Breeder of Mini lop & Netherland Dwarf Rabbits based in Ayrshire, Scotland

Health

If your rabbit seems unwell you should always seek vets advice as soon as possible, here are a few signs/symptoms that may let you know your rabbit is unwell and needs attention:

Diarrhoea / runny eyes / dribbling / loss of balance, head tilt / not defecating / panting / sneezing / runny nose / lose of appetite.

Myxomatosis - Mixi

Myxomatosis is commonly called mixi, and is a disease which affects rabbits. It is caused by the Myxoma virus. First observed in Uruguay in the late 1800s, it was deliberately introduced into Australia in 1950 in an attempt to control rabbit infestation and population there. It was introduced illegally to France in 1952 and as a result spread to the rest of Europe.

Effects: At first, normally the disease is visible by lumps (myxomata) and puffiness around the head and genitals. It then may progress to acute conjunctivitis and possibly blindness; however, this also may be the first indication of the disease. The rabbits become listless, lose appetite, and develop a fever. Secondary bacterial infections occur in most cases which cause pneumonia and purulent inflammation of the lumps. In typical cases where the rabbit has no resistance, death takes an average of 13 days.

How Mixi Is Spread: Myxomatosis is spread by fleas and mosquitos.

Vaccination: A vaccine is available for pet rabbits from your local vets to immunise against myxomatosis in the UK. It is a live vaccine containing the Shope fibroma virus, which is closely related to myxomatosis but does not cause disease in the European domestic rabbit. It is recommended that a single dose of vaccine is given to all rabbits over six weeks of age who are healthy and not pregnant, ideally in early spring so that rabbits have the best protection during the period of the year when they are most at risk - the peak season for disease is late August-October - however, it must be remembered that myxomatosis can affect animals at any time of the year. Following vaccination, rabbits should not be exposed to infection for at least 14 days, allowing adequate time for immunity to develop. Boosters are recommended once or twice a year, depending on the likely risk of exposure to myxomatosis. Vaccination can never guarantee 100% protection against any disease. However, when used as recommended, vaccination offers the best chance of immunity against this dreadful disease.

In addition, control of fleas, and good basic husbandry should be undertaken to reduce the risk of myxomatosis and complement the protection afforded by vaccination.

Dental Problems

Rabbits are herbivores and should have a diet comprising of a wide variety of vegetation from succulent to tough, dry material.    All of the rabbit's teeth grow continuously throughout its life to compensate for the pronounced wear created by long periods of chewing on abrasive foods.

Signs of Tooth Problems

Rabbit not eating/losing weight  is a common finding because of the pain of either a tooth spur causing an ulcer of the cheek or tongue, an elongated tooth root or because the teeth are so out of alignment the rabbit can't pick up or chew food. There are many other causes of loss of appetite.

Rabbit is becoming selective over food - as rabbits start to develop malocclusion of the teeth or dental pain they may stop eating certain items such as carrots, pellets and occasionally hay. They will continue to eat soft foods like fruits and some leafy greens, but cannot eat the harder foods.

Dropping food out of the mouth - The rabbit still tries to eat, but can't completely chew the food and some of it falls back out of the mouth.

Rabbit has runny eyes - This is a common sign of dental disease that involves the upper incisors. The tip of the upper incisor root is in close proximity to the tear duct. Inflammation or elongation of the root can partially or totally block the tear duct. The tear gland will still produce tears but they spill over onto the face as opposed to going down the duct. The corners of the eyes appear wet or accumulate a crusty white material that is an accumulation of salt and mucous. Secondary bacterial infections cause inflammation of the tear duct as well as the production of pus.

Rabbit has a runny nose - If the roots of the upper incisors are inflamed or elongated there may be irritation to the sinuses and with resultant nasal drainage. This can be difficult to differentiate from true upper respiratory disease, and it is essential to have a high detail x-ray to aid in the diagnosis.

Rabbit is dribbling - This can happen because of pain or the inability of the rabbit to properly close its mouth due to overgrown teeth. The saliva accumulates on the fur in the corners of the mouth, the chin and the dewlap. Other causes of excessive salivation include overheating, eating something that has an unpleasant taste, foreign bodies in the mouth and extreme general weakness.

Rabbit is grinding its teeth - This is more often seen with abdominal discomfort, but some people have noted that rabbits with dental disease may grind their teeth more frequently. Occasional tooth grinding can be normal, but if it is heard continuously there may be a problem.

You should always take your rabbit to your local vets if you have any concerns.