After about six or seven years of age, you may start to notice some behavioral changes in your rabbit. Even if your rabbit is healthy and fit, it will likely start to slow down a bit around this age. This article will briefly describe some of the characteristics of an aging bunny and suggest some things you can do to make him happier and more comfortable.

As a bunny begins to age, you may need to adjust its diet to match its changing needs. If your elderly rabbit is losing weight, try modifying his diet by adding some plain pellets to his food. Alfalfa or timothy pellets should work fine. Alternatively, if your rabbit is experiencing the all too common condition of obesity, you will need to adjust its diet to try to get it to reach its optimum weight. You should talk to an expert to find out what the optimal weight is for your older bunny. Also, you may need to adjust your rabbit’s diet due to the decreased effectiveness of your rabbit’s teeth.

Older rabbits often begin to lose some of their earlier mobility abilities. If you had favorite spots that were high up or required climbing and you can no longer reach them, consider moving those spots to a lower, more accessible position. Make sure their living area has good traction so they can move easily. If your bunny is in pain due to his joints or bones, consider prescribing him some pain medication, such as Metacam. Also, older rabbits get cold more easily, so it’s not a bad idea to provide a small space heater somewhere near your rabbit’s cage or playpen to keep it warm. Living with an older rabbit may require a little more effort and attention on your part, but with love and diligence, you can bet you’ll have many more good times to share with your rabbit.