Withy Grove Vets are hopping to hay this year and promoting the importance of feeding hay in rabbits’ diets
This year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) campaign, organised by Burgess Pet Care, is focused on raising the importance of feeding hay in rabbit diets, after findings in the PDSA Animal Wellbeing 2016 report showed that 30% of rabbit owners report their rabbits don’t have constant access to fresh water and hay.
By taking part in this year’s RAW and raising awareness on rabbit welfare needs, we hope to reach out to more rabbit owners and ensure the needs of their pets are being met.
A rabbit’s diet should consist of up to 85 – 90% feeding hay. Many owners don’t know the difference between feeding hay and bedding hay. By encouraging more rabbit owners to come into the practice during RAW 2017, we hope we’ll be able to address more of these needs and encourage more responsible ownership when it comes to looking after rabbits.
Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS, Technical Director at Burgess Pet Care, one of the UK’s leading pet food manufacturers, is optimistic that the involvement of so many veterinary practices will lead to rabbit owners taking more responsibility when it comes to ensuring the correct nutritional needs of their rabbits are being met.
“It’s fantastic to see so many veterinary practices throughout the UK getting involved with this year’s RAW campaign. This year’s PDSA report highlighted 30% of rabbit owners don’t provide constant access to fresh feeding hay and water for their pets. The PAW report also identified inappropriate diet as the number one issue that needs to be addressed in rabbit ownership.”
“85 – 90% of a rabbit’s diet should consist of feeding hay, with the rest being made up of nuggets and fresh vegetables. It’s important that rabbit owners are aware of the dietary needs of their pets, and thanks to the involvement of so many veterinary practices throughout the UK, we hope to increase awareness as part of this year’s campaign.”
RAW is an annual event that brings together vets, pet retailers, welfare charities, manufacturers and consumers to raise awareness about rabbit welfare issues and to encourage responsible pet ownership. Official RAW partners include: Agria Pet Insurance, RSPCA, RWAF, Wood Green The Animals Charity, PDSA and Blue Cross.
Withy Grove is a Silver Award Rabbit Friendly Practice
As part of our upgrade this year we now have a rabbit specific ward. This allows rabbits to be housed totally on their own (rabbits are ‘prey’ species so do not like being anywhere near cats or dogs), they are also housed at ground level which most rabbits find preferable.We have a dedicated ‘Rabbit Advocate’ nurse and all our staff are trained in handling rabbits to keep them as stress free and safe as possible.
You can request to wait in a quiet area if you turn up for an appointment and our waiting room is busy, ask any member of our team.
For the latest news and information on this year’s RAW, visit http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/
