Frequency of UV lamp use

[Captain Jackie]

Hello! I recently purchased a bird UV lamp (recommended by my vet who I now can’t seem to get ahold of, somewhat troubling) and I was wondering what the frequency should be? At most I would assume every day, but does anyone know if there’s a minimum per week? My buns live with my boyfriend because I’m not allowed pets at my current place (which I’m in the process of moving out of) and it’s kind of a complicated situation with the plugins so I’ll just say that the lamp can’t be plugged in every morning. Does it need to be used every day to have an effect? (My vet recommended 2 hours at most per day.)

I live in Canada and we’re reaching the time of the year where even if the sun is out, there is minimal vitamin D (hence why I bought the lamp).
Side note but related, if I took my rabbits out almost every day of spring and summer when vitamin D can be synthesized, would they even need a lamp in the winter? Could they store enough? About half the year is spring + summer, we get about a month of autumn and then the rest is winter. Or is that even an issue with rabbits? Does anyone know if they can produce vitamin D in the winter months up north?

Sorry for all the questions, I’m very concerned about my vet’s number not working and that they don’t have email! :S

[Jadeo09]

In humans its recommended that you get 30 mins of midday sun each day and our species are supposed to be active during sunlight hours. Whereas rabbits are most active during dawn and dusk, plus they have fir covering their bodies so wouldn’t be great at synthesising vitamin d due to skin exposure. So I feel an hour a couple of times a week would be more than adequate to replicate how many hours they would naturally receive daylight. Especially during the winter.

 

[Jadeo09]

I have had my rabbit indoors her whole life. She is afraid of going into the garden and she’s nearly 10. My vet says she is hey get all they need in their diet….

 

It can’t harm though I suppose.

I have used lots of bulbs due to having a tortoise and I would personally use this if I was to pick one. Don’t have it too close to their eyes though. Have it within 30 cms of them for best benefit.

 

Rabbits come out at dawn and dusk so naturally wouldn’t be out in the sun so be careful having it too close to them.

Ardacia FD3PP23 C D3+Compact Bulb 23 watt

(Link edited by Bam)

 

[Bam]

It probably won’t harm, but as Jade says, rabbits are dusk-and dawn creatures (crepuscular). Their calcium uptake is not regulated by the presence of vitamin D, like ours, and most other animals, tbh. Rabbits absorb all dietary calcium from the food they eat, then expel the surplus in the urine (which is why healthy rabbit urine is cloudy and leaves a chalky residue when it dries). If a rabbit gets enough vitamin D and calcium in their diet, they are unlikely to need extra vitamin D for that reason.

That said, some vets do recommend daily sunshine for rabbits. We have a member in Canada that I will try to get hold of, she used to live in a country with massive amounts of sunshine and I think she bought a UV lamp for her bun when she moved back to Canada.

[Bam]

So, I’ve been in contact with our Canadian member. She had a UV-bulb for her bun when she was living abroad, for use during the 6 months of the year when going outside was too hot for a rabbit. She had it mounted above his litterbox, so he’d sit in the light while he did his business. It was on for approx 6 hours per evening. Her bun would obviously hop in and out of the litterbox, so he’d not hang out there for 6 hours in a row every night.

Back in Canada, she hasn’t been using a UV bulb. She has a balcony where her buns get their daily dose of daylight. She also has an (adorable) stroller with a mesh roof that lets the sun through. They go for walks in the park in the stroller. One of her buns positively sunbathes in the stroller, the other bun is tolerant, but not as visibly impressed.

[Captain Jackie]

Ok, thanks for all the responses! It helps a lot. ^_^

That stroller does sound adorable, I’m currently attempting to harness train my buns so I can take them for walks and I have a cat backpack I bought for my bf’s cats who have no interest in it so I’m going to try and see if my girls like it, haha! (Instead of a stroller)

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