill rabbits as you will need confidence in medicating and regularly weighing them.
- A good rabbit vet nearby is a must as these rabbits will need to see the vet more regularly than other rabbits.