Rabbit and Guinea Pigs Veterinary Care
Veterinary Care for Rabbits
Rabbits are inquisitive, loving pets, and make great family pets in Dubai households. There are many breeds of rabbits, and they come in all sizes, colors, and personalities. Rabbits, when provided with good care, can live up to 10 years. They are very active and need a lot of space to run and exercise. With patience, they can be litter trained which will make a difference when you plan to let your bunny run free in your home.
Rabbits are social animals. They are very intelligent and curious and bond strongly with the family. Unneutered males can be aggressive and tend to fight with other males, or even nip and scratch family members. Unspayed females can be territorial. That is why it is best to have them neutered (male) or spayed (female) at an early age. If you would like to have two or more rabbits, the best is to have sterilized both male and female. Learn more about why should your Pet Rabbit get spayed or neutered.
There are many different breeds of Rabbits, from the Dwarf breeds to the Giant breeds, these rabbits can weigh 7-10 kg. The most popular breeds are the Hollander, French lop-eared and Dwarf rabbit. Each breed has specific characteristics and it is, therefore, important to inform yourself to ensure this breed fits your family. It is important to check the coat of your rabbit often as some tend to get problems with mites and other ectoparasites. Read more about mites in Rabbits for treatment and prevention advice.
CONTACT US TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR RABBIT
Rabbit Feed and Teeth
Rabbits’ teeth grow constantly and are worn off by chewing. You will need to provide your bunny with chew toys made especially for them. Provide a lot of rabbit feed like hay and dry food pellets to help them keep their teeth in good shape and their gut working properly. Check the teeth regularly and ask our vet how to prevent dental problems in Rabbits. Rabbits have very fragile spines and should be handled with care. Their back legs can kick so strongly that they can damage themselves badly if not properly held. Learn more from our previous blogs about rabbits:
- Good Health of an Elderly Rabbit or Rodent
- Skin Problems and Mites Found in Rabbits
- Digestive Problems in Rabbits
- Rabbit Teeth Structure
- Right Feeding of Rabbit
- Hairball Control for your Rabbit
- All you Need to Know for Adopting a Small Pet
Contact us for more veterinary support and preventive care for your Rabbits. Our veterinary clinic in Al Barsha, Dubai is open from 8 am to 10 pm and we offer discounts on Rabbit consults booked on specific days and times. Contact us to book an appointment for your Rabbits in Dubai.
Veterinary Care for Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are lively, lovable pets that require relatively easy care. They make great family pets in Dubai and get along well with other guinea pigs.
Guinea Pigs can live up to on average five years. Because of their small size, they can be housed in a cage. Guinea Pigs in general do not bite or scratch and they can be suitable for younger children handling them under adult supervision as they should not fall. However, as they tend to run away when you are trying to catch them, they can be hard for small children to pick them up from the cage.
It is advised to keep them as a pair or with multiple Guinea Pigs. Although they do not breed as fast as rabbits do, it is recommended to have them sterilized. Their urine does smell, so the cage needs to be cleaned regularly. The more Guinea Pigs you have, the more often the cage needs to be cleaned. Ask our nurse or vets for more preventive veterinary care for your little ones.
Unlike other animals, Guinea Pigs do not produce their own Vitamin C (like humans and primates) and therefore need to take it from the food. All commercial brands of food, state they have added Vitamin C, but this vitamin oxidizes very fast once the bag of food is open. It is therefore advisable to give them Vitamin C every other day, a freshly made solution gives the best results. Besides pallets, they need grass hay for a healthy intestinal tract. Occasionally they can have fruits and vegetables like apple, carrots, coriander, strawberries, parsley, peas, kale, and hibiscus. If you feed them by hand regularly some nice treats they will “sing” for you when they see you and are easier to handle (small amounts of strawberry jam or another sweet is much appreciated)
Guinea Pigs Body
Guinea pigs do not tolerate heat and cold well. They should mostly be kept indoors and away from where the cold air-conditioning air falls down. They are quite sensitive while young and can suffer from respiratory problems and constipation. There is a variety of colors and coat types in Guinea Pigs, like Curly Haired, Smooth Haired, Long Haired and also Hairless Guinea Pigs. Longhaired and Curly Haired Guinea Pigs will require brushing at least three times a week and some need to be groomed by a professional groomer for bath time and hair trimming if you cannot manage yourself.
In Europe and America, they have great show days for rabbits and guinea pigs. As with Rabbits, Guinea Pig’s teeth grow constantly and need to be checked often. The teeth are best kept in shape by providing your Guinea Pig with a lot of chew toys specially made for them. All in all, with the right care and dedication, Guinea pigs make wonderful pets for any family.
Most Guinea Pigs will whistle in joy when they know you are around, showing obvious signs of recognition. Watch this video and contact us for more veterinary preventive care for Guinea Pigs in Dubai.
