Rabbit

GI stasis

SignsReduced appetite, droppings small and few or absent, bloated belly, sitting motionless, teeth grinding

PreventionMake hay the staple, available at all times. Brush more during shedding season. Avoid stress and sudden diet changes

Malocclusion

SignsChin wet with drool, leaves tough hay and eats only pellets, eye discharge, lumps on the jaw

PreventionHay-based diet to wear down the molars. Do not overfeed pellets or vegetables. Have the teeth checked regularly

Snuffles

SignsSneezing, white nasal discharge, inner forelegs crusted with discharge, noisy breathing

PreventionAvoid temperature swings and dust; ventilate. Relapses are common, so see the vet early and keep up treatment

Uterine disease

SignsIn females: bloody urine, swollen mammary glands, abdominal lump, reduced appetite. Common in unspayed females over 3

PreventionConsider spaying while young. See the vet early for bloody urine. Regular checkups for older females

Head tilt (torticollis)

SignsHead stays tilted, rolls and falls over, eyes flicking, cannot stand

PreventionHard to prevent. Causes include inner ear infection and parasites. If the head tilts, see the vet the same day and prevent falls

Sore hocks (pododermatitis)

SignsHair loss and redness on the hocks, scabs, bleeding, favoring the feet and walking oddly

PreventionAvoid wire floors; use soft flooring. Prevent obesity and overgrown nails. Keep the litter box clean and feet dry

Fractured spine or hind leg

PreventionAlways support the chest and rump when lifting and do not let it kick. Never drop it from a height. If it struggles, put it down on the floor

First aidIf the hind legs do not move or drag, do not handle; keep the body flat and move it to a carrier. See the vet immediately without jostling. Note whether it is urinating

Broken nail, bleeding

PreventionTrim nails monthly. Use short-pile rugs so nails do not snag on carpet or fabric

First aidPress with clean gauze for several minutes. Apply styptic powder or flour. If the nail is torn out at the root, see the vet

Electric shock from cords

PreventionPut cords in cable covers or lift them off the floor. Use a pen for free-roam time in a cord-free area

First aidMouth burns, seizures, or abnormal breathing: see the vet immediately. Pulmonary edema can develop hours after a shock, so always see the vet

Bite from a cage mate

PreventionHousing adults together depends on compatibility. Never two males. First meetings through a barrier. Neutering reduces fighting

First aidSeparate them at once. Wash the wound and press gauze on any bleeding. Bites often form abscesses under the skin, so see the vet the same day

Pasteurellosis

RouteBites, scratches, contact with nasal discharge or saliva

PreventionWash wounds under running water. Do not put your face close or share food mouth to mouth. See a doctor if it swells

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with the hair or skin of an infected rabbit

PreventionWash hands after touching a rabbit with hair loss or dandruff. Wear gloves for care

Cheyletiella (fur mite) infestation

RouteContact with an infected rabbit, shared bedding

PreventionSee the vet for heavy dandruff or itching. If a person develops a red rash, see a dermatologist

Allergy (hair, hay)

RouteInhaling hair, dander, or hay dust

PreventionWear a mask during shedding season. Shake the dust off hay and ventilate

Food

• Staple is timothy hay, always available. Give a pile larger than the rabbit's body
• Pellets: 1–3% of body weight, split into 1–2 meals a day
• Vegetables such as komatsuna and daikon leaves in small amounts. Fruit only in tiny amounts

Water

• Fresh water daily in a bottle or a heavy ceramic bowl
• Drinks about 100 ml per kg of body weight a day. A drop is a warning sign

Toys & play

• Chew sticks, straw mats, straw balls
• Paper bag or cardboard tunnels (avoid printed surfaces)
• Paper tubes stuffed with hay. Fabric or jute mats to dig in

Nest, bed & hideout

• One wooden or fabric house to hide in
• A low platform or step it can get up and down from for exercise

Bedding & litter

• Foot-friendly wooden or plastic slatted floor. Avoid wire floors
• Corner litter box with wood pellets or paper litter
• Change litter daily. Wipe urine off the cage floor daily too

Cage / housing material

Metal wire cage with a pull-out tray. Materials it cannot chew

Size & space

At least 80 W x 60 D x 60 H cm. Tall enough to stand up on hind legs

Layout

• Litter box in a corner; a hay rack above it lets it eat while it goes
• Keep water, food, and house away from the litter box
• Partial soft mat on the slatted floor

Placement notes

• Avoid direct sun, AC drafts, and the temperature swings of entryways and windows
• A quiet spot away from dogs, cats, and loud noise. Raise it slightly off the floor

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• 1–2 hours of free-roam time daily. Fence off an area and block cords and gaps
• Outdoor walks are not required. If you go, use a harness and parasite prevention
• Room to hop, run, and stretch out. Mats on slippery floors

Temperature & humidity

Temperature18–24°C. Heatstroke risk above 28°C; keep warm below 5°C

Humidity40–60%. High humidity causes skin disease and moldy hay

Summer & winter

• Summer: run the AC 24 hours; provide an aluminum plate or frozen water bottles
• Winter: cover the cage with a blanket and heat only part of it. Avoid overheating too

Nail trimming

Monthly, with small-animal clippers, stopping short of the quick. If it struggles, ask the vet or a groomer

Brushing, skin & coat care

Daily during shedding season, twice a week otherwise. Remove loose hair with a rubber brush to prevent hairball stasis

Other care

Never bathe. Wipe dirt with a damp towel. Check molars, ears, and hocks weekly. Clean the ears of lop-eared rabbits

Protection from predators

• Never in the same room as dogs, cats, or ferrets. Lock the cage
• Avoid outdoor housing: crows, stray cats, and weasels come
• In summer, flies and mosquitoes can cause flystrike; use screens and keep clean

Foreign-body ingestion

Hairballs and fibers from fabric or carpet cause stasis. Keep rubber, plastic, electrical cords, and houseplants out of reach

Being stepped on

It tends to come underfoot, so watch the floor when walking. Do not darken the room. It hides under sofas, so check before sitting

Getting pinched

Limbs caught in doors are a common accident. Keep doors shut or use stoppers during free-roam time. Also watch for an unlatched cage door

Falls

Spinal fractures from struggling and falling while held are common. Hold it only while sitting on the floor, briefly. Jumping off sofas or beds is also dangerous

Escape

It jumps pens, so make them at least 80 cm high. Do not open balcony or entry doors. If it escapes, set out favorite food and a house with your scent and wait at night

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving; do not pull your hand away. Stay still
2. Stroke the rabbit's back with your free hand to calm it
3. Do not push fingers into the side of its mouth; lower its body to the floor and wait for it to let go
4. Once it lets go, put it in its house and leave it alone for a while

After the release

Wash with running water and soap and disinfect. Deep wounds, swelling, or fever carry a risk of pasteurellosis: see a doctor

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Time of last meal, stool condition, diet, room temperature. Bring stool and urine, and put hay in the carrier

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch the ears and body to check for a response
• Check breathing by the rise and fall of the chest. Normal is about 30–60 per minute
• Place a hand on the chest to check the heartbeat. Normal is about 130–325 per minute

Stopping bleeding

• Press firmly with clean gauze for 3–5 minutes. Do not lift to check
• For a bleeding nail, press on styptic powder or flour
• Ear bleeding looks heavy but stops with pressure. If not, see the vet

Transport

• Line the carrier with a towel to support the body. Cover it to keep it dark
• Summer: a towel-wrapped ice pack beside it; winter: a hand warmer on the outside