Carry out regular health checks on your rabbit every other day in the summer and once a week in the winter.

Herbal Slippery elm & Charcoal capsules help rabbits with digestive problems. Add a little powder from the capsules to water and syringe feed. Or try scattering amongst hay or pellets.

It’s very useful and helpful to have a medicine cabinet at home for your rabbit. See Bunny care – Health & MOT for which medicines.

Syringe feed slowly to allow time to swallow. If you syringe feed them too quickly there is a chance it could end up in their lungs.

Always place the syringe in the side of their mouth, into the cheek and at a slight angle. Never syringe feed from the front and straight down the throat.

Never syringe feed when they are laid backwards like a baby. Always syringe feed them whilst upright.

Carry out syringe feeding in an unfamiliar place. Your rabbit won’t feel as confident and will be unlikely to struggle as much.

Make a soup of vegetables if your rabbit is off their food. This also helps to encourage them to eat again. To make a soup: Boil 2 or 3 vegetables (chopped into small pieces) like carrot, cabbage & celery in a little water for about 10 mins. Liquidise the vegetables with the water they cooked …

Gently poke a fork prong into the top of the syringe to widen it and this will help thick mixtures go into the syringe easier.

Make a mash of pellets by adding hot water (not boiling) and allow to cool before giving it to your rabbit.