Basic Rabbit Health
You will need to observe your rabbit and learn what is normal so that you can spot quickly when there is a health concern with your rabbit. Once you know what is normal and spot something abnormal, you should contact your local small animal vet for aid in treating your rabbit. There are several things you can do at home to treat your rabbit, but because it can be difficult to diagnose certain conditions without seeing the rabbit, all health issues are best left up to your vet. If you cannot afford this, you should contact a local breeder, who may be able to physically see the rabbit and help you learn how to treat it.
The following is a checklist for the overall health of your rabbit.
Daily:
| Is the rabbit alert? | A rabbit that is not alert is usually a sign of illness. |
| Does the rabbit have fresh water and is it drinking? | A rabbit that does not have fresh water can possibly be dehydrated. A rabbit that is not drinking also means that it is not eating. Try offering the rabbit fresh, cool, clean water. If it still will not drink, check to make sure it is not dehydrated. You can do this by pulling up on the fur on the scruff of its neck. If the fur is very slow in returning to normal position, the rabbit is dehydrated. Until further medical care is given, give the rabbit some electrolytes (such as Gatorade) through a feeder syringe. Be careful not to give it too fast, as the rabbit could choke. |
| Is the rabbit eating? | If the rabbit is not eating but is drinking, it isn't too serious, yet you will need to get the rabbit back on its feed. Try offering small amounts of treats to stimulate it's appetite. If the rabbit will not touch any form of food for more than a day, you should consult your vet. |
| Is it sneezing more than usual or are the inside of the front paws wet or have a yellowish crust on them? | This could be a sign of 'Snuffles', which is an illness caused by Pasturella. Vet care should be given if the symptoms appear. |
| Does the rabbit have feces on its genital area? | This could be a sign of diarrhea. Give the rabbit some dry oatmeal and a good sized handful of hay to eat. Check for signs of dehydration. If symptoms persist more than a day or so, medical care should be given. |
| Are its eyes runny? | If the eyes are runny, you can clean them with a weak boric acid solution, and apply an ophthalmic ointment, such as "Terramycin Ophthalmic Ointment" to the eyes. If symptoms persist, consult your vet. |
Weekly:
| Are its teeth okay? | A rabbit's teeth grow continually. They should be oriented such that the top teeth overlap in front of the bottom teeth. If the teeth should meet head on, they will still grind each other off and there is no need for a health concern. If the bottom teeth should overlap the top, they will not wear each other off, and will cause harm to the rabbit. If this should occur, you should ask you vet to either teach you how to clip their teeth, or else have the front teeth surgically removed. |
| Is the inside of its ears clean? | A waxy buildup or crustiness inside of the ears are signs of the possibility of mites. To treat, gently clean the area with a cotton ball and alcohol. Then, place 3 or 4 drops of mineral or salad oil into each ear and massage the base of the ear. Repeat every day for 3 or 4 days. The oil will drown the mites. If symptoms are severe, consult your vet. |
| Is the fur in good condition? | If the fur looks dead or has bald or flaky areas, there is a possibility of fur mites. Consult your local vet for treatment. |
| Are its toenails long? | If the toenails grow too long, they will likely break or tear off, which causes pain to the rabbit. Simply trim the toenails if they appear long. |
Any other abnormalities, such as a tilt to the head (wry neck), broken bones, etc. should be treated immediately by your vet.
Vaccinations
There are currently no vaccinations available for rabbits in the U.S.
Spaying and Neutering
If you are only going to keep rabbits as pets, it is recommended that they be spayed or neutered. In a never-been-bred doe, this will help guard against uterine cancer. Also, spaying and neutering will allow you to easily keep more than one rabbit in the same living quarters without worry of breeding and fighting. It will help curb or eliminate territorial habits such as spraying. Therefore, it will benifit all to have your rabbit altered.