Rabbits are prey animals, and prey animals conceal illness until concealment stops working. By the time a rabbit looks unwell it has usually been unwell for a while, which is why the timescales are different from dogs and cats.
A rabbit that stops eating is an emergency
Not a wait-and-see, not a tomorrow. A rabbit’s digestive system needs to keep moving constantly, and when it stops, it deteriorates within hours. If your rabbit has not eaten for twelve hours, or has stopped producing droppings, call us today.
Other things worth a call
Sitting hunched, pressing the abdomen to the floor, or grinding teeth loudly
Drooling, or a wet chin and front paws
A dirty back end, especially in warm weather
Head tilt, loss of balance, or circling
Sneezing with discharge, or noisy breathing
Sudden reluctance to move
The two things that prevent most rabbit problems
Hay, and company. Unlimited good hay keeps teeth worn down and the gut moving, and it should be the overwhelming majority of what a rabbit eats: muesli-style mixes cause the dental problems we see most. And rabbits are social animals. A rabbit living alone is a welfare problem, not a preference.
Dental disease in rabbits
Rabbit teeth grow continuously. When they wear unevenly, spurs form and cut into the tongue and cheek, which is painful and hard to see without proper examination. Aoife takes the x-rays that find it: this is the single most under-diagnosed thing in pet rabbits.
Not sure whether this needs a visit?
Call us on (555) 018-4400 and describe what you’ve noticed. Our nurses triage these calls all day and there’s no charge for asking. If it’s outside our hours and you’re worried, call [emergency hospital name] on [number].
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Nothing here replaces examining your specific animal.
Related service
Urgent care