Ensuring your rabbit lives a long and healthy life requires more than just good housing and diet; it requires proactive veterinary care and daily vigilance. As prey animals, rabbits have evolved to hide signs of injury and illness, often until they are very sick. This makes routine health checks, vaccinations, and prompt action from owners absolutely critical.
Foundations of Preventative Care
- Annual Vaccinations: Rabbits need yearly vaccinations to protect them from two fatal diseases.
- Myxomatosis: A virus spread by fleas and biting insects that causes severe swelling and is typically fatal.
- Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD 1 and 2): A highly contagious virus that causes sudden death from internal bleeding. The newer RVHD2 strain is particularly dangerous and can affect rabbits of any age.
- Six-Monthly Vet Checks: A general check-up with a rabbit-savvy vet every six months is highly recommended. This allows the vet to check your rabbit’s teeth, heart, lungs, and body weight, and gives you a chance to discuss any concerns. Early detection of common problems like dental disease can prevent suffering.
Neutering: An Essential Health Procedure
Neutering (spaying females, castrating males) is a crucial procedure for all pet rabbits, offering major health and behavioural benefits.
- Prevents Cancer: Spaying virtually eliminates the risk of uterine cancer, a disease that affects up to 80% of unspayed female rabbits by the age of five. Castration prevents testicular cancer in males.
- Enables Companionship: Neutered rabbits are far more likely to live together peacefully, as hormonal drives that cause fighting are removed.
- Reduces Unwanted Behaviours: Neutering often lessens or stops territorial behaviours like urine spraying and aggression.
Flystrike: A Summer Emergency
Flystrike is a horrific condition where flies lay eggs on a rabbit, which hatch into maggots that eat the rabbit’s flesh. It can develop with terrifying speed in warm weather.
- Prevention: Check your rabbit’s bottom at least once a day (twice in summer) for any soiling. Keep their housing impeccably clean. A high-fibre diet helps prevent the sticky droppings that attract flies.
- Emergency Action: If you find maggots on your rabbit, this is an emergency. Contact your vet immediately.
Your Role: Know Your Rabbit
You are the first line of defence in spotting illness. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any of the following:
- Changes in eating, drinking, or droppings.
- Lethargy, a hunched posture, or teeth grinding (signs of pain).
- Discharge from the eyes or nose, drooling, or a head tilt.
Rabbits can go downhill very quickly, so never adopt a “wait and see” approach.
To make vet trips less stressful, use a secure carrier with familiar bedding, transport bonded pairs together for comfort, and get your rabbit used to the carrier at home by leaving it open with treats inside. By prioritising preventative care and remaining vigilant, you can safeguard your rabbit’s health and ensure they have the best possible quality of life.