Do-It-Yourself: Rabbit Health Checkup
Regular checkups are necessary for the health and longevity of your rabbit. You can give your rabbit a simple checkup, as outlined below, every six to eight weeks. This does not take the place of the full physical exam that your rabbit should receive from your veterinarian once a year (and more frequently if the rabbit has a condition that requires monitoring). Ask your vet to show you ways to make your periodic checkups easier on you and more comfortable for your rabbit. You may find it easier to do the checkup with two people. If checkups are done every two months, you’ll begin to know your rabbit well enough so that you can spot a problem in the early stages. Here are the areas you should check: Eyes. Your bunny’s eyes should be clear and bright, with no sign of discharge from the tear ducts. Rabbits can sometimes have a little bit of crust-like substance in the corners of their eyes, but it’s nothing to worry about. You can wipe it clean with a cotton ball, tissue or very clean fingers. If the eyes are discharging pus, take your rabbit to a vet. Ears. Check inside each ear for wax or dirt buildup. If your rabbit’s ears do not appear clean, see a veterinarian. Nose. Look for moisture or discharge around the nasal cavities or for excess mucus inside. Even if you don’t hear sneezing, if you see a slightly moist nose, check the insides of each of the rabbit’s front legs for dirty spots. Rabbits will wipe their noses with the insides of their front paws, which can easily mask the early signs of pasteurella (upper respiratory disease, or snuffles). Teeth. Make sure your bunny’s teeth are properly aligned and not maloccluded (an abnormal coming together of the teeth). The top teeth should be directly in line with the bottom teeth with a very slight overbite. If the top teeth are extremely long and actually hang over the bottom teeth, they may be maloccluded and your rabbit will need to have his top teeth clipped. Chin. Check the underside of the rabbit’s chin for a waxy type of buildup from the scent gland. If you find this condition, you can try to wash it off with warm water, but it will often be mixed in with the bunny’s hair and will need to be cut off with cuticle scissors. Rabbits who drink from bowls can sometimes get dermatitis, so also look for redness and irritation. If this occurs, use several smaller bowls instead of one large bowl. Feet. Check the sole of each foot for worn hair and sores. This is usually the result of living on a wire floor, but it can also be due to an overweight rabbit sitting on hard surfaces. It is very easy for pasteurella or other infections to start in these sores, so see a veterinarian right away if you find sores on the soles of your bunny’s feet.
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Nails. Check and trim your rabbit’s nails as needed. If you find a broken nail, make sure it has healed properly, since it could be prone to infection otherwise. Fur and Skin. Rabbits can get fleas. You might see thinning hair and dandruff caused by scratching due to flea infestation. Flea collars and some flea/tick products are deadly to rabbits, so before you use any of these products, consult with a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about rabbits. As with any insecticide, if there is a negative reaction of any kind (such as diarrhea), discontinue use immediately. And don’t ever use flea powder or spray on the rabbit’s head. Rabbits can also get dandruff and fur mites. If you can only see flakes, it is almost impossible for you to tell without a microscope whether the cause is dandruff or fur mites. A sure sign of mites is white scabs or a crust on the skin which often starts around the neck area. If your rabbit has mites, she can become very thin and develop bald spots as the mites become worse. Genital Scent Glands. In addition to the scent glands under their chins, rabbits also have much more powerful scent glands on both sides of their genitals. This area needs to be checked and will probably always need cleaning during your bimonthly checkup. Sometimes you’ll find just a few moist flakes from dried skin, but more often you’ll find a very dark brown, hard, waxy type of buildup. Either of these can be easily removed with a cotton swab dipped in warm water. Take care to be very gentle. The rabbit may have to be turned on her back to do this. Keep one hand pressed firmly on her stomach so that she cannot suddenly flip over and injure her back. Press your own stomach gently up against her back feet to stop her from kicking, which could cause serious injury to her spine or legs. Use your fingers to find the genitals and then to separate the area directly adjacent to the genitals. When you find the scent glands and separate the overlapping skin, the dark substance will become visible. If your rabbit ever has a “skunky” smell, it’s time for a cleaning. If this substance is not cleaned off and is allowed to remain, the area could become infected. Lumps and Bumps. This is also a good time to inspect your rabbit’s body all over – legs, the stomach, head, neck and jaw line, buttocks, between the legs, etc. Both male and female rabbits will have nipples on their stomachs, but other than that, if you feel any strange lumps or bumps, have a vet check the rabbit. Just as with humans, the earlier you find and treat a problem, the easier it is to cure. This resource was compiled by Liz DiNorma of the House Rabbit Society and rabbit expert Cinnamon Gimness. See also: Grooming Your Rabbit Your Rabbit’s Health
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