Rabbit Care

As major breeders, it might not be surprising that does (female rabbits) are prone to reproductive diseases such as pyometra (infection of the uterus), cancer of the reproductive tract, pseudo pregnancy, and various inflammatory conditions. The male rabbit, or buck, may develop behavioral reproductive problems, including aggression, spraying/marking territory, “humping,” and testicular cancer.

Most of these conditions can be prevented with spaying (females) and neutering (males). Be sure to contact us if you have questions about spaying or neutering your rabbit. Rabbit anatomy is vastly different from that of dogs and cats, so you’ll want a qualified veterinarian performing the surgery.

Encephalitozoonosis is caused by an intracellular parasite called Encephalitozoon cuniculi. It affects rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small mammals. The spores are shed in the urine, and ingesting contaminated food or water can lead to infection. This highly resistant parasite can survive up to 4 weeks in the environment, and targets the central nervous system, eyes, and kidneys.

Not all rabbits will show clinical signs, but some of the most common neurological signs of infection we see include:

• Head tilt
• Loss of coordination
• Circling
• Rolling
• Involuntary eye movements
• Paresis or paralysis of one or both hind legs
• Seizures

Rabbits can experience many different forms of ear disease (otitis), including bacterial ear disease. Bacterial ear disease is caused by Pasteurella and/or other kinds of bacteria, and is exclusively seen in lop-eared breeds. We typically come across this infection while performing routine physical exams (making routine exams all the more important).

Any ear disease is going to be very painful for your rabbit, though you may not see the signs until your rabbit begins eating less, laying down a lot, tilting their head, and leaving their fur unkempt.

If the GI tract slows down or stops functioning, this is known as gastrointestinal stasis and it can be life-threatening if not detected and addressed quickly. Poor nutrition and secondary disease are the primary causes of this condition. Since your rabbit can’t vomit, they instead build up gas, which is painful and can lead to colic or endotoxic shock. Immediate treatment is necessary to help your rabbit recover.

Clinical signs of GI stasis include:

• Decreased appetite
• Decreased fecal output
• Weight loss

Rabbits possess 28 unique, open-rooted teeth that never stop growing. Inadequate chewing can result in tooth root elongation, malocclusion, dental spurs, food impaction, and/or deformed, crooked teeth. These issues can be caught early, but dental trims may be required to prevent the teeth from injuring the mouth.

Rabbits with chronic dental issues can be prone to oral infections. When pus accumulates in the root of the tooth or in the jaw, this leads to abscessation, a very painful condition for your rabbit. An abscess can be presented as a hard lump or swelling in the cheek (maxilla) or jaw (mandible). Drainage and/or surgical removal is necessary to treat the abscess.

A condition of the front teeth exclusively, incisor malocclusion is something rabbits can either be born with, or develop secondary to trauma, infection, and/or metabolic disease. Trimming the incisors regularly might help your rabbit eat better, but the teeth will keep growing and the malocclusion could get worse.

Do not use clippers or nail trimmers to trim your rabbit’s teeth; these tools can cause fractures in the teeth, which may lead to infection. We recommend extracting the problematic incisors entirely. Without them, your rabbit will still be able to eat hay and pull grass from the ground as normal.