It’s worth knowing a little about the common conditions that can affect rabbits so you can spot symptoms early and seek veterinary help.
Abscess
Swellings or lumps which can sometimes burst and discharge thick creamy pus. Abscesses on the body may be caused by bites or injuries. Unfortunately, because rabbit pus is so thick, the infection inside cannot be drained or treated just with antibiotics so the rabbit may require surgery to remove the infected material.
Jaw abscesses are a sign the rabbit is suffering from severe dental disease. They’re the result of tooth root infections and can affect the surrounding jaw bone and be very painful. The rabbit will need X-rays and major surgery to remove the infected tooth and bone.
Dental disease can be avoided in the first place by feeding your rabbit an appropriate diet.
Bloat
A very serious condition where the rabbit’s stomach and intestines become distended with gas. It happens because the intestines have slowed down or stopped working properly.
In young rabbits, bloating may be caused by a condition called ‘mucoid enteropathy’, where their bowels slow down, and they may pass a lot of mucus. There are various possible causes including parasites, bacterial infections and insufficient fibre in the diet.
Older rabbits may become bloated because of a digestive upset, especially if they are not getting enough fibre in their diet, but bloating can also be caused by a bowel obstruction. This is when the intestines become blocked with hair or foreign materials and requires an operation to relieve the obstruction.
Bloating in a rabbit of any age requires an immediate trip to the vet as it can be rapidly fatal without treatment. The treatment may be simply antibiotics, painkillers, intravenous fluids etc, or surgery may be required.
Coccidiosis
See Diarrhoea and Parasites, below.
Diarrhoea
True diarrhoea – where a rabbit passes liquid faeces – is a potentially serious condition and is most commonly seen in young rabbits, often around the time of coming home from the pet shop or breeder. The stress of increased handling and changes in environment and diet can make the rabbit susceptible to infections.
Coccidiosis, an infection by a small parasite, is another frequent cause of diarrhoea in young rabbits, but the problem can also be caused by bacterial or viral infections.
A rabbit with diarrhoea can quickly die from dehydration, so needs immediate veterinary treatment. Caecotrophs – dark, soft, sticky droppings – in the cage or stuck to the rabbit’s bottom – can be confused with diarrhoea. These droppings are normally eaten by the rabbit as soon as they are passed. However, if your rabbit has a sore mouth or is overweight, he may not be able to do this. He needs to see a vet who will check for these problems and may also clip the hair away to prevent soreness and flystrike.
E. cuniculi
A protozoan parasite which affects the rabbit’s kidneys and nervous system. The parasite is transmitted to rabbits via spores in infected urine (often mother to baby). Infection can lead to cataracts, paralysis, loss of balance, head tilt and kidney failure, but many rabbits carry the parasite without ever becoming ill. If your rabbit shows any of the above symptoms, he needs to see a vet who may prescribe medication or take a blood sample for analysis to try and confirm the condition.
GI stasis
This is where the rabbit’s bowel slows down or stops working so that food is no longer moving through. The stomach and intestines become bloated with gas which is uncomfortable for the rabbit who will stop eating, be less active and stop producing droppings. GI stasis can be caused by not enough hay in the diet but also by being unwell, in pain or after a recent anaesthetic. Contact your vet immediately if your rabbit stops eating or producing droppings.
Kidney disease
Kidney disease in the rabbit can have a variety of causes including E.cuniculi, a very high calcium diet (for instance, from over-supplementation with minerals) and stones in the kidney or ureter. It’s potentially very serious and can result in weight loss and reduced appetite, along with incontinence, soiling of the bottom area and increased thirst. Your vet may need to do X-rays and blood tests for a diagnosis. Rabbits can also get bladder stones or other urinary problems that cause incontinence and urine scalding round the bottom area. An operation may be necessary to remove any kidney stones and, if the rabbit’s bottom is soaked with urine, the vet may clip the hair away to prevent soreness and flystrike.
Parasites
• Coccidia – these tiny parasites can cause damage to the liver or intestines resulting in diarrhoea, weight loss or liver failure. Most commonly found in baby rabbits around 6-8 weeks old.
Treatment: sulpha drugs should get rid of the infestation.
• Ear mites – minuscule mites which can infest the rabbit’s ears causing irritation, head shaking and scratching. The characteristic brown flaky crusts in the rabbit’s ears are usually easy to spot. Treatment: a course of two or three anti-parasitic injections at intervals of 10-14 days. Never use dog or cat ear drops as they’re not suitable for rabbits and may even be harmful.
• Fleas – either the adult fleas themselves or their dark dirt may be found in the rabbit’s coat. They can easily be caught from cats, dogs or other rabbits. Treatment: ask your vet for a ‘spot-on’ treatment to eradicate the problem and treat the hutch/bed with a suitable insecticide to get rid of the flea larvae and their eggs.
• Lice – these are just about visible to the naked eye, or you may spot the egg cases attached to hairs. Treatment: ask your vet as there are several treatment options.
• Fur mites – there are two main types of mite which can live in the rabbit’s coat, both are tiny and only just visible to the naked eye. The most common is called ‘cheyletiella’. Small numbers of mites may be present without any obvious signs but problems arise when the rabbit can’t groom himself properly, for instance, because of dental problems or arthritis. In this situation, the numbers of mites can build up, leading to irritation of the skin, hair loss and dandruff, particularly in between the shoulder blades, where it is most difficult for the rabbit to reach. Treatment: a course of two or three anti-parasitic injections at 10-14 day intervals.
• Tapeworms – your rabbit can unknowingly ingest tape worm eggs from grass that has been contaminated by dog, cat or fox faeces. These tapeworms can form cysts internally which may cause health problems, so prevent access – keep dogs and cats out of the area where your rabbit grazes so he cannot become infected. Treatment: your vet can recommend a worming preparation.
Pododermatitis
Otherwise known as ’sore hocks’, this condition can be very serious and painful for the rabbit. It results from the animal spending too much of their time on hard surfaces, which leads to pressure sores on the underside of the feet, especially if the rabbit is overweight.
Rabbits are designed to hop around on grass which, by letting the nails sink into it, takes the pressure off the back part of the feet. Surfaces like concrete or even the wooden floor of the hutch can be too hard and cause these pressure sores to develop.
The condition can be prevented by allowing your rabbit plenty of exercise on soft surfaces such as grass, keeping him slim and making sure that the hutch has plenty of bedding which is clean and dry. If sores do develop, see the vet.
Runny eyes
Usually caused by blocked tear ducts and are a common sign of dental disease in rabbits. The tear duct is the small tube which drains the rabbit’s tears away from his eyes. It runs very close to the tooth roots in the skull, and when these are too long (because of dental disease), they can become narrow or completely block the duct, causing tears to stream down the face and leading to infection. If your rabbit has runny eyes, your vet will check his teeth and may be able to flush out the tear duct under a local or general anaesthetic.
Snuffles
This is a common problem caused by a bacterial infection of the nasal sinuses. A variety of bacteria including pasteurella and staphylococcus can be involved, and infection leads to sneezing, snuffly breathing and pus round the nostrils. It might not seem serious but having a blocked nose can be very problematic for a rabbit as he can’t breathe well through his mouth. Take him to your vet, who can treat the infection with antibiotics, although the condition is likely to keep recurring.
Teeth problems
Dental disease is very common in rabbits and is caused by poor diet. The signs can start from as early as six months old and include overgrown incisors, runny eyes, weight loss, drooling, reduction in appetite, poor coat, dirty bottom and even abscesses around the face. If you can see overgrown teeth or suspect your rabbit may be suffering from dental disease, take him to your vet who can shorten the incisors using a special dental burr or file. He or she may need to sedate your rabbit to examine and file down the back teeth. To avoid dental disease, make sure your rabbit eats plenty of grass and hay every day.
Urinary problems
Soreness or wetness around the bottom area, incontinence, and pain on urination are all signs that your rabbit may be suffering from a urinary problem. It may be caused by stones in the bladder or urethra, an infection or ‘sludging’ of calcium deposits in the bladder, which can be the result of over supplementation of minerals in the diet. If you suspect your rabbit is suffering from a urinary problem, take him to your vet, who may need to X-ray the bladder to check for stones and flush out the bladder to remove sludge. If stones are diagnosed, your rabbit may need an op to remove them. If the skin is sore, your vet may need to clip away the fur to prevent wetness and flystrike.
Uterine cancer
Sadly, this is very common in unneutered female rabbits and the early signs include blood in the urine followed by steady weight loss. The best treatment is spaying in the early stages of the disease but, better still, prevent it happening in the first place by spaying your rabbit at around five months old.
