Rabbits are gentle, sometimes shy animals that have become increasingly popular as pets in recent years. There are currently over 50 breeds of rabbits. Rabbits belong to the family of animals called lagomorphs, because they possess an extra set of upper incisor teeth called “peg” teeth. They are not rodents. Unlike the teeth of cats, dogs, or people, rabbits’ incisor and molar teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. Rabbits are herbivores (vegetable eaters) that eat grasses exclusively in the wild. Most of their digestion occurs in the large intestine (cecum), and their high fiber grass diet maintains normal gastrointestinal motility and digestion. It is normal for rabbits to eat their “soft” stools (also called cecotropes, or night feces) during the night or early morning. Cecotropes provide rabbits with important proteins and vitamins.
Recommended Adult Daily Diet (for each 2.2kg of body weight):
Different rabbits tolerate different amounts of vegetable matter. Some rabbits develop diarrhea or soft stool from small amounts of vegetables; others tolerate large amounts without any gastrointestinal disturbance. As a starting point, try a small handful of vegetables daily, and see how the rabbit responds. If diarrhea develops please offer less vegetables until it is tolerated well.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Disease
Gastrointestinal stasis (slowing down of the passage of food through the GI tract) is one of the most common problems seen in pet rabbits and is often the cause of decreased appetite in an otherwise healthy rabbit. An improper diet (often too high in carbohydrate and too low in fiber) is frequently the primary cause, and the condition may be exacerbated by stress (such as a new environment, new cage mate, pain, new people in the house, loud noise etc)
Rabbits with GI stasis used to be described as having “hairballs.” In fact, most often, hairballs are not the cause of the slowing of food passage. Instead, diets low in fiber lead to changes in the acidity of the GI tract and may lead to the establishment of abnormal GI bacteria that produce gas. Gas causes abdominal discomfort and often causes the rabbit to not want to eat. Rabbits normally have a small quantity of hair present within their stomachs, which, when they become dehydrated from not eating, can become a dry mat of fur within their stomachs. However, a true hairball is not usually the primary cause of their decreased appetite.
Rabbits with GI stasis often have soft stools, small/hard stools, or no stool at all. With severe GI stasis, or in rare cases of true GI obstruction from the consumption of foreign material such as carpeting, rabbits can die from the overgrowth of abnormal GI bacteria or from GI tract rupture.
Acute, profuse diarrhea, as seen in young rabbits with GI parasites or bacterial infection, is a medical emergency. These rabbits may become severely dehydrated and/or absorb toxic substances produced by abnormal bacteria in the GI tract. Young rabbits with profuse diarrhea or rabbits that are not eating for more than a day should be examined by an exotic animal veterinarian immediately.
Rabbit Dental Problems
Teeth problems are also very common in rabbits and are often linked to improper diet. Rabbits’ teeth (incisors and molars) grow 4-5 inches a year and will often overgrow, become abscessed at the roots, or form sharp spurs/points from abnormal wear. Rabbits with dental disease will often drool and stop eating. Please seek medical attention immediately if your pet shows these symptoms.
Rabbit Obesity
Obesity is common in pet rabbits and is often due to improper diet (too many pellets or treats, not enough hay or fiber) and lack of exercise. Obesity can lead to lameness and sores on feet, inability to groom (urine and fecal accumulation on the coat), and GI stasis.
Respiratory Disease
Pasteurella is a bacteria that many rabbits acquire at birth. While Pasteurella may cause no signs in some rabbits, in others it may turn into infections affecting the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and bones.
Rabbits also develop upper respiratory (eyes, nose, and throat) and lower respiratory (lung) infections from a variety of other bacteria. Rabbits should not be housed with guinea pigs, because rabbits commonly carry bacteria that can affect guinea pigs and vice versa.
Urinary and Reproductive Diseases
Kidney disease occurs in older rabbits and may be caused by infections, toxic substances, cancer, and aging changes. Uterine cancer is very common in older, unspayed female rabbits. Greater than 80% of unspayed female rabbits after 3-4 years of age may develop uterine cancer. For this reason, all female rabbits not being used for breeding should be spayed.
Urinary tract stones can occur from excessive calcium ingestion from a high calcium (predominantly alfalfa-based) diet. Stones typically require surgery to remove.
Rabbit Parasites
Coccidia are microscopic parasites that often cause diarrhea in young rabbits less than 6 months of age. Some infected rabbits have mucus and blood in the stool.
Encephalitozoon is another microscopic parasite that may be carried by some rabbits without ill effects, or it may cause kidney problems and neurologic signs, such as head tilting, rolling over sideways, and walking in circles. Rabbits with these signs should be examined immediately by an exotic animal veterinarian to help distinguish these signs from those due to an inner ear bacterial infection.
Toxic and Traumatic Disease in Rabbits
Rabbits are prone to digging/chewing and may tear off toenails, ingest foreign objects or suffer electrocution from chewing on live wires.
It is essential for all rabbit owners to “rabbit proof” any area their rabbits are allowed in to prevent accidental ingestion of foreign objects or toxins.
In addition, rabbits have very strong back legs that kick with great force. Accidental spinal or leg fractures can occur when rabbits are not handled properly (when their hind ends are not supported) or when they jump/fall from high surfaces.
Yearly physical exams include:
It is recommended for rabbits to be checked by a vet for ensuring the overall health and early detection of potential health issues.
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Signs of Illness in Your Rabbit
