New Zealand Rabbit

Contrary to what the name suggests, New Zealand rabbits are not from New Zealand. This breed was developed in California in the early 1900s. While there is no consensus about where the name came from, it’s thought that these rabbits may have been bred from other bunnies imported from the New Zealand region.

The dominant color of New Zealand rabbits was originally red, but in 1917 a red doe produced a litter of white kits. White New Zealand rabbits quickly became the desired color.

New Zealand rabbits have a broad and muscular body, upright ears, and soft fur. The average weight of a New Zealand rabbit is 9–12 pounds, and they typically live an average of 5–8 years (or longer if spayed/neutered and housed indoors). The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes five New Zealand rabbit colors, including:

• Red

• Black

• Blue

• White

• Broken

New Zealand rabbits are typically healthy, docile, and easier to handle than some smaller rabbit breeds.

Caring for a New Zealand Rabbit

As a larger breed, New Zealand rabbits need more space than other bunny breeds. Many commercial rabbit cages are too small to comfortably house a New Zealand rabbit, so many pet parents find themselves creating custom enclosures or hutches.

Your bunny’s house should be at least four times the rabbit’s stretched-out length, and multiple levels are appreciated to allow even more living space. The bigger the habitat, the better. Additionally, New Zealand rabbits need lots of time outside the cage for exercise and mental stimulation. Your New Zealand rabbit should be outside the hutch at least five hours a day to roam and play in a supervised and safe area.

New Zealand rabbits are comfortable living indoors or outdoors, provided outdoor enclosures are protected from the weather and secured against predators. Indoor rabbits typically live longer and stay healthier than bunnies kept outside because they are not exposed to environmental factors that can cause injury or disease.

New Zealand Rabbit Health Issues

These robust rabbits are overall hearty and healthy. But, like all rabbits, they are prone to a few health conditions.

Obesity

Because they were originally bred as a meat production animal, New Zealand rabbits grow quickly. As a result, they tend to gain weight easily. Monitoring their food intake is important to prevent obesity. Daily exercise is also key to keeping your New Zealand rabbit at a healthy body weight.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Stasis

A rabbit's digestive system contains beneficial bacteria that keep the digestive tract moving continuously. When there is an alteration in this normal bacterial population, the digestive tract can stop moving, a condition called GI stasis. GI stasis is a potentially life-threatening condition and requires immediate and often intensive veterinary treatment. Signs include a complete lack of appetite, lack of stool and cecotrope (night stool) production, and lethargy.

Parasites

Ear Mites: Ear mites are microscopic parasites that can infect a rabbit's ears, often causing copious ear discharge and crusting or flaking at the tips of the ears. This condition is very itchy, and the rabbit may cause injury to themselves as they scratch. Ear mites need to be identified by a veterinarian, who will examine a sample of the ear debris under a microscope. Once positively identified, the veterinarian can then prescribe medication to kill the mites and treat any resulting ear infection.

Cheyletiella: Also known as “walking dandruff,” Cheyletiella mites live on the rabbit’s skin. These mites can cause intense itching all over the rabbit's body, often resulting in infected sores or hair loss. Cheyletiella mites are identified microscopically and usually treated with a prescription topical anti-parasitic medication. Subsequent skin infections can be treated as well with oral antibiotics. Cheyletiella can spread rapidly from one rabbit to another and is transmissible to people.

Encephalazoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi): This is an intracellular parasite that can be very dangerous for a rabbit. It causes severe neurological issues and kidney damage. Signs of an E. cuniculi infection can include:

• Lethargy

• Lack of appetite and stool production

• Head tilt

• Seeming off balance or wobbly

• Tremors or seizures

• Partial paralysis

Treatment often involves hospitalization with fluid therapy injections, supplemental feedings, anti-inflammatory medications, and prescription dewormers. Rabbits can recover with early medical intervention; however, a rabbit showing advanced signs of the disease may not respond well to treatment and can have lasting neurological effects.           

Dental Problems

All rabbits tend to develop dental problems, and the New Zealand rabbit is no exception. Dental issues occur in part because a rabbit's teeth grow continuously throughout their lives at a rate of 3–4 inches per year. When rabbits do not get enough hay and chew toys to gnaw on, their teeth can overgrow, causing malocclusion, or misalignment of the upper and lower teeth.

Malocclusion can lead to sharp points on the teeth that may cause wounds in the mouth, such as lacerations to the tongue and ulcers on the inside of the cheeks. These wounds often become infected and form an abscess (pocket of infection) that can damage the tooth, tooth roots, and jawbone.

Dental malocclusion can cause your New Zealand rabbit to stop eating, drool, and paw at the mouth. In some cases, there may be visible swelling on the rabbit's face.

A veterinarian can treat dental malocclusion by sedating the rabbit and trimming or filing down the overgrown teeth. Dental X-rays can be taken and may show damage to the tooth roots or jawbone, in which case the offending teeth will need to be surgically extracted and the surrounding tissue debrided to remove all traces of infection.

To ensure your rabbit does not develop dental malocclusion, always provide plenty of hay and chew toys to help keep the teeth ground down. Avoid chew toys with artificial flavors or colors and for more natural options instead.

Sore Hocks

As one of the larger and heavier rabbit breeds, New Zealand bunnies can develop pododermatitis. The term generally refers to abrasions or wounds on the bottom of the feet and legs.

These are pressure sores that can develop in cages with wire floors or in unsanitary conditions. T