With several pets of his own at home, Dakota has plenty of experience under
his belt when it comes to caring for animals.

Be familiar with these illnesses so you can help your rabbit.

Keep Your Bunny in Tip-Top Shape

Rabbits are unarguably one of the cutest animals you can have as pets.
However, they are not so cute when they are ill. Luckily, many of these
illnesses can be avoided if you take precautions by maintaining a healthy
living condition for your rabbits and paying close attention to observe any
slight change in their wellbeing. In this article, we will educate you on five
illnesses, infectious and non-infectious, that rabbits are commonly prone to.
Enjoy.

Related: Best Rabbit Hay

Infectious illnesses

Myxomatosis

Myxomatosis is caused by the Myxoma virus, a poxvirus. It is transmitted by
biting insects, like mosquitoes, or by being in close contact with an infected
rabbit. The major clinical manifestation of the disease is swelling around the
eyes, ears, nose, anus, and genitals. Myxomatosis is a fatal illness, but
fortunately, you can vaccinate your rabbits against it. Other ways of
preventing your pet are using an insect-proof hutch and using an insecticide
to kill the insects. If you cannot afford a mosquito-proof hutch, you can
bring in your rabbits before it gets dark, as mosquitoes thrive more at night.

Viral hemorrhagic disease

Scroll to Continue

Read More From Pethelpful

Why Does My Cat Sit on My Stuff?

Tips for Home Care for Your Vomiting Cat When You Cannot Visit the Vet

The Top 10 Fastest Dog Breeds

Viral hemorrhagic disease, also known as rabbit caliciviral, is a highly
infectious illness that is present in almost every part of the world. It is
caused by caliciviral and has an incubation period of up to three days. Viral
hemorrhagic disease is particularly fatal because rabbits can die without
showing any clinical manifestations. In cases where there are manifestations,
they experience decreased appetite, lethargy, and fever. The mode of
transmission is by close contact with infected animals, especially rabbits and
rodents, contaminated hutches, bowls, and clothes. It can also be transmitted
in moist air in close proximity. Even after recovery, rabbits are carriers of
the virus and can infect other rabbits for an average of four weeks. Vaccines
are available in some countries, and they can help to reduce the number of
deaths.

Non-infectious illnesses

Dental problems

Rabbits can develop dental abscesses due to the presence of foreign bodies
stuck between the teeth or on the gum. Clinical signs of dental abscesses are
not limited to the oral region. They can also be present with exophthalmos or
epiphora. Overgrowing teeth is another dental anomaly commonly seen in
rabbits. This is mainly because rabbits grow their teeth continuously
throughout their life. Constant use of their teeth by chewing fiber can
prevent overgrown teeth that lead to having very sharp teeth and biting their
tongue and cheeks. Giving your pet a diet rich in fiber is the most effective
way of preventing overgrown teeth. If they do develop this condition, blurring
the teeth can help correct it.

Fracture of the lumbar vertebrae

Fractures of the lumbar vertebrae are mostly caused by the mishandling of
rabbits by their caregiver. When a rabbit struggles while you are handling it,
it is advisable to let it go and make it relax, rather than struggling with it
or forcing it to comply. Fractures can lead to spinal cord injuries. Clinical
manifestations are loss of sphincter control, which leads to fecal and urinary
incontinence and paralysis. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be administered to
reduce the effects of swelling around the spine. Rabbits affected should be
taken to the vet for proper management. If treated immediately and properly,
they can improve a lot and regain the ability to perform voluntary movements.

Cystitis

Cystitis, inflammation of the bladder, occurs in rabbits due to frequent
irritation of the bladder lining by calcium. Urinary incontinence is a common
clinical sign of cystitis. Other opportunistic conditions like dermatitis can
occur due to damp peri-anal areas.

Conclusion

Taking care of your rabbits is as important as taking care of yourself. Proper
hygiene, a good diet with good rabbit food, and regular checkups are some of
the rituals you should perform to keep your bunnies from illnesses. If at any
point you notice a slight change in them, do not hesitate to take them to a
vet.