INTRODUCTION

Rabbits are adorable animals and very popular as pets, but there are many myths surrounding them (some of them absurd).

10 ABSURD MYTHS ABOUT RABBITS

1- THEY FEED ON CARROTS

Carrots are a food with a lot of sugar, high in carbohydrates and low in soluble fibre, so it is not good to feed them in large quantities, as the sugars and carbohydrates can cause abnormal fermentation, leading to tympanism (accumulation of gas) and obesity.

Can it be eaten? Yes, in moderation and as a treat.

2- RABBITS SMELL BAD

Rabbits are VERY clean animals, similar to cats. They groom themselves and usually urinate in the same place.

It is important to know that unneutered rabbits produce more intense smells and can urinate in different places. Rabbits confined in cages can also give off more odour because, not having room to move around, they step in their own faeces, and this odour is impregnated in the animal's fur. Sometimes we can even find ‘knots’ in the anal area full of faeces.
Therefore, if your rabbit is neutered, you keep its bedding clean (daily cleaning) and it does not live exclusively enclosed in its cage, it will not give off any smell.

3- THEY ARE RODENTS

It is true that they have the habit of gnawing, but they belong to the family of lagomorphs.

Do you know what the differences are?

• Rodents have only one pair of incisors on top, both of equal size. Lagomorphs have two pairs of incisors, a larger central pair and a smaller pair at the back, which are more difficult to see.
  
  
• Lagomorphs have a more extensive and thicker coat, covering all limbs, which is not the case in rodents.
  
  
• Lagomorphs are strictly herbivorous, while rodents can be omnivorous.
  
  
• Lagomorphs live in burrows underground, while rodents adapt and can live above ground, but also underground.
  
  

4- STALE BREAD IS GOOD FOR TEETH

Although they like it very much, bread contains a lot of starch and carbohydrates that can cause abnormal fermentation, producing a lot of gas in the intestine and stasis (digestive arrest), which is a veterinary emergency.

5- CALCIUM STONES ARE ESSENTIAL

They are not at all recommended, as rabbits eliminate excess calcium through their urine, increasing the chances of suffering from urinary tract diseases such as the formation of stones in the bladder, ureters or urethra.

6- THEY LIVE FOR A SHORT TIME

No. Well cared for rabbits have a life expectancy of between 8 and 12 years (sometimes more, as we have witnessed a rabbit that lived for 16.5 years). Giant breeds live less (4-6 years).

7- RABBITS WITH DROOPY EARS ALWAYS HAVE OTITIS AND HAVE TO BE CHECKED EVERY FEW YEARS.

No. This is not true either, based on our extensive experience and that of many colleagues whose lives are dedicated to lop-eared breeds, cases of otitis were practically non-existent. It depends on the animal itself (narrowness of the ear canal) and bad luck.

8- RABBIT HAIRS ARE BAD FOR HEALTH

No. Rabbit hair does not enter our nose nor does it travel to the lungs, so it does not cause any type of illness beyond being able to aggravate an allergy already present in the owner or an allergy to the rabbit's fur.

9- DO NOT SLEEP WITH THE RABBIT BECAUSE IT STEALS YOUR SOUL.

We have seen this in Latin American groups, it is so ridiculous that it has no explanation.

10- RABBIT PEE CAUSES INFERTILITY IN WOMEN.

Another myth seen in Latin American groups... Infertility in women can have one or several causes and these can be physical (problems in the reproductive system, hormonal problems, obesity or anorexia) as well as medical.

CONCLUSION

As we can see, there are many absurd or unfounded myths about rabbits, which make fantastic pets.