Giant rabbits

Sore hocks (pododermatitis)

SignsHair loss and red swelling on the hocks, ulcers, bleeding, shifting weight from foot to foot, sitting hunched

PreventionAvoid wire or slatted floors; use thick mats. Control weight and trim nails. Keep floors dry and clean and check the foot pads weekly

Arthritis / spondylosis

SignsSluggish movement, no longer hopping, slow to stand, sitting with a hunched back, unable to groom itself

PreventionPrevent obesity and use non-slip flooring. Remove steps. From age 4, get checkups every 6 months with X-rays for early detection

Heart disease (cardiomyopathy)

SignsRapid breathing after slight exertion, open-mouth breathing, reluctance to exercise, fainting, lethargy

PreventionCommon in giant breeds. Avoid obesity and heat; from age 3, get an annual checkup including auscultation and cardiac ultrasound

Obesity

SignsLarge dewlap, spine cannot be felt, cecotropes left on the floor, unable to lick its own rear

PreventionHay-based diet with pellets at about 1% of body weight. Limit treats. Weigh and record monthly

GI stasis

SignsNot eating hay, droppings small, few or absent, bloated belly, teeth grinding, sitting motionless

PreventionGiant breeds eat a lot, so running out of hay is life-threatening. Always provide large amounts of hay. Heat, pain and stress are triggers

Urinary stones / bladder sludge

SignsCloudy white urine, straining in the litter box, bloody urine, urine-soiled rear, licking the genitals

PreventionCaused by lack of exercise and low water intake. Encourage drinking. Do not feed calcium-rich alfalfa to adults

Spinal fracture / dislocation

PreventionLift only while sitting on the floor, holding the chest and rear with both arms. Never lift while standing. Do not let it kick with its hind legs. If it struggles, put it on the floor at once

First aidIf the hind legs do not move, drag, or it does not urinate, do not handle it; lay it flat on a rigid board or in a carrier, keep it still, and see a vet immediately

Fall while being held

PreventionDo not let children or inexperienced people hold it. Guide it into a carrier instead of carrying it. Do not place it on raised surfaces

First aidDo not relax just because it moves right after the fall. Check gait, hind legs and urination; see a vet immediately if anything is wrong, and the same day even if nothing is

Broken nails / foot pad lacerations

PreventionBody weight loads the nails, so they break easily. Trim monthly. Keep the environment free of carpet or mesh that can snag nails

First aidPress with clean gauze for 5 minutes. Apply styptic powder or flour. For deep foot pad wounds or a nail torn out at the root, see a vet the same day

Dislocation / sprain on slippery floors

PreventionCover hardwood floors fully with mats. Avoid chase games that provoke sudden turns. Prevent obesity

First aidDo not touch the injured leg; rest it in a small carrier. If the leg is swollen or at an odd angle, see a vet the same day. If pain reduces appetite, watch for GI stasis

Pasteurellosis

RouteBites, scratches, contact with nasal discharge or saliva

PreventionBites from giant breeds are deep. Wash wounds under running water; see a doctor for swelling or fever

Dermatophytosis (ringworm)

RouteContact with the fur or skin of an infected rabbit

PreventionWear gloves when handling animals with hair loss or dandruff, and wash hands afterward

Cheyletiella (walking dandruff) mites

RouteContact with an infected rabbit, shared bedding

PreventionGiant breeds cannot groom themselves well, so mites multiply easily. See a vet for dandruff on the back

Tularemia

RouteContact with wild rabbits or ticks, raw meat, blood

PreventionDo not let it contact wild rabbits or ticks on outdoor walks. Do not crush ticks with bare hands

Food

• Timothy hay in large amounts at all times. Never run out; daily volume should exceed the rabbit's body size
• Pellets at about 1% of body weight, twice a day. More during growth
• Vegetables about a handful per day. Fruit a few times a week, up to thumb size

Water

• Heavy ceramic bowl, 300-500 ml or more per day. A bottle is not enough
• In summer, place in 2 spots and change twice daily

Toys & play

• Large chew wood, straw mats, burlap tunnels
• Large cardboard box (60 cm or wider so the body fits)
• Large paper bag stuffed with hay. Fabric mat for digging

Nest, bed & hideout

• Wooden house at least 50 cm wide so the whole body fits
• Steps and ledges no higher than 5-10 cm. No high platforms

Bedding & litter

• Floor: slats fully covered with a thick mat or cushion mat
• Litter box: a large tray for large dogs or cats, with wood pellets
• Body weight compresses bedding, so change daily and keep dry

Cage / housing material

Large-dog pen or cage. Wire or bare slatted floors are not acceptable

Size & space

At least 120 x 80 cm. Height 70 cm or more so it can stand upright

Layout

• Large litter tray in a corner. Hay rack next to the litter box
• Thick mat covering the entire floor to protect the foot pads
• Water bowls in 2 spots. House with a wide entrance

Placement notes

• Avoid direct sun and air-conditioner drafts; use a cool, north-facing room
• Place directly on the floor with a step-free entrance. Wide door

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Daily free-roam time of 2 hours or more. Provide enough space to run
• Floor fully covered with mats. Do not chase or stop it suddenly
• Outdoors is not recommended due to heat and the danger of wild animals

Temperature & humidity

Temperature16-22°C. Risk of heatstroke above 25°C. The larger the body, the more heat-sensitive

Humidity40-60%. High humidity worsens foot pad ulcers and skin disease

Summer & winter

• Summer: air conditioning 24 hours; place aluminum plates or large ice packs wrapped in towels
• Winter: mats to block cold from the floor. Heat only part of the cage to avoid overheating

Nail trimming

Monthly, one nail at a time with the rabbit sitting on the floor. Nails break easily under body weight; if it struggles, use 2 people or go to the vet

Brushing, skin & coat care

2-3 times a week, daily during molting. Giant breeds cannot reach their back or rear when grooming, so hairballs form easily

Other care

Wipe a soiled rear with a damp towel. Never bathe. Check the foot pads, the skin under the dewlap and inside the ears weekly

Protection from predators

• Even if gentle, sharing a room with dogs or cats is dangerous. Lock the cage
• Do not house with small rabbits or guinea pigs. It will crush them
• In summer, watch for mosquitoes and fly strike. Keep the rear clean

Foreign-body ingestion

Hairballs and carpet fibers cause stasis. Keep printed cardboard, plastic, cords and houseplants out of reach. Brush daily during molting

Being stepped on

Large body is less likely to be stepped on, but a trodden foot fractures easily. It burrows under sofas and bedding, so check before sitting or lying down

Getting pinched

Body or legs caught in doors. Secure doors with stoppers during free-roam time. Make the cage door wide enough for the body and check the whole body before closing

Falls

Falls while being held are the most common and lead directly to spinal fractures. Hold only briefly while sitting on the floor; never standing. Do not put it on sofas or beds

Escape

Pens get knocked over by its weight, so anchor them. Keep the front door and balcony closed. If it escapes, set out hay and its scented house and wait from dusk onward

Safe release procedure

1. Stop moving; do not force your hand out, stay still
2. Stroke its back with your free hand to calm it
3. Lower its body to the floor and wait for it to let go on its own
4. Once it lets go, guide it to its house and leave it alone for a while

After the release

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

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Weight, time of last meal, condition of droppings, room temperature, any falls while being held. Bring droppings and urine, and put hay in the carrier

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Call its name and touch its 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 130-250 per minute

Stopping bleeding

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

Transport

• Line a large-dog carrier with a towel and keep the body flat. Cover to darken
• Summer: ice pack beside it; winter: hand warmer on the outside. Carry with 2 people