Rabbits are great to have as a pet. They have a friendly and good-natured character, and their care is relatively simple. One of the most common issues has to do with the amount of water rabbits drink per day . In the same way as in other animals, hydration for them is essential.
There is a very curious fact about the habits of rabbits, and that is that they drink twice as much water as they eat. This is why it is so important that you pay special attention to hydration . When they don’t drink enough water, the consequences can be very serious for their health. But what exactly is the amount of water a rabbit should drink ? It largely depends on your age. When he is a few months old he takes 120 milliliters of water daily, while in adulthood he consumes 400 milliliters of water a day.
However, in the case of female rabbits that are pregnant or nursing , the amount soars, and they can drink up to 4 liters of water daily. Rabbits reach sexual maturity at a very young age, and females can become pregnant as early as 12 weeks. Still, it is best to do it between five months and four years. Rabbit pregnancy is very short, lasting 28 to 33 days.
What if the rabbit does not drink water?
You must be very attentive to the behavior of the rabbit to make sure that everything is going well. If you notice that the animal does not drink water , it may be a symptom of a disease or a certain problem in the mouth. When rabbits have sore teeth, they not only stop eating, but also drink.
It may also be the case that the rabbit does not know how to drink from the trough . This is relatively common when switching from a bottle to a bowl-type waterer. As is logical, the water must be clean at all times. Otherwise, the animal will not drink. Rabbits are very neat, and they need fresh and clean water.
If your rabbit is very small and does not know how to drink water, what you have to do is teach him how to do it. A good technique is to bring your wet index finger closer to it : first it will smell it and then it will lick it. If he still doesn’t get close to the waterer, bring him closer because he may just be afraid of the bowl.
If this does not work and the rabbit does not drink water, it is time to see the vet .
