A rabbit in pain may chatter or grind its teeth while sitting in a hunched position. If any of these signs occur, you should take the rabbit to your veterinarian immediately.
Very few drugs are approved for use in rabbits. Occasionally, drugs approved for use in other species, such as cats or dogs, are used to treat rabbits. Caution is necessary when using antibiotics that suppress the normally occurring, harmless digestive system bacteria in rabbits.
The use of inappropriate antibiotics may result in an imbalance in intestinal bacteria, severe diarrhea, or even death. This has been called antibiotic toxicity. The flea treatment fipronil should not be used in rabbits because it may be poisonous for some individuals. Prolonged fasting before a surgical operation is not required or recommended.
Rabbits cannot vomit a concern with other species during general anesthesia. Your veterinarian may administer medication before surgery to help reduce stress. It is crucial for rabbits to start eating after surgery, and treatment with pain medication for 1 to 2 days after surgery will help prevent loss of appetite.
Hay and water are typically offered as soon as possible after surgery. Alfalfa hay or treats like bananas may improve a rabbit's appetite after a surgical procedure. Rabbits will chew out skin sutures. Therefore, veterinarians close surgical incisions with absorbable sutures buried beneath the skin or use other skin closure methods.
Problems with the constantly growing front teeth incisors are common in rabbits. Proper dental care will help prevent these problems. Tooth length is normally kept in check by the wearing action of opposing teeth when the rabbit chews.
However, problems with overgrown teeth can occur when the teeth are positioned unevenly in the jaw, known as malocclusion. Malocclusion is probably the most common inherited disease in rabbits and leads to overgrowth of incisors front teeth. Maloccluded incisors can result in difficulty eating and drinking. The 2 types of malocclusion in rabbits are underbite lower teeth protruding in front of the upper teeth and overbite upper teeth protruding in front of the lower teeth.
A veterinarian can anesthetize a rabbit with malocclusion and trim the teeth to minimize problems. Malocclusion is usually inherited, but young rabbits can also damage their incisor teeth by pulling on the cage wire, which results in misalignment and possible malocclusion as the teeth grow. This condition is difficult to tell apart from inherited malocclusion. Inherited malocclusion generally can be detected in rabbits as young as 3 to 8 weeks old. Infection of the tissue surrounding a tooth may lead to abscesses.
These can be caused by foreign objects often plant material that become embedded between the tooth and gum, exposure of the sensitive tissue at the center of a tooth pulp following tooth trimming, or other diseases or dietary problems.
Several teeth are commonly affected. A thorough dental examination and radiographs x-ray images or computed tomography images CT scan are required to confirm the diagnosis. The abscessed tooth may need to be extracted. If multiple cheek teeth need to be extracted, the chance of recovery is small.
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The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. No effective treatment is available. The rabbit pinworm usually does not cause disease but may be upsetting to owners.
Transmission of the pinworm occurs by ingesting contaminated food or water. The adult worm lives in the large intestine. Diagnosis is made by finding the eggs during examination of feces. Effective treatments are available. Rabbit pinworms cannot be transmitted to humans. Corneal ulceration an ulcer on the front of the eyeball is the most common eye problem in rabbits. Rabbits are prone to ulcers or trauma to the cornea because of their large eyes and because they do not blink as often as other species, so the cornea is not as moist.
Causes of corneal ulcers include environmental factors, trauma, lack of tear production, and disorders such as those affecting nerves that make blinking difficult.
Corneal ulcers are treated with antibiotic eye ointments and sometimes with surgery. Conjunctivitis inflammation of the tissue around the eye causes redness and discharge from the eyes. It may be associated with eye irritants, eyelid disorders, and dental disease. Dacryocystitis inflammation of the tear ducts often occurs at the same time as conjunctivitis in rabbits.
Infections can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Conjunctivitis in rabbits is transmitted by direct contact with an infected rabbit or contaminated objects, such as bedding materials. Affected rabbits rub their eyes with their front feet. The condition is usually treated with an antibacterial eye ointment.
This infection commonly recurs. Your veterinarian may need to flush the tear ducts to treat dacryocystitis. Otitis media middle ear infection and otitis interna inner ear infection are caused by bacterial infections. Some affected rabbits have a head tilt. Otitis media and interna are treated with antibiotics. Surgical procedures on the ear may be necessary if medical treatment alone does not resolve the infection. Fractures and dislocations of the lower back, causing the spinal cord to be compressed or severed, are common in rabbits.
Signs include hind end muscle weakness, paralysis, or inability to control urination or defecation. Initial signs of paralysis may go away within 3 to 5 days as swelling around the cord shrinks. Treatment involves hospitalization for anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers, intravenous fluids, nursing care, and cage rest. Splay leg is a condition in which 1 or more legs extend sideways from the body at an abnormal angle.
The condition occurs in rabbits as young as 3 to 4 weeks of age and is thought to be inherited. Baby rabbits housed on slick flooring may also develop splay leg. Affected rabbits may have difficulty walking. Pasteurellosis , a bacterial infection caused by Pasteurella multocida , is common in domestic rabbits.
It is highly contagious and is transmitted primarily by direct contact, although transmission by coughing or sneezing may also occur. Pasteurellosis can cause rhinitis runny nose , pneumonia, abscesses pus-filled sores , reproductive tract infections, head tilt, and blood infection. Rhinitis snuffles or stuffy, runny nose is inflammation of the mucous membranes of the air passages and lungs. The condition can appear suddenly or it can be long-lasting. Pasteurella bacteria are the usual culprits, but other bacteria may cause rhinitis.
The initial sign is a thin, watery discharge from the nose and eyes. The discharge later becomes thicker, like pus. Because affected rabbits paw at the nose, the fur on the inside of the front legs just above the paws may be matted with dried discharge or may have thin fur.
Infected rabbits usually sneeze and cough. In general, rhinitis occurs when the resistance of the rabbit is low. Rabbits that recover are likely carriers. Pneumonia is common in domestic rabbits. The cause is typically Pasteurella bacteria, but other bacteria may be involved.
The infection causes inflammation of the lungs and of the membrane surrounding the lungs. Upper respiratory disease rhinitis often occurs before pneumonia. Inadequate ventilation, poor sanitation, and dirty nesting material make rabbits susceptible to pneumonia. Affected rabbits lack appetite and energy and may have a fever. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and laboratory test results.
Treatment is difficult and generally involves several weeks of antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment may not cure the infection, however. Reproductive disorders of rabbits include bacterial infections and metabolic disorders. Also, see Breeding and Reproduction of Rabbits Breeding and Reproduction of Rabbits Rabbit breeds of medium to large size are sexually mature at 4 to 4.
Pasteurella bacteria often cause genital infections , which may also be caused by several other organisms. The typical signs include inflammation of the reproductive tract and are usually seen in adults. Does are more often infected than bucks. The rabbit uterus consists of 2 divisions horns. If both horns are affected, the doe often becomes sterile. If only 1 horn is involved, a normal litter may develop in the other.
The only sign of an infection in the uterus may be a thick, yellowish-gray vaginal discharge. Bucks may discharge pus from the penis or have an enlarged testicle. Longterm infection of the prostate is likely. Because the infection can be passed during breeding, infected animals should not be bred. In pet rabbits, the infected reproductive organs are usually removed surgically and antibiotics given.
The contaminated hutch and its equipment should be thoroughly disinfected. Diagnosis of pasteurellosis is based on signs and laboratory tests that detect the bacteria. Treatment is difficult and may not completely get rid of the organism.
Antibiotics seem to provide only temporary remission, and the next stress such as giving birth to a litter may cause relapse.
Ketosis is a rare disorder that may result in death of does 1 to 2 days before giving birth. The disease is more common in first-litter does. Possible contributing factors include obesity and lack of exercise.
Hairballs in the stomach may also be a factor. Signs of ketosis include loss of appetite, dullness of eyes, sluggishness, and difficulty breathing. To treat ketosis, your veterinarian may inject fluids that contain glucose. Treponematosis is a venereal disease of rabbits caused by Treponema bacteria.
It occurs in both sexes and is transmitted through sexual intercourse and from the doe to her offspring. Although the species of Treponema that causes rabbit treponematosis is closely related to the species that causes human syphilis, these bacteria are not transmissible to other domestic animals or humans.
The incubation period is 3 to 6 weeks. Affected rabbits develop small blisters or slow-healing sores that become covered with a heavy scab. These sores usually are confined to the genital region, but the lips and eyelids may also be involved. Infected rabbits should not be bred. Diagnosis is based on the signs and laboratory tests. Hutch burn see below is often confused with treponematosis because the diseases have very similar signs.
Treponematosis is treated with penicillin injections. Rabbits should not be given penicillin by mouth because oral penicillin can cause dangerous antibiotic-associated diarrhea. All rabbits in a group must be treated even if no signs of disease are present. Sores usually heal within 10 to 14 days, and recovered rabbits can be bred without danger of transmitting the infection.
Mastitis inflammation of the breasts affects nursing does and may cause fatal blood infection. It rarely occurs in pet rabbits.
Mastitis is usually caused by Staphylococcus bacteria, but other bacteria may be involved. Initially, the mammary glands become hot, reddened, and swollen. Fever is often present. If antibiotic treatment is started early the first day the doe stops eating , the rabbit may be saved and damage limited to 1 or 2 mammary glands. Because penicillin often causes diarrhea in rabbits, does treated with this antibiotic should be fed hay or some other high-fiber diet rather than a pelleted ration see Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Diseases Rabbits fed a suitable diet and kept in a healthy environment can live as long as 10 to 12 years.
Kits should not be fostered to another doe because they will spread the infection. Hand-rearing infected young may be attempted but is difficult.
The incidence of mastitis can be reduced if nest boxes are maintained without rough edges to the entrance, which can traumatize the teats when the doe jumps in and out of the nest box. The nest box should be sanitized before and after use. Skin disorders in rabbits often lead to alopecia hair loss. Many of these problems are caused by parasites, such as mites, that will require medication from your veterinarian. Hutch burn is caused by wet and dirty hutch floors, by bladder irritation from calcium deposits, or by constant urine dribbling because of poor bladder control.
The area surrounding the anus and genital region becomes inflamed and irritated. This is followed by infection with disease-causing bacteria. Brownish crusts cover the area and drainage of blood or pus may occur. Keeping hutch floors clean and dry and applying an ointment recommended by your veterinarian speeds recovery. Hutch burn is often confused with a bacterial disease called treponematosis see above.
Laboratory tests are required to distinguish between these diseases. Female rabbits have a heavy fold of skin called a dewlap on the front of the neck.
As the rabbit drinks, this skin may become wet and soggy, which leads to inflammation. Possible causes include dental malocclusion, open water crocks, and damp bedding. The hair may fall out, and the area may become infected or infested with fly larvae maggots.
The area often turns green if infected with Pseudomonas bacteria. If the area becomes infected, the hair should be clipped and antiseptic dusting powder applied. In severe cases, antibiotics injected by a veterinarian may be necessary.
Watering systems with drinking valves generally prevent wet dewlaps. If open water receptacles are used, they should have small openings or be elevated. Sore hocks, also called ulcerative pododermatitis, does not actually involve the hock the ankle joint but instead affects the sole of the hindfoot and, less commonly, the front paws. The cause is either pressure on the skin from bearing the body weight on wire-floored cages or trauma to the skin from stamping, followed by skin infection.
Several factors, including a buildup of urine-soaked droppings, nervousness, hind-end paralysis after a spinal cord injury, and the type of wire used, may influence development of this disease. Genetics are also involved. Rabbits with sore hocks sit in a peculiar position with their weight on their front feet.
If all 4 feet are affected, they tiptoe when walking. Various agents can be used to clean the sores. Topical and injected antibiotics are also used. X-ray images may be needed to check for bone involvement in severe cases. The rabbit must be removed from the cage or given a solid floor board or mat on which to sit or rest. Treatment is difficult and time-consuming. Because big feet and thick footpads are hereditary, selection of breeding stock for these traits has reduced the incidence of sore hocks.
Ringworm is a fungal infection that is common in rabbits. Affected animals develop raised, reddened, circular sores that are capped with white, flaky material. The sores generally appear first on the head and then spread to other areas of the body. Ringworm is generally associated with poor sanitation, poor nutrition, and other environmental stressors. The cause is most commonly the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes and occasionally Microsporum canis.
Transmission is by direct contact. Objects such as hair brushes, which are often overlooked during disinfection, can play a significant role in spreading infection. Rabbits that carry the fungus without showing any signs are very common.
Your veterinarian can do tests to confirm the diagnosis. Because infected rabbits can spread the disease to humans and other animals, they should be isolated and treated. Owners of infected rabbits should avoid close contact with their pets and use disposable gloves, followed by thorough hand and arm washing when handling infected rabbits, cleaning cages and equipment, or disposing of waste materials.
Antifungal drugs are usually effective in treating ringworm. Antifungal creams applied to the skin also may be effective. Myxomatosis is a deadly disease of all breeds of domesticated rabbits.
It is caused by myxoma virus, a type of poxvirus. Wild rabbits are quite resistant and usually do not get myxomatosis. All other mammals are resistant to the virus. Myxomatosis has a worldwide distribution. These areas correspond to the geographic distribution of the California brush rabbit, the reservoir of the infection. The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, and direct contact. The first sign of disease is conjunctivitis inflammation of the eye that rapidly becomes more severe and is accompanied by a milky discharge from the eye.
In severe outbreaks, some rabbits die within 48 hours after signs appear. Those that survive become progressively weaker and develop a rough coat. The eyelids, nose, lips, and ears become puffy, which gives a swollen appearance to the head. The ears may droop. In females, the vulva becomes inflamed and swollen with fluid; in males, the scrotum swells. Other signs include discharge of pus from the nose, difficulty breathing, and coma. Death usually occurs within 1 to 2 weeks after signs appear.
Occasionally, a rabbit survives for several weeks; in these cases, thick lumps appear on the nose, ears, and forefeet. The seasonal incidence of the disease, signs especially the swollen genitalia , and high death rate all help veterinarians make the diagnosis. A vaccine prepared from a myxomatosis virus has protected rabbits from infection, but it is not available in the USA.
Because there is no effective treatment, euthanasia is suggested. Preventive measures include protecting rabbits from exposure to insects and ticks that transmit diseases. Shope fibromas, a type of benign tumor caused by a virus, are found in nature only in cottontails, although domestic rabbits can be infected by virus-containing material. Fibromas may be found in domestic rabbits in areas where these tumors occur in wild rabbits and where husbandry practices allow contact with insects and ticks that transmit diseases.
The fibromas usually occur on the legs, feet, and ears. The earliest physical sign is a slight thickening of the tissues just below the skin, followed by development of a soft swelling with distinct edges.
These tumors may persist for several months before regressing, leaving the rabbit essentially normal. Two types of infectious benign tumors, known as papillomas, occur infrequently in domestic rabbits. Papillomas in the mouth, caused by rabbit oral papillomavirus, are small, gray-white lumps or warts on the bottom of the tongue or on the floor of the mouth.
The second type, caused by cottontail Shope papillomavirus, is characterized by horny warts on the neck, shoulders, ears, or abdomen and is primarily a natural disease of cottontail rabbits. Insects and ticks transmit the virus; therefore, insect control could be used as means of disease prevention.
The oral papillomavirus is distinct from the Shope papillomavirus which is also distinct from the Shope fibroma virus. Skin tumors caused by the Shope papillomavirus never occur in the mouth. Neither type of papillomatosis is treated, and the condition usually goes away on its own. Ear mites are common in rabbits. They lose weight and may develop infections that can damage the inner ear, reach the central nervous system, and result in head tilt or "wry neck" a twisting of the neck to one side.
Your veterinarian will treat the condition with injectable or topical medication. Ear mite infestations are less likely to occur when rabbits are housed in wire cages than in solid cages. The mite is readily transmitted by direct contact. Fur mites are also common on rabbits. Because these mites live on the surface of the skin and do not burrow into the skin, they do not cause the intense itching seen with sarcoptic mange.
Fur mite infestations usually do not cause any signs unless the rabbit is weakened by age, illness, or stress. A diagnosis can be made by looking at skin scrapings under a microscope. Fur mites may cause mild skin irritation or inflammation in humans. Weekly dusting of animals and bedding with permethrin powder can control these mites. Rabbits are rarely infested with the mange mites that cause sarcoptic mange canine scabies or notoedric mange feline scabies.
These mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. When infestation does occur, the rabbits are extremely itchy. It is difficult to get rid of these parasites on domestic rabbits. The condition is extremely contagious and can be transmitted to humans. Fleas can affect rabbits and many other animals. Imidacloprid is a drug that kills adult fleas on contact; products containing this drug have been successfully used to treat rabbits infested with fleas.
Products containing fipronil, which is part of several products for treating fleas in dogs, should never be used in rabbits. Ask your veterinarian for a treatment recommendation if your rabbit has fleas. The formation of mineral deposits in the urinary tract sometimes known as kidney or bladder stones is common in pet rabbits. The condition is generally suspected when blood is found in the urine. Several factors may contribute to the formation of kidney stones, including nutritional imbalance especially the calcium:phosphorus ratio , heredity, infection, inadequate water intake, and metabolic disorders.
Treatment involves surgically removing the stones and reducing dietary calcium. Because alfalfa is high in calcium and is one of the main dietary components of rabbit pellets, switching the diet to grass or timothy hay and rolled oats may help prevent the condition from returning. Several infectious diseases and other disorders can affect more than one body system in rabbits. The most common of these are described here. Abscesses pus-filled and inflamed sores on the internal organs and below the skin, caused by Pasteurella bacteria, may not be apparent for long periods and then may suddenly rupture.
When bucks penned together fight, their wounds often develop abscesses.
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