Rabbit emergencies- When does your rabbit need to see a vet immediately? 

Rabbit’s soft coats, cute noses and fluffy tails often make them the perfect present for a child’s first pet. There is a common misconception that rabbits are easy to look after. For the most part they are, but when a rabbit gets sick time really is of the essence.

A rabbit’s health is determined by a good diet, frequent health checks, grooming, socialisation and vaccinations. Sadly some of these requirements aren’t always met and can lead to a rabbit becoming very poorly.

Unfortunately rabbits find travelling to and being at the vets very stressful. So understandably owners want to keep visits to a minimum. However, regular 6 monthly or even yearly visits can help keep them healthy.

Prey animals, like rabbits will often only show signs of illness when they are severely unwell. Therefore as rabbit owners it is vital to understand your rabbit, recognise any signs of illness early; and most importantly have an awareness of potential problems.

If you ever see maggots on your rabbit you must contact a vet immediately! Do not attempt to clean your rabbit yourself, the vet will be able to assess your rabbit’s condition and remove them for you.

Fly strike is preventable with the application of ‘Rear Guard’ every 10 weeks and frequently checking your rabbit’s backend for any cuts, grazes, wet patches or clumps of faeces.

Even if a rabbit isn’t eating or producing normal faeces for a matter of hours, it is classed as an emergency. Unfortunately tomorrow may be too late. You need to get your rabbit to a vet immediately! A rabbit’s guts are designed to be constantly moving. Inappetence means the guts are slowing down, resulting in gut stasis.

There are multiple causes of ‘gut stasis’ including lack of fibre in the diet, dental pain, abdominal pain, abdominal obstructions, stress and underlying illnesses.

Rabbits only breathe through their noses. Seeing your rabbit mouth breathe is a sign of severe distress. Your rabbit must be taken to a vet as soon as possible.

If your rabbit jumped out of your arms or suddenly kicked out with their back legs they are at risk from breaking their backs. A rabbit’s spine is very fragile and an accident like this can leave them paralysed. Other suspected broken bones can also prove fatal if left untreated; rabbits are very susceptible to shock.

A rabbit can be found in a collapsed state for several reasons. These could be due to heat, cold or spinal injuries. As the cause will be unknown careful handling is vital. If heatstroke is suspected cool the outside of the carrier. Warm the outside of the carrier in cases of possible hypothermia.

Food can sometimes stain urine resulting in a red tinge. However, should you notice spots of blood in the urine, combined with straining, immediate veterinary treatment is required. This could be a sign of cystitis.

Bleeding from a wound or an orifice needs veterinary treatment. If you suspect a wound advice is to apply firm and even pressure to the area.

The severity of a wound varies if possible; try to remove any visible hay. Taking your rabbit to the vet in these cases is vital for possible stitches and pain relief.

Rabbits are rarely vocal animals and you would never expect to hear them scream. On occasions they will grunt to get your attention, however other vocal noises can be a sign of severe pain.

Monitoring faecal output in a rabbit helps you as an owner determine what is normal. Severe and ongoing diarrhoea can be fatal to your rabbit.

Diarrhoea causes alterations in the gut flora and consequently leaves your rabbit dehydrated. This can be cause by diet changes, parasites, bacteria, inflammatory conditions and viruses. Rapid veterinary treatment is vital to recovery.