Garry Howard, director of one of the UK’s largest online veterinary-approved retailers, Direct4Pet, offers advice on how to care for your rabbit during Rabbit Awareness Week.

June 22-26 marks Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) and is a major annual UK campaign dedicated to improving pet rabbit welfare. As the third most popular yet most arguably neglected pet in the UK, rabbits often suffer from improper housing and diets. RAW runs campaigns to change this through education. The annual week-long event is organised by Rabbit Awareness Action Group in collaboration with major animal charities like the RSPCA, Blue Cross, and the PDSA.  

RAW promotes the 5 Welfare Needs of rabbits. The fist of these is Diet. A rabbit’s diet should consist of 85-90% high-quality hay or grass, 10% fresh greens, and only 5% concentrated pellets.  Hay helps to keep teeth and tummies healthy, and a rabbit should eat its bodyweight in hay every day. Brands such as Natures Own, Burgess Excel and HayDay offer a range of varieties of hay to meet any dietary requirements and will help to keep any bunny munching away happily. Tiny Friends Farm Russel Rabbit Loopies containing carrot and mint and baked to bite-sized pieces provide an occasional tasty treat for rabbits while Burgess High Quality Nuggets with mint for adult and junior and dwarf rabbits have 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.

The second welfare need is Environment. "A hutch is not enough!" Rabbits need large, enriched housing spaces where they can run, jump, dig, and stretch out. 

Rabbits are athletic animals. In the wild, they run, dig, forage, and socialise across wide territories. Sadly, many domestic rabbits are still confined to hutches that are far too small for their needs — leading to stress, obesity, and even behavioural problems. The RSPCA recommends that a hutch needs to be at least 3m (length) x 2m (width) x 1m (height) plus a rabbit needs 24/7 access to a secure run or exercise area.

This space should include:

• A sleeping area (dark, enclosed, and safe)
• An activity area (with room to hop, stretch, and stand upright)
• Tunnels, shelves, and hideouts for stimulation and safety

The third area for welfare is Companionship, Rabbits are highly social animals and should always be kept in properly bonded pairs or small groups, not alone or with guinea pigs.

The fourth area is Behaviour. Providing tunnels, platforms, and safe spaces prevents behavioural issues like over-grooming or aggression. Rabbits are intelligent and curious — and they need mental and physical stimulation every single day. Without it, they can become bored, frustrated, and destructive. Enrichment ideas include:

• Dig boxes (filled with safe soil or shredded paper)
• Chew toys (to prevent dental issues and relieve boredom)
• Foraging toys (hide treats inside hay or puzzle feeders)
• Tunnels and hideaways (to simulate natural burrows)
• Cardboard castles or platforms (encourage exploration)

The fifth and final area of rabbit welfare is Health & Vet Care: Routine check-ups are essential, alongside vaccinations for deadly diseases (like Myxomatosis and RHD). During RAW, vet practices and rescue centres offer free resources, health checks, and educational materials. You can download free owner packs and find local events on the Rabbit Awareness Action Group website or keep up to date by following their Facebook Page. 

Bunnies are fastidious groomers, but they still need a helping hand — especially long-haired breeds like Angoras or Lionheads. A basic care routine should consist of;

• Weekly grooming (daily for long-haired breeds)
• Regular nail trims
• Daily health checks (eyes, teeth, ears, poop)
• Vaccinations 
• Neutering — improves behaviour and prevents serious health issues

Rabbits are gentle, intelligent, loving companions — and they deserve care that reflects their unique needs. Rabbit Awareness Week is more than a campaign — it’s a movement to improve their lives.

As a UK-based, RCVS-registered veterinary pharmacy and pet-care retailer, Direct4Pet provides a full range of products — prescription medicines, food, supplements, accessories and everyday essentials — all overseen by qualified veterinary professionals. Products to cater for a rabbit’s needs can be found on the online store.

For further information on Direct4Pet visit: www.direct4pet.co.uk