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Organised by Burgess Pet Care and now in its 11th year, Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is dedicated to promoting the welfare needs of rabbits through a range of events and activities. Thanks to the involvement of veterinary practices and official partners including Agria Pet Insurance, RSPCA, PDSA, The Blue Cross, Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) and Wood Green The Animals Charity, RAW brings together the collective expertise and influence of everyone involved to educate rabbit owners; actively improving the lives of more rabbits throughout the UK as a result.
The 2016 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report highlighted inappropriate diet as the number one welfare issue that needs to be addressed to improve standards in rabbit ownership, as identified by the veterinary profession. As a result, this year’s RAW theme will focus on the importance of feeding hay in rabbits’ diets, after recent data revealed that 30% of rabbit owners confirmed their rabbits don’t have constant access to fresh feeding hay and water. Many owners also struggle in understanding the differences between feeding hay and bedding hay.
Good quality feeding hay or fresh grass should make up as much as 85 to 90 percent of a rabbit’s diet – that’s equivalent to their own body weight in hay every day! Research continues to show that rabbits are one of the most misunderstood pets in the UK, with many owners falling short when it comes to correctly identifying the dietary needs of their pets. Without a hay led, fibre rich diet, rabbits are at risk from a variety of health problems, including gut stasis, obesity and severe dental issues.
RAW 2017 is calling for all rabbit owners, veterinary professionals and pet retailers to join together and #HoptoHay! By highlighting the importance that fibre-rich feeding hay plays in rabbits’ diets, we stand to significantly reduce the risks of dental and gastrointestinal disease. It’s only natural that rabbit owners want the very best for their pets, so by encouraging them to learn more about their specific needs, we hope we’ll see healthier rabbits as a result.
RAW is a collective effort; the success of which simply isn’t possible without the hard work of our partners, and we thank them for their continued support in helping to better the lives of more rabbits each year. It’s always great to hear the positive feedback from the veterinary practices participating in the events and initiatives. Last year, over 3500 practices got involved with RAW, holding a variety of special events and seminars, offering free check-ups and discounted products. As a result, many practices registered several new bunny clients over the course of the week, leading to an increase in follow-up checks thereafter.
If you’re a veterinary practice looking to get involved, there are a number of ways you can play a part in supporting this year’s RAW campaign to help make it the biggest and best one yet. You can visit the RAW website at www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk and head to the ‘For Vets’ section where you’ll find a number of resources including educational material, a press release template and even a PR toolkit which will help guide you through the best ways to ensure your practice makes the most out of the week.
You can support the week online by using the hashtags #RAW2017 and #HoptoHay across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also engage with your local community to help spread awareness about the week or visit the website to find your nearest participating practice. There really are great benefits to be had as a result of being involved with RAW. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to Hop to Hay with RAW 2017!