Not too long ago, I put together a comparison guide to rabbit insurance. I looked at the three rabbit insurers in the UK: Petplan, Helpucover and Exotic Direct and took a look at their policies and what they had to offer rabbit owners.

Now with Rabbit Awareness Week coming up (23rd-29th May 2011), I’m back writing about rabbits again. Now you may be asking yourself “what is rabbit awareness week?”

Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), for those who don’t know is a special week to promote a healthy lifestyle in rabbits. In much the same way as Jamie Oliver is galavanting around The States trying to stop parents feeding their children so much, vets across the UK are taking the opportunity to teach rabbit owners how to properly take care of their bunnies.

One veterinary practice taking part is Redditch-based Vets4Pets who will be offering free rabbit health checks throughout the week. This will be backed up by a free talk from local rabbit rescue charity ‘Fat Fluffs‘.

There’s probably something happening in your area. In fact the official RAW website makes it easy to find out what bunny-related nearby events are happening, including which practices are offering free rabbit health checks.

If you own a rabbit, I would advise taking the opportunity to get your rabbit checked out for free. As anyone with a pet insurance policy is aware – or more so those without – vet trips don’t come cheap, so any opportunity to get your pet checked out should be welcomed.

Health is one of the biggest focuses of the upcoming week. According to the RAW website, around 30% of domesticated rabbits in the the UK are obese. One of the main reasons for this is that rabbits are used to a more physical lifestyle and living in a cage or in a home can cause rabbits to quickly put on weight. This is particularly the case if rabbits don’t have a proper healthy diet, that is free from snacks and treats, something many rabbit owners are guilty of giving their pets. Dental problems, fleas, flystrike and grooming will also be closely looked at.

There is also some detailed information about keeping rabbits as pets, including a comprehensive overview of rabbit behaviour and welfare needs. Rabbit owners should work hard to create an interesting and stimulating environment for their bunnies. Without the appropriate engaging surroundings, rabbits can often start to become depressed, often chewing the bars of the cage, hiding excessively or frequently circling the cage.

You can find more information about the event at the Rabbit Awareness Week website. Personally, I think it’s a very good cause and something that every bunny lover out there should take advantage of.