Rabbit Health
Author: Karen Peak
The starting health of you rabbit is very important. There is nothing more devastating that getting a new pet and having it die suddenly of unknown causes or buying an animal that is sick. Here are a few things you should look for when getting your bunny: no lumps or bumps; eyes, nose and ears should be clean; the teeth should align properly (scissors bite – the teeth should not be buck or butt together – they will line up like a scissors); breathing should not be labored; the rabbit should be eating and pooping; there should be no foul odors or smell of heavy disinfectant; the living conditions should be clean and all the animals looking healthy with any ill ones isolated. Within a couple days of bringing bunny home you should visit a veterinarian for a health check – just as you should with any new pet. Aside from you, a good veterinarian will be your rabbit's best friend. Not all veterinarians treat rabbits. Rabbits are often considered exotics and your best bet is to find a veterinarian who has training in exotics and who sees rabbits regularly. Grab your yellow pages and start calling or contact a local rabbit rescue such as www.bunnylu.org for information on what veterinarians are good with rabbits.
Now, you have your new rabbit. It has been vet checked to make sure it really is healthy. After this is done, you should be all set, right? Rabbits are a healthy pet and do not have many problems right? Wrong. Rabbits are prone to various problems and not all show up when they are young. A good, healthy start is very important but as a responsible rabbit owner you need to know what signs could indicate a potential problem. Warning signs may include: lethargy; refusal to eat; labored breathing; discharge from eyes, nose, ears; lumps or bumps; diarrhea; lack of "poop"; holding head at an odd angle; sudden weight loss or gain; general weakness. Know your rabbit and what is normal for it. Any deviation can be cause for concern. What are some of the more common health issues seen in rabbits? Let us take a look:
Malnutrition – Weight loss or gain, rough coat, loss of sheen to the coat, lethargy, etc are all symptoms of malnutrition. A quality pellet with daily vegetables, fruits, grains and hay or alfalfa will provide your rabbit with a balanced diet. Introduce all fruits and vegetables gradually to help prevent diarrhea.
Malocclusion (buck teeth) - Malocclusion can be inherited or caused by injury - such as a rabbit that pulls on the cage wire. This is a problem where the teeth do not properly line up and do not wear down with chewing. This can be treated by periodically clipping the overgrown teeth (vet assistance is needed and ask the vet to teach you how to do this safely). Boredom can be a factor in wire pulling. Toys and attention can alleviate this. Rabbits without appropriate things for them to chew can end up with overgrowth teeth.
Weepy Eye - many things can cause this from Snuffles (see Pasturella below) to allergy to irritation or problems with the tear ducts. The eye should be gently wiped off with a clean cloth dipped in warm water. If this situation does not clear within 24 hours, call the vet.
Hair Balls/Intestinal Blockage - This can be caused by ingested hair or foreign object. Symptoms include lessening or cessation of "poop,” poop being strung like beads and lessening of appetite. Angora breeds are more prone to hairballs. Rabbits cannot cough up hairballs like cats. Prevention includes regular combing out of loose fur, plenty of fiber in the diet and the use of a cat laxative like Laxatone. If a rabbit has not pooped in 24 hours or the poop is really small and less in frequency, get to a vet!
Heat Stroke – Rabbits who live outdoors or in places with no cooling in the summer or are left in cars in warm weather are prone to this. In the beginning, the rabbit will stretch out, pant, and be listless. Eventually, his lips may take on a bluish tinge and death can occur rapidly. Cooling of the rabbit and immediate medical attention is a must. Keeping rabbits cool and out of the heat will prevent this.
Wry Neck - This is where the neck twists to the side causing a turning of the head. This can be a result of injury or illness and must be seen by a vet ASAP.
Ear Infection - A few things such as bacteria, yeast, ear mites, and etc. can cause this. Breeds with droopy ears such as lops or breeds with loads of fuzz inside the ears such as some of the Angoras are more prone to infection due to lack of air circulation. Signs of ear infection are: shaking of head; head tilt (wry neck), digging at the ear or ear base; discharge or crud in the ear; odor. The cause of the ear problem needs to be found for it to be properly treated.
Pasturella - This is an upper respiratory infection and is highly contagious. Symptoms include weepy eyes, nasal discharge, weight loss, and listlessness. Pasturella is often called Snuffles. Proper maintenance of your rabbits can help prevent this as can making sure you get your pet from a place where the animals are showing no signs of illness.
Sore Hocks - Sore hocks is often a result of how the rabbits are managed. Breeds that are very large, have thinner coats, rabbits who do not have a way to get off of wire flooring, overweight rabbits, rabbits with solid floors that are allowed to sit in their own waste are more prone to sore hocks. The "heels" of the hind feet become sore, the fur wears off and the skins breaks and ulcerates. Infection can set in. Rabbits should have a sitting board in their cage and the board must be cleaned and changed regularly should the rabbit eliminate on it. Solid floored cages should be cleaned out daily and a fresh layer of hay placed down. Proper maintenance of rabbits and weekly checking of feet (more often in breeds more prone to it) should help prevent sore hocks.
Diarrhea - This can be caused by many things including Mucoid Enteritis, sudden feed change, parasites, too many fruits and veggies in a rabbit not used to them, stress, heat, other illness, etc. Treatment depends on the cause.
Abscesses - These can be caused by trauma such as a bump, bite, etc. A vet should check out lumps to make certain they are really abscesses and not tumors.
Coccidiosis - This is caused by an intestinal parasite and symptoms include diarrhea and dehydration along with listlessness. The parasites are detected through a fecal sample.
Fleas - Rabbits with fleas should be treated with a kitten safe product only. Use a spray or powder or bath. The spot-on and oral treatments are not suited for rabbits. Follow directions and treat not only the rabbit but the surroundings as well. Grooming and regular vacuuming of the house will help keep your pet flea-free.
Fly strike – Outdoor rabbits are more prone to this problem than indoors ones – but any rabbit can fall victim. Warm, moist conditions, diarrhea, damp bedding, etc. can attract flies. The flies lay eggs and the hatching maggots infect the rabbit. Fly strike can be fatal. Medical attention must be sought immediately. Proper maintenance and checking of the rabbit can help prevent this.
Mastitis - This is an infection of the mammary glands of a female rabbit. Symptoms include refusing to nurse babies, inflammation, fever, going off feed, etc. Even if a rabbit has no litter and goes through a false pregnancy that results in lactation, she can develop mastitis. Spaying of a pet bunny so she does not go through the possibility of false pregnancy or pregnancy can help prevent mastitis.
All pets should be spayed or neutered. This will help prevent various medical conditions and also ease hormonally related behaviors like spraying, mounting and even hormonally related aggression.
Any health concern should be addressed immediately. Many issues if left to "see what will happen" can end up with a dead critter. Rabbits can go down fast, often within 24 hours and quick owner response can often be the difference between life and death. If you suspect you pet has eaten something that could be toxic like chewed a plant, gotten into cleaning fluids, etc., you must call immediately.