Rabbit Illnesses
Spotting Common Rabbit Illnesses
Rabbits are a popular pet and can provide years of joy and companionship to their owners, but being aware of common rabbit illnesses is a must. Just like any other pet, there are certain illnesses that tend to occur at a high rate among rabbits. Become familiar with the symptoms of each. Early detection and treatment is important as it relates to the final outcome.
Below are a few of the most common rabbit diseases and some tips for spotting them in your pet.
Malocclusion
This is a defect in the teeth in which the teeth are so long that they prevent the rabbit from eating. Obviously, being unable to eat can cause serious complications and lead to death. The only way to solve this common problem is to have the teeth trimmed down to an acceptable length.
If your rabbit has malocclusion, it will be easy to spot just by looking at his teeth.
Common Cold
In rabbits, the common cold is usually called snuffles. Unlike the cold in humans, it will usually not resolve itself in rabbits. Instead, the illness will continue to progress until it has become life threatening to your pet.
That is why it is very important to learn to spot the problem early on so that you can seek treatment before the illness has much of a chance to progress.
Look for the same signs you would expect to see in a human who had a cold. If the rabbit is sneezing or has discharge from the nose, there is a good chance he has snuffles. Do NOT ignore this illness and think it will go away on its own. The earlier you seek treatment from your vet, the better the chances that your rabbit will fully recover.
Ear Mites
This is a problem not only with rabbits, but for other pets as well. If you are properly grooming your rabbit on a regular basis then it will be easy for you to notice that he has ear mites. When looking in his ears, if you see a buildup of brown or yellow then you will know that you need to treat your rabbit for ear mites.
Another sign is if your rabbit is shaking his head and appears to have discomfort in his ears. Your vet will be able to prescribe a medication that can easily take care of this problem.
Sore Hocks
This is one of the most common rabbit illnesses that is, happily, very easy to notice in your pet. This disease can be identified by the presence of sores on the rabbit’s hind feet. While sore hocks can occur in any rabbit, it tends to be more common in rabbits that are over their ideal weight.
Treatment is not simple, and it is best to seek the advice of a vet before proceeding with any type of home care. This is one of the rabbit illnesses that highlight the importance of letting your rabbit out of his cage on a regular basis. When he is out of the cage, you should use that opportunity to examine him from head to toe.
With most rabbit illnesses, the sooner that you can identify and treat the problem, the better. Not every rabbit will come down with any of these conditions and, in many cases, proper care can prevent them from occurring.
Become familiar with the best way to care for your rabbit. That will be just one step to preventing rabbit illnesses and helping him to live a long and healthy life.