Rabbit Health

To insure your rabbit’s health for the long term, find a rabbit-knowledgeable Vet. Knowledge of a rabbit’s health has increased dramatically in the last few decades. and so has the companion rabbit's lifespan. We are confident our bunny will experience a long healthy life because we take pains to provide her with all the right care, but if something ever seems wrong with our rabbit’s health we are fortunate to have a rabbit-savvy Vet in our city who also keeps companion bunnies of her own.

Even if you have all the bases covered with the right food, right cage/pen, safe play area, proper exercise routines, and lots of love and attention, things can still happen. So the following is a lay person’s advice about caring for your rabbit’s health.

Know well your bunny’s delicate body (see Rabbit Anatomy) and individual behavioral patterns. Get a feel of your rabbit’s weight and the structure of his spine and legs. Feel around for any unusual lumps or bulges. Check his hindquarter every day to make sure it is clean. Be observant because rabbits will hide it from you when they are ill.

Telltale Signs

Here are some tell-tale rabbit health signs to look for. If they persist, then a trip to the rabbit-knowledgeable Vet is in order. The sooner an adverse condition is treated the better:
Diarrhea And Soft Sticky Pellets: Probably a diet problem solved by cutting back on veggies or treats, or increasing hay intake. Hard pellets do not smell, but diarrhea does.
Sludgy Urine or Dribbling Urine: Extra calcium is excreted via the rabbit's urine so a diet too high in calcium will cause sludge (thick, pasty urine of a whitish-tan color). If you see your rabbit straining to urinate, or if urine has blood in the middle, a visit to the vet is in order. Normal urine ranges in color from a light yellow to a reddish tint. Carrot tops and alfalfa are high in calcium.
Snuffles: When there is excessive discharge from the nostrils which is caused by bacteria (particularly Pasteurella, the most common infectious disease of rabbits). Snuffles is contagious. It is treatable with antibiotics (beware of penicillin which will have a harmful effect on the digestive system) administered by your Vet. Minor mucous discharges just need to be wiped off.
Weepy Eye: Most likely it is a matter of a clogged eye duct (there is only one duct per eye). Just wipe away the discharge. If it persists and gets worse, it could be an abscess tooth which is caused by a bacterial infection. This is dangerous because the infection can spread to other organs.
Not Eating: Hair in the stomach is normal, but when it is not passed through properly it becomes a fur ball. This is treatable with store-bought medication using a syringe or putting the ointment on the paw which the rabbit will lick. Syringe feed your bunny some baby food during these times. If the problem persists it could become Gastro-Intestinal Stasis (where food can no longer move through the stomach) which is very serious and can lead to death.
Head Tilt: When head is tilted to one side and the eye seems to be disoriented. Usually an inner ear problem.
Pus: A rabbit’s pus is thick and chunky, and it probably indicates an abscess problem.
Lethargic: Something is wrong. If it persists it is off to the Vet.
Stops Jumping: Could be arthritis. Medicine is available for this.
Losing Weight: Not eating properly because of "malocclusion" (teeth not being aligned). Swelling on the side of the face is a symptom, as well as dripping saliva. The Vet will need to grind the teeth every so often. Dwarfs suffer from this more than other breeds.
Hunched Up Position: If your rabbit maintains this position for long periods of time, he is in pain.
Sudden Lameness: Probably a fracture. An x-ray may be in order. Today even chiropractic care is being developed for rabbits.
Trouble Breathing: Could be a heart problem. Rabbits breath through their nose so if your bunny is gulping for air this is a bad sign.
Scratches: Use a mild disinfectant to avoid infection (which your bunny most likely will not like). A rabbit's skin is thin and easily scratched, so check regularly for any scratches.

Over Grooming: Probably a case of fleas or mites (never use Frontline on your bunny; use only rabbit safe products). Do not use flea collars on a rabbit which may cause choking to death. Continued