Happy Hopper Health Check

It is Rabbit Awareness Week in the UK and vets all over the country are offering free rabbit health check to support the initiative. However, knowing how to give your bunny a regular once over at home is a useful skill and a great way to ensure they are healthy.

Coat

Your rabbit´s coat should be smooth, shiny and free from any skin flakes or matts. Rabbits can get fleas just like cats and dogs, so also look out for flea dirt which resembles small flecks of dirt. You should check their underneath everyday; their bottoms should be clean and free of faeces. Some rabbits can get large build-ups of poo at their backends, caused by problems such as a poor diet, obesity or a dirty hutch and this can leave them very vulnerable to fly strike. Dental problems are common in rabbits and they can make them over-salivate, which causes the fur on the chin to be soggy or matted.

Eyes

A rabbits eyes should both be open, bright and free from any discharges. As they are quite close to the ground and often, due to the hay and straw, live in dusty environments, rabbits are vulnerable to eye infections. These cause the eyes to be weepy and sore. The discharge is often a milky-white colour and can make the fur around the eyes very sticky. They can also get cataracts which make the pupil of the eye a white colour and can cause blindness. A very common problem in rabbits is over-grown teeth but not many people know these can cause eye infections by blocking the tear ducts.

Ears

The ears should be smooth and clean on the inside. Sometimes rabbits suffer with ear mites which make the ears sore and cause a build-up of sticky black/brown wax in the ears. Also, in Lops with long ears, make sure the tips do not become scratched and sore from trailing on the ground.

Teeth

Dental problems are one of the most common reasons for illness in animals, so regularly checking their teeth is vital. However, it is only possible in a home examination to see a rabbits incisor teeth and even then that can be tricky! The best way to look at the is to sit the rabbit on a table or or lap facing away from you. Keeping your arms close to their sides and leaning over them (which helps to keep them still), gently lift up the upper lip. The teeth should be short, smooth and aligned with each other. The only way to look at the molar teeth is with a special scope in their mouths but signs of problems from the outside are lumps on the jaw bone, weight loss, appetite loss and excessive salivation.

Nails

Rabbits have very strong nails which are designed to be digging and shifting dirt all the time. They should be regularly checked as often in domestic rabbits they become over-grown.

Weight

Obesity is a big problem in pet rabbits and, as most people think they should be cuddly, often over-looked. In a rabbit who is a healthy weight, you should be able to feel their ribs and spine with only slight pressure and, when they stretch out they should have an obvious waist behind their ribcage. Female rabbits will have a dewlap under their chin but it should not be excessive. Obesity is cause by a combination of over-eating and inactivity. A rabbits diet should consist of a majority of hay, with a maximum of a tablespoon of pelleted diet twice daily and they should be able to run about freely at least once a day.

Rabbits tend to be very secretive if they are poorly and often weight loss is one of the only symptoms of illness. So, get into the habit of regularly weighing your bunny so you can pick up on any problems early.

Demeanour

Rabbits are naturally inquisitive and lively creatures and a happy rabbit is an alert rabbit. If your bunny ever becomes withdrawn, quiet or refuses to eat for any length of time then there may be a serious problem and they should go to the vet. Sometimes rabbits can become very bored, especially if they are kept in a small hutch and never let out, or are kept on their own (rabbits are sociable creatures and should always be kept with at least one other bunny) and this can cause them to become quiet, simply because they have nothing to do.