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Pet care tips and advice for your furry (or scaly) friends • Ethical pet care tips and product recommendations •

Rabbit Health

Common issues and health checks

Common Health Issues

Dental
disease

  • Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously; misalignment leads to painful spikes and ulcers.

  • Signs: drooling, reduced appetite, weight loss, messy bottom, eye discharge.

Gastrointestinal Stasis

  • A life‑threatening slowdown of the gut.

  • Signs: tiny/no droppings, bloating, hiding, refusing food.

  • Emergency: requires immediate vet care.

Respiratory
Issues

  • Often caused by Pasteurella.

  • Signs: nasal discharge, noisy breathing, sneezing, matted paws from wiping nose.

Lumps and 
skin issues

  • Includes mites (“walking dandruff”), fleas, flystrike risk in summer.

  • Signs: dandruff, itching, bald patches, sudden agitation, maggots (emergency).

Health Checks

Health Checks are important so you can catch any illnesses early and can get your  rabbit the veterinary care they need quickly. Always be asking:

  • Are they eating and drinking?

  • Are they behaviour normally?

  • Are they active and alert?

  • regular position

  • clean and pink inner ear

  • Discharge 

  • Lumps/bumps/warts

Ears 

  • Clear and open

  • Discharge 

  • Irritation

  • Different size to normal

  • Cloudy

  • tear staining

Eyes 

  • Clear

  • Discharge 

  • Swollen

  • Laboured breathing

  • wet nose

Nose

  • front teeth straight and even

  • eating normally

  • drooling

  • Odour from mouth

Mouth and teeth

  • Clear skin

  • smooth coat

  • fur loss

  • abnormal lumps

  • cuts/wounds

  • too long nails

Skin,fur & Paws

  • clear

  • discharge

  • swollen

  • bleeding (females dont have periods)

Genitals

if you notice any of these red symptoms, contact an exotic vet

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