Rabbits are susceptible to a variety of diseases and conditions, including overgrown teeth, hairballs, parasites, and cancer. They also tend to hide signs of illness or pain.
Contact us if your rabbit:
- Has discharge from the eyes or nose, runny stool, or a gurgling stomach
- Has an elevated or low temperature
- Begins drooling, scratching at the ears, or sneezing
- Starts tilting his or her head
- Develops bald patches in his or her fur
- Stops eating, appears quieter than normal, or shows other abnormal behaviour
We recommend all rabbits be seen at least once per year for an annual exam and vaccination against RHDV2. RHDV2 is a highly contagious, fatal disease to rabbits both domestic and wild. Fortunately, there is a vaccine to prevent infection. During the visit, we will perform a full comprehensive exam on your rabbit, including a dental exam. Dental health is extremely important in rabbits and rodents to ensure any problems don’t turn into potentially life-threatening conditions.
We also strongly suggest that you have your rabbit spayed or neutered. Not only can rabbits potentially give birth once a month, but they can also have up to 14 babies at a time! Even in households with a single rabbit, spaying or neutering has benefits: It can protect your rabbit from several types of cancer and reduce or eliminate aggression, as well as other undesirable behaviour, such as spraying, mounting, destructive chewing, and biting. Spaying or neutering will not change your rabbit’s personality.
If you have any questions about how to care for your rabbit, we can discuss diet, housing, grooming, and even litterbox training.