Veterinary surgeon Alan Leyland, of Wallasey, who is currently the President of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons, writes for the Wirral Globe. Readers with queries about their pets can write to him via the Globe at Catherine Street, Birkenhead, L41 6HW.

THE Chinese New Year which began last month is the Year of the Rabbit, a species which vets are seeing in bigger and bigger numbers.

There is a tremendous increase in research and interest in rabbit diseases and a realisation that we have tended to think of them as inactive animals happy to sit in a small hutch all their lives.

We must rethink this attitude as it is obvious to vets that healthy rabbits need access to large runs. Allowing the rabbit the run of the house with the use of a litter tray is becoming more normal. Such rabbits seem to thrive and the owners don't seem to mind when something has been nibbled.

Commonly problems occur with rabbits' teeth. Overgrowth of the incisors and, even worse, the molars leads to the inability to eat or abscess formation, all of which can be difficult to cure.

These problems are now known to follow an inadequate diet in many cases. Good quality hay, a proprietary concentrate and access to clean water can be supplemented with a vitamin mix.

However greens, for example, carrots and cabbage leaves, if given, should be in small quantities only as the rabbit will fill itself with these at the expense of more nutritious foods.

There are two rabbit diseases which we now routinely vaccinate. Myxomatosis is spread from feral rabbits. Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) can arise apparently from nowhere and must be capable of spread in the air or by formites (wild birds and rodents). Vaccination against both of these diseases is safe and effective.

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