will help a rabbit
Emergency Care, Urgent Care and Standard Care in Rabbits?
Emergency: Go to the nearest Emergency Vet Clinic IMMEDIATELY - DO NOT take time to search the internet, research or send emails. Read more...
SIGNS
* Your furry friend is down and does not respond to you
* Your bunny appears to be gasping for breath
* Your bunny falls over, tilts his head, moves in a circle when trying to hop, or his eyes move in one direction only
* Your bunny has severe and/or continuous bleeding
* Your bunny’s body temperature is below 100 or 104 and above
* Your bunny has a foreign object (usually string or similar object) protruding from the mouth or anus that cannot be dislodged
Urgent Care: should be handled within the same day the condition is observed. Contact your veterinarian and stress the urgency of seeing him/her right away Read more...
SIGNS
* Your bunny has been attacked - even if wounds are not evident
* There are no or very small fecal pellets in your bunny’s litter box
* Your bunny has diarrhea, not just a soft stool, but severe watery diarrhea
* You suspect your bunny has eaten something poisonous or toxic
* Your bunny has maggots
* Your bunny cannot use his hind legs
Standard Care: care for issues that are not life threatening Read more...
SIGNS
* Annual Health Checkups
* Minor wounds
* Indications of fur mites
* Bunny is not acting quite right but is still eating, drinking and active
Common Health Problems in Rabbits
First and foremost, whenever you are unsure of what is happening with your bunny, please seek the advice of a Rabbit Veterinarian. Many times, a rabbit can tell you that they are not feeling well by their attitude and posture therefore, it is important to pay attention to how your bunny is acting. In many situations, a sick bunny will be slow to respond to you, may sit or lay with their head facing a back corner of the hutch and you will notice a decrease in food and water intake. These are just some of the signs that your bunny may be sick. Other signs are not as noticeable, but with constant observation, you can pick up on them as well.
Here is a list of a few common health problems with rabbits:
Abscess: A sack or hollow filled with puss Read more...
SIGNS
Hard lump or pocket under your bunny's skin
CAUSES
*Hay slivers or foreign objects under the skin
*Tooth, gum or eye infections
*Bites or other abrasions
Arthritis: medical term used to describe inflamed joints or swelling in joints Read more...
SIGNS
*Favoring one or more legs while hopping
*Lifting or dragging a leg
*Trouble pushing upright from a lying or squatting position
*Slower less coordinated movement
CAUSES
*Age
*Obesity
*Previous damage to leg or joints
*Favoring one or more legs while hopping
*Lifting or dragging a leg
*Genetic disposition
Bladder Sludge and Stones & Kidney Stones: Excessive calcium and calcium deposits in the bladder, kidney and urine Read more...
SIGNS
*Urinating more frequently
*Urinating outside the normal urination spot
*Straining to urinate
*Blood in the urine (some foods can color the urine true blood is thick and dark red)
*White or grey creamy urine
*Skin rashes around genetals, belly or thighs
*Depression and loss of appetite when combined with any of the above
CAUSES
*Excessive calcium in the bunny’s diet
*Inactivity combined with excessive calcium
*Genetic disposition
Cancer: a malignant growth or tumor Read more...
SIGNS
*Small Bloody discharge or Blood in the Urine
*Small Lump around the genital areas
*Unusual lumps or bumps anywhere on the body (this could also be an absess)
CAUSES
*Not Spaying or Neutering your bunny
*Genetic disposition
Cataracts: a clouding of the pupil of a rabbits eye Read more...
SIGNS
*Cloudy pupil
*Whitish coloring of the pupil
CAUSES
*Damage to the eye such as a cut or scrape
*Disease or bacterial infection
*Nutritional deficiency
*Genetic
Diarrhea: watery or mushy fecal droppings THIS CAN KILL YOUR BUNNY SO read more...
SIGNS
*Watery or mushy fecal droppings
CAUSES
*Intestinal parasites or inflammation of the intestine
*Antibiotics or other medications
*Improper or excessive fresh greens
Gastric Stasis or GI Stasis is the term used when a bunny’s digestive system stops functioning THIS CAN KILL YOUR BUNNY SO read more...
Signs for Gastric Stasis:
*Small or no feces
*Not eating or drinking
*Sitting facing the corner of the hutch.
Causes include
*Blockage in the stomach or intestine from hair, fibers from carpets, drapes, stuffed toys etc, even fibers from celery if the pieces are not cut small enough.
*Gas buildup from vegetables or other eaten plants
*Nausea which can occur after anesthesia has been used
Head Tilt / Wryneck: a symptom of neurological damage read more...
Signs:
*Head held at an awkward angle
*Turning instead of hopping in a straight line
*Rapid movement of the eyes from side to side
*Loss of balance
*Frantic Rolling
Causes:
*Middle or inner ear infection
*A parasitic infection (Encephalitozoon cuniculi or Baylisascaris procyoni)
*Stroke
*Abscess or tumor
Hock Sores: clinically called Pododermatitis, are caused by constant irritation of your rabbit’s feet read more...
Signs:
*Red, irritated, and sometimes bleeding sores on the bottom of your bunny’s hind feet
Causes:
*Obesity
*Wires or rough material on the floor of your rabbits hutch
*Constant moisture contacting the hocks
Recognizing Pain in Your Bunny:
Knowing if your rabbit is in pain can help prevent illnesses or other medical problems from developing into severe or fatal conditions. read more...
Signs of Pain:
• Excessive Chewing
• Excessive Licking
• Snapping or Biting
• Grunting when approached
• Uneven gait when walking
• Apathetic Attitude or Behavior
• Disinterest in Eating or Drinking
Repiratory Issues in Rabbits: It is not uncommon for rabbits to develop upper respiratory issues. Some causes of respiratory issues are non-urgent while others can be life threateninread more...
Signs:
*Watery eyes
*Runny nose
*Sneezing
*Whistling sound while trying to chew
*Labored breathing
*Raising the chin up high when breathing
Causes:
*Allergies from pollen, dust, dander, cleaning agents
*Blocked tear ducts
*Upper respiratory infection such as snuffles
*Overgrown tooth roots
*Cancer of the lungs (rare)
Anesthetics and Your Bunny:
Anesthetics can be harmful to your rabbit if your veterinarian does not properly prepare, evaluate, and/or monitor your rabbit read more...
Antibiotics and Your Bunny:
Antibiotics for you bunny must be used under very close supervision not only by a vet, but by you as well read more...
What is the right vet for my rabbit?
Vet (Veterinarian) needs special training to take care of the sensitive, delicate domestic rabbit. They should have "Exotic Pet Care" training to fully understand and treat your rabbit. Though many veterinarians treat rabbits, they treat them as they would a dog or a cat. However, many dog and cat treatments are not proper for the health of your rabbit. An incorrect diagnosis of stomach trouble, the wrong antibacterial treatment, the wrong anesthetic could be deadly for rabbits. Make it a habit to learn about any medications and treatments your veterinarian prescribes for your rabbit. Do not be afraid to ask questions about medications or treatment.
The National House Rabbit Society provides a list of veterinarians trained in the treatment of exotic pets across the United States. This list can be accessed at http://rabbit.org.
If you do not find a vet in your area, call around to available veterinarians near you and ask some questions. Ask if any of the veterinarians in the clinic have Exotic Pet training. Ask how many rabbits they treat per week. Ask if they know of any antibiotics that are dangerous to rabbits (the answer should be Amoxicillin, Lincomycin, Clindamycin, or any of the drugs ending in ...cillin). Choosing the wrong vet can cost the life of your rabbit.