Rabbits: Health Problems
Rabbits are prey species, and as such hide symptoms of illness or injury until they are unable to. They should be monitored
closely, and any signs of illness or injury should be addressed immediately. Rabbits can be highly sensitive to many
medications and difficult to treat, so they should only ever be seen by a veterinarian experienced with rabbit health. Below
is a basic list of the health problems most commonly seen in shelter rabbits; it is intended as a rabbit care aid, and should
not be used in lieu of actual veterinary care. Treatment of any suspected health problem should be prescribed and
overseen by a licensed veterinarian familiar with the treatment of rabbits.
Condition
Symptoms
Fleas/ticks
Visible parasites, fur loss,
itching, flea dirt
Ear mites
Head shaking, scratching at
ears, pain response to
handling head/ears, head tilt,
visible debris in ear
‘Walking Dandruff’;
fur mites
Visible parasites (white, as
name indicates), fur loss,
itching.
Soft stool (not cecotropes),
diarrhea, loss of appetite,
wasting.
Milky to yellowed eye or
nasal discharge, crust on
inner forepaws, sneezing,
wasting, labored/audible
breathing, ‘clicking’
respiratory sounds.
Small or no stool (avg. is pea
sized, ~4-500/day), lack of
appetite, tooth
grinding/painful response to
abdominal exam
Poor grooming, change in or
lack of appetite, toothgrinding, jaw/ear/neck pain;
eye/nose/ear discharge or
swelling, abscessing in
face/jaw.
Tooth grinding, lethargy,
abdominal pressing (to the
floor), reduction/lack of stool,
painful response to
abdominal exam.
Coccidiosis
Pasturella/respiratory
infection
Impaction
Dental
disease/malocclusion
G.I. Stasis
Encephalitozoon
Cuniculi (E. Cuniculi,
E.C.)
Sore hocks
Urine scald
Obesity
Emaciation
Malnutrition
Spinal fracture
Gas
Possible causes
Time spent out of doors,
exposure to infested
animals/areas.
Time spent out of doors,
exposure to infested
animals/areas, filthy living
conditions.
Time spent out of doors,
exposure to infested
animals/areas.
Exposure to stool of infected
animals; filthy living
conditions.
Exposure to infected animals,
poor living conditions,
malnutrition, overcrowding.
Ingestion of foreign object,
lack of long fiber in diet (hay
etc), ingestion of excessive
amounts of fur (as during
shedding).
Genetic deformity, lack of
long fiber (grass hay)/poor
diet, lack of gnawing
materials, injury.
Poor diet, seasonal changes
(most common in spring and
fall), secondary to pain (gas
etc) or stress.
Common Treatments
Selamectin; Ivermectin
Selamectin; Ivermectin; May
require pain medication
(Meloxicam) and/or flushing by
veterinarian. DO NOT clean
manually.
Selamectin; Ivermectin
Fenbendazole (possibly with
Metronidazole and
Enrofloxacin), Ponazuril
Enrofloxacin, injectable
penicillin G.
Enulose/Lactulose;
buprinorphine.
Dental exam- spur filing, tooth
trimming or removal.