Senior Rabbit Care
The average lifespan of a domestic rabbit is 8 to 12 years, with some living into their mid-teens. Rabbits are generally considered to enter their senior years around 5 to 6 years of age, or when age-related symptoms start to appear.
As rabbits age, they may develop conditions such as:
- Arthritis – stiffness and reduced mobility in joints
- Vision changes – cloudiness or difficulty seeing
- Muscle or weight loss – loss of body condition is common in older rabbits
Like humans, older rabbits can experience arthritic pain. Diet and care adjustments can help manage discomfort:
- Ensure a balanced diet and adequate fiber to maintain digestive and overall health
- Soft bedding (e.g., Vet Bed) can reduce pressure on joints and provide comfort
- Heat pads or warm wraps may help soothe sore limbs, but ensure rabbits can move away from heat if it becomes too warm and that pads are securely wrapped in a towel or blanket to prevent burns
For arthritis management, always discuss treatment options with an exotics‑experienced veterinarian, who may recommend supportive care, supplements, or pain relief appropriate for rabbits.
Comfort & Care for Senior Rabbits
Rabbits love to tunnel and snuggle, and providing a safe, warm resting place is essential for older bunnies. A soft bed, snuggle pouch, or blanket gives them a comfortable spot to rest, recuperate, and feel secure.
We recommend using Vet-Bed or similarly soft liners for senior rabbits, as these provide extra cushioning for joints and help with mobility issues.
As rabbits age, grooming themselves can become difficult. You may need to check your rabbit’s bottom daily and gently clean away any urine or fecal matter. Use warm water and a soft cloth, then towel dry completely before returning them to their enclosure to prevent chills.
Weight monitoring is vital: rabbits are prey animals and often hide signs of illness. Weekly weigh-ins can help detect early problems, as weight loss is often one of the first signs of health issues.
Dental checks are also important. Watch for:
- Difficulty eating or picking food
- Drooling
- Excessive chewing motions
- Eye or nose discharge
- Appetite without the ability to eat properly
- Weight loss
Dental issues are common in senior rabbits and can affect their overall health and wellbeing.
Providing consistent care, monitoring weight, hygiene, and dental health, along with soft, comfortable bedding, helps your senior rabbit stay comfortable, healthy, and happy.
Burgess Excel Mature Rabbit Pellets with Cranberry 1.5kg
⭐ OUR RECOMMENDATION ⭐
Why choose Burgess Excel Mature Rabbit Nuggets with Cranberry?
For healthy, happy older rabbits.
Our delicious, high fibre Mature Rabbit Nuggets with Cranberry & Thyme supplement your rabbits’ diet with vitamins and minerals and prevent selective feeding. Suitable for older rabbits aged 5 years+
Our high-quality recipe has been formulated with vets and nutritionists. This ensures they contain the right balance of vitamins and minerals to supplement your rabbits’ diet to help keep them happy and healthy.
✔️ Brain health
Formulated to support brain health
✔️ Skin & coat
Formulated to support healthy skin and a glossy coat
✔️ Immune system
With antioxidants such as vitamin E to support a healthy immune system
✔️ Digestive health
Prebiotics and beneficial fibre to help maintain healthy digestion
✔️Added cranberry
For extra tasty nuggets
✔️Healthy joints
Glucosamine supports healthy joints
Don’t forget the hay for dental health
As well as providing essential fibre, feeding hay and fresh grass have an important role in helping wear down your rabbits’ continually growing teeth.
Remember that good quality feeding hay and/or grass should make up the majority of your rabbits’ diet and should be available at all times. Rabbits should also be fed a small portion of Excel nuggets, the occasional Excel Nature Snack to add variety and encourage emotional enrichment, and a small amount of leafy greens each day. Fresh, clean water should always be available. Please talk to your vet for further information.
If you are currently feeding a muesli-style food to your rabbits you should gradually transfer them onto a hay and nugget-based feeding plan over a period of between 14 and 28 days. You can do this by gradually reducing the amount of muesli and increasing the proportion of Excel Adult Rabbit Nuggets with Mint until they have completely replaced the mix.
Always ensure you are monitoring your rabbits’ weight to ensure a healthy weight. If you are ever unsure you should seek veterinary advice.
Analytical Constituents: Benefical Fibre 40%, Crude Protein 13%, Crude Fat 3%, Crude Fibre 19%, Crude Ash 7.5%, Phosphorus 0.5%, Sodium 0.17%
Composition: Grass Meal, Oatfeed, Wholegrain Wheat, Soya Bean Hulls*, Wheat Feed, Dried Peas, Yeast (Brewer’s Yeast and Grains), Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Thyme (1%), Soya Oil*, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lignocellulose, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Short Chain Fructo-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic FOS 0.4%), Salt, Mono Di and Tri Glycerides of Fatty Acids (0.2%), Dried Cranberry (0.06%), Glucosamine (0.04%)
*Produced from genetically modified soya
Nutritional Additives/kg: Vitamins: Vitamin A (3a672a) 30,000 IU, Vitamin D3 (3a671) 3,500 IU, Vitamin E (3a700) 140 mg Trace Elements: Zinc (as Zinc sulphate monohydrate 3b605) 91 mg, Iron (as Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate 3b103) 70 mg, Manganese (as Manganous sulphate monohydrate 3b503) 60 mg, Copper (as Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate 3b405) 7.5 mg, Iodine (as Calcium iodate anhydrous 3b202) 0.8 mg, Selenium (as Sodium selenite 3b801) 0.32 mg
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