Today, the acquisition of rabbits for the company is more and more frequent. We are often visited by rabbits in daily veterinary practice, requiring medical attention and being pets treated like a member of the family. Different breeds of rabbits have appeared over time and each one has its peculiarities and benefits that allow them to adapt to each environment, thus facilitating their coexistence with humans.
In this article, all those clues that may make us think that our rabbit is sick or that something is moving away from normal will be exposed, as well as those signs and symptoms of the most frequent diseases. Read on and discover the symptoms of a sick rabbit.
The rabbit as a pet
The keeping of a rabbit in the home is something more and more common (in Spain it has become the third most popular pet, ranking only behind cats and dogs), but it is necessary to bear in mind that they should not be treated as toys and that there are certain rules that must be followed to the letter to give the correct quality of life to said bunny. It is convenient to know the basic needs of this mammal before taking it home as a companion pet. In this other article we explain what the care of the rabbit are.
The life expectancy of a rabbit is up to 12 years, however, with the necessary care, a healthy rabbit can exceed that expectation by many years. Both preventive medicine and the correct implementation of a health plan and general knowledge of some of the most common diseases will help our little lagomorph to last for many years enjoying enviable health.
How to know if a rabbit is sick?
The moment a rabbit presents any disease, the guardian will know it immediately, since he will see how the animal changes practically its entire routine. Of course, on some occasions when the animal already has very marked signs and symptoms, it means that the disease could be very advanced.
Diseases can be classified by organs and systems, and although generally in rabbits the signs and symptoms are usually generalized, on some specific occasions, but no less important, they can appear as characteristic of a specific disease. Here are some signs and symptoms of a sick rabbit:
- Loss of appetite: When a rabbit loses interest in food, the guardian should worry. It may be temporary, but if this condition is still present with the passing of days, the prognosis is negative. It is usually associated with problems of the digestive system for obvious reasons, but any pathology can generate a level of stress in the rabbit, capable of causing loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea: it can appear for different causes, generally bacterial or parasitic. It is associated with digestive diseases and if the cause is not sought in time, it can be fatal.
- Weight loss: this condition is quite dangerous in rabbits and can be associated with almost any pathology. The guardian must be attentive that her bunny always eats correctly and is gaining weight in the correct way.
- Difficulty eating: different from lack of appetite, in this case the animal looks for food, but there is obvious difficulty in chewing or swallowing. For obvious reasons, this sign is often associated with problems in the oral cavity, such as abnormal growth of rabbit teeth.
- Irritated or reddened eyes: rabbits that do not receive proper management from their caretaker and this does not provide the ideal environmental conditions for their life, can develop eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is quite common in poorly managed rabbits, and red eyes are a characteristic sign of this pathology.
- Ataxia: refers to the decreased ability to control movements. It is associated with nervous problems and in rabbits it is very common in vestibular syndrome and internal otitis.
- Abnormal inclination of the head: it is a clear sign of otitis or vestibular syndrome, and it is usually very characteristic at the time of diagnosis.
- Hair loss: skin pathologies are not far behind when we talk about rabbits that are mishandled. Alopecia is a clear sign that something is wrong, and veterinary attention should be as soon as possible.
- Coughs and sneezes: in rabbits, respiratory diseases are also usually harmful and it is appropriate to treat them in time. These respiratory signs warrant urgent veterinary attention.
All the pathologies that affect rabbits can cause endless signs and symptoms, and although each one is associated with some disease, the one in charge of making the definitive diagnosis is the veterinarian. We recommend the utmost attention to our pets and regular visits to the doctor. Remember that preventive medicine will give your best friend a better quality of life.
Symptoms that a rabbit is going to die
In addition to knowing how to detect the signs of pain in rabbits, it is important to know what are the signs that indicate that the life of our bunny is in serious danger:
- He does not eat or drink for 24 hours.
- Be still.
- Shortness of breath.
- Lower temperature than normal.
- Abnormal behavior
- Urinate and defecate anywhere.
- Tremors
