Rabbit Breeders

Rabbits are often chosen as pets because they require less attention than cats and dogs and on the whole generally require less veterinarian visits than other pets.  However, rabbits are prone to certain diseases that you need to be aware of and check for symptoms of regularly otherwise your rabbit can fall ill and die before its time.  On average a rabbit lives anywhere from 10 to 15 years when properly taken care of.

Like any other pets, you should watch for fleas, mites, and ticks in their coat.  If you have other pets at home this is especially important because fleas travel quickly and are more dangerous for rabbits than larger animals.  You should also watch that your rabbit drinks and eats on a regular basis and does not have diarrhoea.  If you notice any of these factors change you should take the rabbit to the vet immediately.

Rabbits are also prone to respiratory diseases and can catch their own version of a cold which can be very dangerous.  In fact, respiratory problems are one of the leading causes of death in rabbits.  If you notice that they your pet sneezes frequently, has an extra wet nose, or has any signs of nasal discharge on the inside of the feet from rubbing its nose or eye areas, then you should call your veterinarian and schedule an appointment.  Commonly, a simple infection treatable with a pill or oral medicine will progress to the lungs and cause pneumonia which will cause death quickly if allowed to progress.

Ear mites are a common problem with pet rabbits and show symptoms of inflammation by scratching their ears and shaking their heads.  You may also notice that there is the presence of a crust like mucus in the ear.  You should not try to clean the ears as it can cause bleeding and more problems, but a short trip to the vet will clear up the infection in no time.  You will need to clean the cage entirely however to prevent re-infection.

Other major health problems of rabbits include hair balls, overgrown teeth, scabs from sitting on wire, uterine cancer.  Hair balls and teeth can be easily treated at a vet’s office and commonly changes in you rabbits behaviour will tip you off to their presence.  Uterine cancer is harder to treat but can be avoided by spaying females if they are not going to be used as a breeding animal.