Rabbits are prey animals that often hide illness until a condition becomes serious. Owners must watch closely for small changes in appetite, stool, or behavior and act quickly.

This article outlines common concerns you may meet, including gastrointestinal stasis, dental Recognizing Rabbit Health Problems, respiratory snuffles, and inner ear issues that can mimic neurologic disease.

GI slowdown is not just a “hairball.” Reduced intake, dehydration, or shifts in gut flora can cause stasis to progress fast. Teeth that never stop growing need abrasive hay to prevent malocclusion and abscesses.

Look for nasal discharge, sneezing, labored breathing, reduced stool, or a head tilt. When in doubt, call a rabbit-savvy vet and describe what you see. For detailed medical guidance, consult resources like trusted rabbit medical pages.

Key Takeaways

• Daily observation helps catch issues early.
• GI stasis is life-threatening and needs prompt care.
• High-fiber hay helps wear down continuously growing teeth.
• Respiratory signs and head tilt require same-day vet attention.
• Good housing and stress reduction aid prevention.

Rabbit health problems symptoms to watch right now

Some changes happen fast — watch for clear red flags now.

Immediate red flags include not eating or drinking, scant or no stool, bloating, tooth grinding, or marked lethargy. Rapid or labored breathing, persistent sneezing with nasal discharge, collapse, or severe weakness also demand same‑day attention.

Neurologic signs such as head tilt, rolling, seizures, or constant circling may indicate inner ear infection or E. cuniculi and need prompt diagnostics. A wet, foul‑smelling bottom or visible maggots can lead to shock and death within hours.

• Prioritize urgent vet care if eating or stool output drops dramatically.
• Watch breathing, nose and eye discharge paired with low energy.
• Feel the jawline for drool or swelling and note picky eating or dropping food.
• Keep baseline notes—weight, fecal size, and energy—to spot fast decline.

When severe signs appear, call a rabbit‑savvy clinic immediately. While arranging transport, keep the animal warm and quiet, avoid force‑feeding, and follow triage advice to reduce risk and improve outcomes. Make sure you know local emergency hours and where to check rabbit status quickly.

Recognizing Rabbit Health Problems

A subtle drop in eating can be the first sign that gut motility is failing.

Symptoms to spot early

• Loss of appetite or decreased interest in food.
• Minimal or no faeces; small, hard droppings.
• Bloating, tooth grinding, and marked lethargy.

What to do immediately

Call a rabbit‑savvy veterinarian as soon as possible. Early treatment often includes subcutaneous or IV fluids, carefully chosen motility drugs, anti‑gas therapy, and supervised syringe feeding.

Prevention and follow‑up

Stasis starts when reduced intake changes gut bacteria and motility. Keep a hay‑first diet, constant fresh water, and quick care for dental or respiratory issues that can trigger a relapse.

Track appetite, faecal output, and energy daily so you can report precise changes.

Dental problems in rabbits: overgrown teeth and painful mouths

Overgrown teeth are a common, painful issue that quietly reduces appetite and activity. Both incisors and molars grow continuously and need abrasive fibre to wear down. Without coarse hay, sharp spurs and malocclusion can form, cutting the tongue and cheeks and causing long-term discomfort.

Key signs to watch

Drooling, picky eating, and dropping food are red flags. Look for weepy eyes, a dirty bottom from reduced grooming, and gradual weight loss.

• Reduced stool and lower activity.
• Fur or skin irritation around the chin from constant moisture.
• Changes in chewing or favoring one side of the mouth.

Veterinary care and treatment

Have a veterinarian examine the mouth; radiographs may be needed to check tooth roots. Professional treatment ranges from careful trimming or burring under anesthesia to extractions and antibiotics for root abscesses.

Prompt dental treatment protects appetite and lowers the risk of GI slowdown.

Daily care & diet to prevent recurrence

Feed unlimited high-quality grass hay and limit measured pellets to support natural wear. Add safe chew items, keep activity up, and build weekly mouth checks into routine care.

Snuffles and respiratory infections: when breathing becomes difficult

A runny nose and repeated sneezes may be the first clue that the airway is compromised.

Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers, so any change in the upper airway can quickly affect oxygen intake. Upper tract disease—often called snuffles—causes sneezing and nasal discharge. When the lower tract is involved, expect wheezing and labored breathing that suggest pneumonia.

How to tell upper vs. lower airway issues

• Nasal discharge and frequent sneezing usually point to the upper respiratory tract.
• Wheezing, rapid or difficult breathing and open‑mouth effort indicate lower tract disease.
• Watch appetite and weight loss—affected rabbits often eat less and lose condition.

Act fast: isolation and veterinary care

Isolate the sick animal to limit spread and avoid housing with rodents like guinea pigs that may carry Pasteurella. Call a veterinarian for prompt assessment. Diagnostics often include chest radiographs and cultures to target therapy.

Treatment may require oxygen, antibiotics, anti‑inflammatories, and assisted feeding to prevent secondary GI stasis.

Keep the environment calm, control dust, and follow the full course of prescribed medication to reduce recurrence and protect skin and fur from complications.

Head tilt and neurologic signs: ear infection or E. cuniculi?

Even subtle tilting or repeated head shakes deserve prompt attention. In lop-eared breeds, inner ear issues are common and can quickly affect balance. Watch for sudden leaning, rolling, or fast eye movements that show vestibular involvement.

Inner ear clues

Inner ear disease often causes a tilt to one side, head shaking, loss of balance, and nystagmus. Pus may be present but not always. Imaging of the skull helps confirm bony or soft tissue changes.

When to suspect E. cuniculi

Consider a central nervous system disease like E. cuniculi when signs expand beyond vestibular features. Circling, seizures, limb stretching, and a persistent tilt that does not respond to ear-focused care suggest a parasitic cause.

Diagnosis & treatment

Seek veterinary assessment as soon possible for imaging and blood tests to differentiate causes. Expect tailored therapy — long-term antibiotics for bacterial otitis, antiparasitics and anti-inflammatories for E. cuniculi — plus supportive feeding and hydration.

Practical steps: keep the animal safe on padded bedding, limit stress, provide easy access to food and water, and plan follow-up visits. Some recover fully; others adapt to a residual tilt and live well with proper management.

Flystrike (myiasis): rapid-onset skin and fur emergency

A small, wet patch on the hindquarters can escalate into a life-threatening infestation within a single day.

Warning signs to act on now

Treat flystrike as an absolute emergency if you see maggots, a foul odour, wet patches, fur loss with sores, or sudden collapse. Damage accelerates in hours and can lead to death without fast care.

What raises the risk

Flies lay eggs in soiled fur or open wounds; the hatched maggots invade tissue quickly. Risk factors include a mucky back end from diarrhea, obesity, dental pain that reduces grooming, arthritis, and warm, dirty enclosures.

Immediate steps and prevention

• Do not delay—call your vet immediately for safe maggot removal, pain control, antibiotics, and wound care.
• Make sure housing is spot-cleaned daily and deep-cleaned often; keep bedding dry and ventilation good.
• Perform daily back-end checks in warm months and trim soiled fur per veterinary advice.
• Help prevent recurrence by treating diarrhea, fixing dental issues, managing weight, and improving mobility so grooming resumes.

Prepare now: have a transport plan and first-aid kit ready for flystrike season and schedule rechecks after recovery to confirm healing.

Vaccine-preventable diseases: myxomatosis and rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease

Timely core vaccines and insect control form the most reliable shield for domestic rabbits against severe viral outbreaks.

Myxomatosis signs to watch

Myxomatosis often causes swollen eyelids, puffy facial tissue, and swelling of the genital area.

Look for weepy eyes, nasal discharge, and laboured breathing paired with fever. Affected rabbits can show dullness and reduced appetite quickly.

Haemorrhagic disease — rapid decline

Rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease may cause sudden death in some cases. Other signs include high temperature, lethargy, and bleeding from the nose, mouth, or bottom.

RVHD1 carries very high mortality. RVHD2 can kill more slowly but still causes serious decline over days.

Protection plan: keep vaccinations current, control biting insects with fine mesh and sanitation, quarantine new arrivals for at least three weeks, and discuss safe flea and parasite control with your veterinarian.

• Record vaccine dates and boosters.
• Clean housing and disinfect feeding areas regularly.
• Seek immediate veterinary care if you notice any worrying signs.

Skin and ear parasites: mites, fleas, and lice that irritate and infect

When fur looks thin or the ears develop thick crusts, external parasites should be high on the list.

Common signs to spot quickly

• Persistent scratching, frantic grooming, or repeated rubbing at the ears.
• Crusts, flaky skin, or patchy fur loss that may reveal black specks (flea dirt).
• Thick ear crusting consistent with ear canker from Psoroptes cuniculi.

Safe treatment choices and next steps

Always seek a veterinary diagnosis to identify the exact parasite and select a safe, species-appropriate plan. Many effective protocols use ivermectin-based products under supervision and include repeat dosing to interrupt life cycles.

Avoid over-the-counter dog or cat flea products—they can be toxic to rabbits. Clean enclosures, replace bedding, and wash fabrics hot to remove environmental stages.

• Quarantine new arrivals and inspect carefully before introductions.
• Address secondary skin infections and anemia promptly with vet-prescribed meds.
• Maintain dust-reduced bedding and regular grooming, especially during seasonal molts.

“Treat early, clean thoroughly, and recheck to stop recurrence.”

Follow-up: Re-examine after treatment and coordinate parasite control with vaccination, nutrition, and hygiene to lower overall disease pressure for your rabbits.

Daily care checklist to help prevent problems before they start

Simple, consistent checks at home catch small changes before they become emergencies.

Diet and housing

• Offer unlimited hay with measured pellets and daily fresh vegetables to support gut motility and dental wear.
• Provide clean water at all times; many prefer a bowl, so keep a bottle as a backup for consistent hydration.
• Keep housing roomy, well‑ventilated, and dry; outdoor runs must be predator‑proof and sheltered from weather.

• Weigh weekly and log appetite and treat amounts to spot trends in weight or food intake.
• Inspect rabbits teeth and jaw for drooling, picky chewing, or dropped food—early dental flags.
• Watch breathing at rest and note any nasal or eye discharge.
• Check skin and fur, paying special attention to the bottom and tail base for soiling or crusts.
• Review faeces daily for size, shape, and quantity; reduced output needs prompt attention.

Tip: Prepare an emergency plan—know a rabbit‑savvy vet, have a carrier ready, and post key contacts where all caregivers can find them.

To learn more about building a reliable check rabbit routine, visit routine rabbit care resources that help prevent issues and support long-term wellbeing.

Conclusion

A clear plan—daily checks plus a trusted clinic—makes urgent care faster and more effective.

In short, this article stresses that early recognition and swift veterinary care improve outcomes for stasis, dental issues, snuffles, ear‑related neurologic signs, flystrike, and vaccine‑preventable disease like myxomatosis and haemorrhagic disease.

Keep a hay‑first diet, clean housing, and note appetite, faeces, breathing, teeth, and skin daily. Act immediately for maggots, severe breathing trouble, or marked neurologic loss.

Use rabbit‑safe parasite controls (never dog/cat products), record weights and vaccine dates, and build a relationship with a rabbit‑savvy clinic. Share this guidance with all caretakers to reduce risk and protect long-term health.