How long do captive rabbits live

Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Sign me up for the PetMD Newsletter. Submit Feedback. Still have questions? Continue to Chewy. An outdoor rabbit will also be faced with many dangerous predators. From dogs and foxes to raccoons and hawks, rabbits have a lot to be afraid of outside.

Sometimes these predators will manage to break into an outdoor hutch to get at a pet rabbit. And, like with humans, excessive stress can cause health problems and premature death in rabbits.

Outdoor rabbits are also more likely to come into contact with predators and bacteria from harmful diseases. They can get fleas and get ear mites. Or they can be bitten by ticks and mosquitoes that can spread some deadly rabbit diseases.

All of this put together, an outdoor rabbits life expectancy falls to years. Significantly less than that of an indoor rabbit. Spayed and neutered rabbits live longer than their un-altered counterparts.

Female rabbits in particular should always be spayed. Even male rabbits have a much higher chance of developing prostate cancer if they have not been neutered.

Getting a rabbit fixed also helps with some behavioral problems they have. They are less likely to be aggressive and will stop spraying around the house to claim their territory. To greatly increase the chances of having a healthy and long-lived pet rabbit, you should get them spayed or neutered as soon as they reach maturity. Wild rabbits are not protected like domestic rabbits are, so they have a much shorter life expectancy. They rarely live past years.

Wild rabbits also have to compete for resources. There is not always enough food to go around, so many, unfortunately, suffer from a lack of food and are unable to survive. Wild rabbits are a major prey animal for hawks, snakes, and coyotes. But dogs, cats and raccoons are also predators in neighborhood settings. To complicate the picture, veterinarians skilled in rabbit medicine are often hard to find.

Myth 2: Rabbits only live a year or two, so no long commitment is necessary Reality: Well cared-for indoor rabbits can live years, and some live into their teens.

This is approximately the same life span as some breeds of dogs, and requires the same long-term commitment. Myth 3: Rabbits do not need veterinary care the way dogs and cats do. Reality: Although rabbits in the USA do not require annual vaccinations, nevertheless, regular veterinary checkups help to detect small problems before they become big ones. Myth 4: Rabbits are happiest outdoors in a backyard hutch.

Reality: Rabbits kept outdoors in hutches are often forgotten and neglected once the novelty wears off. They can die of heart attacks from the very approach of a predator — even if the rabbit is not attacked or bitten.

Rabbits are gregarious creatures who enjoy social contact with their human care-takers. The easiest way to provide social stimulation for a companion rabbit is to house him indoors, as a member of the family. Myth 5: Rabbits are rather dirty and have a strong odor. I work at a veterinary clinic and someone had dropped of a cute, super sweet black and white bunny.

Instead of calling animal control we only take care of dogs and cats i decided to take him home! I took him to another vet and had him neutered. They said he was a very young rabbit no more than 6 months old.

He gets his revolution medication every month to prevent mites. Our medium size white rabbit with a black dot at his back passed away this noon after 6. He was well cared, indoor, fed with hay, carrot, kale, green vege, pellets and drinking water. He is a friendly, funny, loving, mischievous bunny. He used to hop onto the couch where I slept just to sit on my face if he saw me sleeping on the couch.

We left him free in the office room and eat with us in the living room. He used to bite off my shoe strap or bottle rubble when he was young, to claim his territory. He lost weight after I got pregnant. He accidentally ate two apples couple weeks ago.

Is this the reason he passed away? Doctor said he passed away due to his heart failure. I have a pure bread BEW holland lop. All white with blue eyes. Shes only a yr old. I hope she lives for many yrs.

I want to bread her. Our rabbit unfortunately just died at the weekend age 5. We live in Turkey. No sign of illness. He lived happily free in our back garden with our cocker spaniel. They used to run round the garden in circles chasing. The rabbit ate the dogs dry biscuits and the dog loved the rabbits variety of good. Very odd pair. Used to sleep in their under balcony storage come kennel together in complete harmony.

My rabbit Charlie is 12 years old he lives indoors ,Charlie is a lot less active than he was but still happy and healthy. His partner passed away 2 years ago aged We have has Lightning for over 4 years.

Which tuned into Hunny Bunches, and now, just Bunch or Bunches. The main problem we have had with Bunches is keeping his bottom clean. He has allowed me to give him warm showers to clean his bottom, and this is when he cuddles! I think he knows we are trying to help him feel good. We have an indoor pen for him, and we let him out to play with us, the cat, and the two dogs, as often as possible. The cat is his favorite playmate! They run around and chase each other constantly!

They are so fun to watch! Bunches was neutered a few years ago, he does not like to be picked up or held, but he loves to be petted! He is my morning buddy, as I talk with him and give him treats before I leave for work every day.

He knows he is a good bunny! We are hoping to have Bunches for a long, long time! I have one female bunny named Sammie. She is I also had another male rabbit, but he passed away last year at the age of Both are Dutch rabbits, Sammie weighing in at around lbs and Slurpee my husband works for 7-Eleven Corporate lol weighed around lbs. They also love their Timothy hay! Buns are the best!!! Currently I own 3 rabbits right now 6 yr old 11 lb spayed New Zealand, 3yr old spayed 3 lb dutch cross and a 1 yr old 2 lb neutered polish cross.

All rescues and all taken care of really well, exercised daily out of their cage, fresh veggies and unlimited amount of hay with minimal pellets. Not only do I not see any of these issues anymore the health benefits of doing this procedure will lengthen the life greatly of all my rabbits. Crazy fact that is! It is preventable. I did my research and found a rabbit savvy vet that I trusted! Rabbits are very sensitive under anesthetic so it is important to find a vet that deals with them all the time.

So in the end its a win,win for me! I enjoy my bunnies very much and they are my little fur babies. Crazy how different their personalities are. What great little pets! It is important to me that they live a healthy and long life! I had a beautiful white and gray rabbit named Mr.

Snuggleupugus, for short, Snuggles. I originally bought him for my nephew to have at my house, but he quickly became very attached to me, as I often carried him around in my housecoat pocket in the mornings as I drank coffee and let him sit next to me at my desk to work. He lived inside only, but went out on leash walks often, and was allowed to play in my fenced backyard when the weather was nice and not too hot. He was pretty big at about 17 lbs. I had the tumor removed and had him neutered by a fantastic vet!!

This was when he was about He was an amazing and loving companion and my Border Collie, Maggie, absolutely adored him!! When he was just a few months shy of his 15th birthday, he had a stroke.

He had always loved being rocked and especially loved this after the stroke. After rocking him and taking him out for 2 days, I decided that it was time to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.

He had completely lost his quality of life. I had decided to take him the next day to my vet, but while rocking later that night, he passed quietly in my arms. He would have been 15 yrs old in 3 more months. I miss him terribly, but have yet to get another. Treat your rabbit well and they will offer you many years of friendship and love.

Also, for those that do not know, be very careful with rabbits outside. They are highly prone to heat stroke. If you must keep your rabbit outdoors, I suggest freezing 2 litre bottles of water and putting one in their cage during the hot days. Switch it out as it thaws. This will give them something to lay against to keep cool. They love it!! I have a black dwarf rabbit since and I was wondering how long they live.

He is at least 14 years old now. We keep it in a cage with us in our family room and leave his door open for him to go in and out as he pleases. Lately, he wants to stay in his cage and very seldom comes out. We feed him rabbit diet from pet store and occasionally carrots and lettuce.

He is starting to develop a loss of hair under his eyes. Does anyone know what this is from? Got a rabbit last yr. Very smart. We let her out in the front yard every once in a while. She loves it and knows when to go back in the house. My current rabbit is an indoor neutered mix between mini rex and mini lop. He came from a breeder who was trying to develop a new mini rex lop breed. He even survived a hawk attack when he was young.

The two rabbits I had from pet stores growing up both passed much ealier — one at 1. Emily, thank you so much for sharing about your pet rabbit! He sounds like a wonderful and strong bunny. Thanks again! Can someone inform me? I have never owned a house rabbit but have discovered a beautiful one that I learned has been abandoned by an owner.

This rabbit has been on the loose in the woods where I live for some six months. I want to care for it and take him to a vet or adopt him but am not sure of how my yorkie said might react. Thank you for your post! Regarding acclimating your new friend to your yorkie pup, I would proceed with caution. Adding in a dog will be a lot for the rabbit to take in.

If the yorkie is well behaved, as in does not snap, bark or lunge at the rabbit, then you might be able to gradually get them used to each other. Sometimes over a period of weeks and even months this can be accomplished. I would think long-term, rewarding both animals excessively for all positive behavior and never emphasizing the negative behavior as they will associate punishment with each other.

That can lead to hostility. Start out with bunny in the cage and the dog on its leash to test the waters. Move very slowly and be thorough in observing their reactions. A bunny can die of shock from a dog even so much as barking at it.

Never leave them alone together as something might happen even by accident. Hope this is helpful. I have had many Bunny and my oldest was 14 he was inside have his life out side the rest he was a lionhead mix well cared for. He passed last night. I have had 4 rabbits. All were the white albino type magician pull out of hat type.

All lived outside. The first one lived to be 7. She died a short time after these symptoms. The 2nd ran away after almost a year. Broke out of cage. By 3 I had learned more about rabbits, litter trained her and she was very sweet, much like 1.

Than a dog tore up her cage and killed her. But after a short illness died at about 5 and change. We had 5, also a female, but she was an indoor bunny, mixed between full sized and mini and was not fully white. We decided to have her fixed but the vet must have made some type of error as she died 2 days after surgery. She was 2. Now we have 6. HE is 3, lives indoors, has a all day supply of hay and timothy pellets.

After all this experience, my advise is to get one as young as safely possible. That should eliminate the biting. But if you use only male docs, you will avoid her. Good luck all. I share my home with two bunnies, Isabella and Winston. Isabella is a typical white bunny and was found on the side of the road as a baby along with 2 littermates. She was the only survivor. Winston is a fluffy white lion head. After having Izzy spayed and she settled in I thought she might be lonely so I adopted Winston.

He had not been well cared for at all. I had him neutered and he and Isabella now live quite contentedly in my living room in a 6 x 5 foot pen. I also have a secure outdoor area where they and my kitties can enjoy the sun, flowers and fresh air in the warmer months. Izzy is 4 and the vet figures Winston is 5 or 6. Thanks for letting me share my little story. Thanks for sharing your bunnies with us Renee!

They sound like great companions and allowing them to roam outside in a secure area is great. Taking good care of your bunnies is the best thing you can do to make sure they live out a long and healthy life. He was only spayed 5 years ago, after developing a tumor on a testicle. He has slowed down since: he used to try and jump on any cat he would see, including our 23 lbs cat.

He is free to roam around all day, but mostly sleeps in his cage at night. He often goes to bed on his own late evening. He usually will stay in the same room as we are.

He loves laying on or besides us on the coach, getting petted while we watch TV. He has 3 litter boxes, which he uses most of the time he was better in earlier years He travels well: we take him along on trips, and he seems to recognize other places he has visited in past years.

He eats a lots of greens: Dandelions and Romaine lettuce are his favorites. No carrot. Also goes for dried apples, oatmeal and bread—never liked hay. Sounds like you have a great rabbit, my hope for you is that you will get to enjoy each others companionship for many more years. I read that you should not reach into the cage and pull her out, that is there safe place and you should not invade her space. Let her come out on her own, but she will not. When I do get her out and hold her she seems happy to cuddle but she really fights being picked up.

So I guess I will just be patient with her for awhile until she decides it is safe to come out on her own. Someone gave me a rabbit that someone else had dumped out in my neighborhood.

I know that it is a female and was kept in captivity but that is all I know. I have and outside cage and I get her a small inside cage. She will not come out of the smaller cage. I put her in the big cage but she will not come out of the small cage. I bring her in at night and put her in the bath room with the cage door open but she still will not come out.

Any help please. You might try coaxing her out with some food. If you try to take her out, move slowly and carefully trying not to injure her.

If you pick her up be sure to support her hindquarters. Hope that helps. His companion died at 7. He hops about and seems to be much friendlier towards us and have much more energy than when his companion was alive. We had a Netherland dwarf bunny.

A baby girl we named Shugga. She passed away just on Monday. She was well cared for and lived indoors all of her life. Next month the would have been just 3 years old. She showed no signs of illness.

In fact we were just playing with her on Sunday she loved running around the house. We were very sad and taken by surprise when we came home and she was gone. P Shugga. We did the usual play for a couple hours and back in her cage for bed. Hopefully she went peacefully and not in pain. The bunny I had just passed away. He was given to me, so his estimated age was 8. He was a dwarf, not neutered, lived outside in FL but was well taken care of.

Showed no sign of disease before passing. We are so sorry to hear your bunny passed away. Thank you for sharing this information about your bunny. Your email address will not be published. Erica Tramuta-Drobnis. Nikkee on April 15, at am. London on April 8, at am. Lila Fay Cohen on July 8, at pm. My friend has a bunny who is a rescue and is almost 20 years old.

Ivy Cassel on June 1, at pm. Lila Fay Cohen on July 8, at am. John Peter on October 9, at pm. We are glad to hear your bunny has helped you so much!

Take care Reply. Sandy on April 18, at am. We just had to have our Netherland Dwarf Rabbit put to sleep he had had a stroke he was getting old he was at least 12years 3mths old hop well Bubbles Reply. Margaret on June 7, at pm. Dee Gray on March 11, at am. Natalie on March 16, at am. I use wood pellets and he was a natural very clean Reply.