Here at Everypaw we feel it’s our duty to look out for your bunny and help you out too. It’s not just about scoring points with rabbit insurance. We’re more than that. Your rabbit’s care means the world to us.

So you can keep your bouncing bunny hopping in the best of health, we reached out to our pals at Vetstream – they’re super qualified vet experts. And they’ve put together this list of common rabbit illnesses, conditions and treatments, so you can spot the symptoms in plenty of time.

1. Overgrown Rabbit Teeth

Teeth problems are one of the most common reasons that rabbits are taken to the vet. The incisor teeth can grow up or down into the opposing lips and cheek teeth, often causing painful ulcers on the tongue or cheeks. Incisor teeth grow at 2-3 mm per week and need to be worn down by chewing on foods such as grass or hay. A good diet and being vigilant for any dental problems can help prevent painful overgrown teeth.

Your vet can burr the incisor or cheek teeth to keep them in check (or can remove them). If any abscesses have developed, urgent treatment is needed.

If you want to learn more about Rabbit Teeth, click here to read our blog.

2. Myxomatosis

Myxomatosis is an infectious disease caused by the myxoma virus, usually introduced by biting insects (flies or fleas). It is widespread throughout the UK, especially in the wild rabbit population, with a higher seasonal prevalence in late summer, autumn and early winter. The most obvious signs of infection are swelling of the lips, eyelids and genitals.

Death usually occurs within 14 days of infection, but a combined vaccination is available which vaccinates against viral haemorrhagic disease 1 (VHD1) as well as myxomatosis.   

3. Flystrike

This is a horrible condition in which rabbits are being eaten alive. Flies (such as bluebottles) lay their eggs on the rabbit – usually around the tail end, although any area, open wound or scratch can be affected. The eggs hatch into maggots which proceed to eat the flesh of the rabbit causing immense suffering.

Making sure your rabbit is clean and dry is essential to prevent the condition.

If you suspect flystrike, call your vet immediately. If caught early and there isn’t too much damage, your rabbit may recover. Surgery may be needed to repair tissue damage.

You can read more about this in our Understanding Fly Strike on Rabbits blog here.

4. RVHD (Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease)

Vaccination is essential to protect your rabbit against rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease (RVHD) - a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease. There are now two strains - RVHD1 and 'new variant' RVHD2. With RVHD1 death occurs in almost 100% of affected rabbits within less than 48 hours but with RVHD2 the death rate is between 7-20% of affected rabbits over the course of several days.

Affected rabbits may have high fever, lethargy, collapse, convulsions, paralysis, breathing difficulties (dyspnoea) and loss of appetite.

5. Rabbit Head Tilt

Head tilt in a rabbit may be due to trauma, ear mites, bacterial infection of the ear (otitis media or externa), parasites (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) or meningoencephalitis. Signs range from headshaking and scratching at the ears, head tilt and circling, to uncontrollable rolling. Treatment depends on the cause.

Many rabbits with E. cuniculi can go on to lead full lives, but prompt treatment is needed, otherwise the parasite will cause more damage.

6. Rabbit Ear Mites

Ear mites are a common problem for domestic rabbits. Also known as ear canker, Psoroptes cuniculi mites irritate the lining of the ear. Signs of ear mites are headshaking, ear flapping and scratching at the ears with crusting on the pinna and ear canal. If you suspect your rabbit has ear mites, take it to the vet as soon as possible.

The recommended treatment is usually Ivermectin injections once every 10-14 days for three treatments, but your vet will advise on the best course of treatment.

7. Rabbit Skin Conditions

Skin problems can be very uncomfortable for your rabbit so if you notice that your rabbit is itchy, has dry, flaky skin, bald patches, signs of dermatitis or any other indications of a skin problem, make an appointment with your vet. 

Moist dermatitis (raw, irritated skin) may be seen under the chin or around the rabbit’s bottom and can be caused by a variety of reasons (such as dental disease and urine scald). A bacterial infection can also develop (pyoderma).

8. Poisoning

Not all plants are safe for your rabbit to eat. Before feeding any to your rabbit make sure that you have correctly identified the plant and that it is safe to eat. Buttercups, rhubarb, foxglove, ragwort, deadly nightshade, evergreens, hemlock, ivy, poppies and yew are among the plants that are poisonous to your rabbit along with anything grown from a bulb.

Many houseplants are also poisonous so keep these out of their reach of house rabbits. Chemicals such as weed killers, slug pellets and some flea treatments containing fipronil are also poisonous to your rabbit.

Rabbits can't vomit so they may not show an initial reaction but may develop problems ranging from increased salivation, skin allergies, heart and breathing problems, and stomach problems.

If you think your bunny has eaten something poisonous, ask your vet for advice. They’ll ask you to take the packaging or more of the plant along to the surgery so that they can decide on the best course of treatment.

Find out more about what's poisonous to rabbits here.

9. Rabbit Fleas

Flea infestations can be a serious problem for rabbits so early detection and prevention is important. Regularly check your rabbit’s fur for signs of fleas - a tell-tale sign that your rabbit has fleas is ‘flea dirt’ (small black flecks in the fur) which are fleas’ faeces consisting of digested blood.

In severe cases, excessive scratching can lead to skin damage. Infection can set in and as fleas feed on blood, anaemia can also occur. Rabbit fleas which carry the myxoma virus can cause myxomatosis.

Use a flea medication recommended for rabbits – don’t use one for cats or dogs as they can be fatal.

10. Rabbit Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is not common in adult rabbits but it’s always a good idea to check for any signs as it could indicate a rapidly progressing infection, or it could lead to flystrike. Rabbits with diarrhoea rapidly become dehydrated so make sure they have access to fresh water. You can also use a syringe to give them fluids. However more severe cases may need fluid therapy at the vet surgery. Make sure your rabbit has a good high fibre diet as this will help to reduce the risk of digestive tract disease.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

It’s always a good idea to think about taking out pet insurance for your rabbit to help with the costs of new unexpected illnesses or injuries. Rabbit insurance can give you the peace of mind the cost of medication, vet prescribed complementary treatment or surgery can be covered.  At Everypaw, we have a choice of Lifetime policies so you can find the right cover for you and your bunny.

 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Lapis - www.vetstream.com/treat/lapis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.