HEALTH

This section is not provided for diagnostic purposes. We are not veterinarians and if you have a health concern about your rabbit, we urge you to take him/her to your nearest rabbit-savvy veterinarian. For a list of rabbit-savvy veterinarians in Ontario, please visit OREO's list of veterinarians. If you would like a list of rabbit-savvy veterinarians in the Ottawa area, please Contact Us or again, visit OREO's site for a comprehensive questionaire for prospective veterinary clinics.

This section IS provided for general information purposes ONLY regarding the most common health conditions and how to recognize a medical emergency and is by no means exhaustive. We strongly recommend yearly health checks with your rabbit's veterinarian. Although there are currently no vaccinations available in Canada (or the U.S.) for rabbits, a yearly health check can detect a problem BEFORE it becomes a medical emergency.

GENERAL RABBIT HEALTH

Cecotrophs
Essentially, cecotrophs, also commonly referred to as "night droppings" are a type of rabbit "vitamin." If you already have a rabbit, you may have noticed him eating what seems to be fecal pellets directly from the anus or have noticed grape-like clusters in their litter box. It is not only normal for rabbits to eat this special type of fecal pellet, but it is ESSENTIAL to their health and well-being. Cecotrophs contain vitamins and proteins that are a healthy, natural part of your rabbit's diet. Please do not be alarmed if you notice this behaviour and NEVER discourage or stop your rabbit from eating his cecotrophs.

These are quite different in appearance and smell than normal rabbit fecal pellets. The grape-like clusters have a slight sheen and are quite pungent in odour.

It is not normal to find an overabundance of cecotrophs in your rabbit's environment. If you do notice many, it is possible that your rabbit is suffering from an overproduction of cecotrophs. A common cause of a cecotroph overproduction is an improper diet too high in pellets, sugar or starchy foods (including carrots!). Reduce his pellet and treat intake and see your veterinarian if it does not correct itself.

Dental Health
Because rabbit teeth are constantly growing, they can be prone to issues of both the incisors and the molars, especially if fed improper diets. Again, hay is important in maintaining dental health!

Maloccluded incisors can have a few different causes. Genetic predisposition (particularly dwarf breeds, small lops and lionheads, who have characteristically round, short faces), tooth fracture and habitual cage bar pulling are some common causes. If the malocclusion is mild, your vet will likely recommend regular tooth filings (filing with a Dremel is preferable to clippers that can easily crack or break off the teeth, complicating the issue). If severe, your vet MAY recommend incisor removal, but even some severe malocclusions can be corrected with time, patience and a veterinarian experienced in rabbit dentistry. Please check your rabbit's teeth frequently for signs of overgrowing or "splaying" of the incisors.

For obvious reasons, molar spurs are harder to detect in early stages. Have your vet check your rabbit's molars at his yearly check-up. Frequently, molar spurs (points on the teeth toward either the cheek or tongue) are caused by a diet too low in hay or simply genetic predisposition. Luckily, there are a few signs to watch for between check-ups:
Dropping food
Drooling
Unwillingness to eat SOME types of food without signs of GI disturbances or appetite loss
Tearing of one eye in particular, but could involve both

Undetected/untreated molar spurs can lead to VERY serious medical issues, such as molar root infections and abscesses of the jaw and behind the eye (retrobulbar abscess).

Gastrointestinal Health
As outlined in the Nutrition section, fiber (for rabbits, primarily contained in their hay) is essential. With an improper diet, genetic predisposition or early weaning, rabbits can be prone to disturbances of the GI tract. Typically, if your rabbit is experienced any of these disturbances, he will cease eating and drinking, hunch in a corner and loudly "crunch" his teeth. If experiencing gas, you will likely hear your rabbit's stomach loudly "gurgling." If you suspect gastrointestinal issues with your rabbit, please take him to a rabbit-savvy veterinarian immediately. These situations require you and your vet's immediate intervention! Body temperature can drop rapidly and dehydration is also real concern. It is very important to get your rabbit eating as soon as possible since they are a "grazing" animal and even a short period of anorexia can be fatal. On your way to the vet, wrap your rabbit in a towel to keep him warm!

The Myth of Snuffles
Sneezing in a rabbit does not necessarily indicate an infection. A dry sneeze without discharge could be from irritations in the environment (including inappropriate litter), allergies or even poking themselves with a piece of hay! In some occasions, it could even be cause by something as seemingly unrelated as overgrown incisor roots. Take note of the frequency of sneezing, consistency of discharge and colour of discharge (if present) for your veterinarian's information.

"Snuffles" is a general term often applied to rabbits with respiratory infections that could have many causes and is not a diagnosis in and of itself. Rather it is a generalized description of a symptom. If there is discharge present from either the nose or eyes, please have your rabbit thoroughly examined by a rabbit-savvy veterinarian. He will likely recommend "culture and sensitivity" testing to determine what bacteria is responsible for the infection in order to implement appropriate treatment and ensure a proper diagnosis/prognosis. Although one of the most common bacteria found in samples from rabbits is Pasteurella, it is not responsible for all infections.