Rabbits are one of the most under-vetted pets we see. A lot of owners assume rabbits are low-maintenance and don't need regular care the way dogs and cats do. In our experience, the opposite is true. Rabbits are prey animals who hide illness instinctively, which means by the time a rabbit looks sick, they're often very sick. Regular checkups catch things early.

Annual exams for rabbits

We recommend annual wellness exams for rabbits starting at one year of age. The exam covers weight, body condition, teeth, gut sounds, and a general assessment of coat and skin. Rabbit teeth grow continuously and can develop points or malocclusion that causes pain and prevents eating. We check the front teeth visually and the back molars with a small scope. Dental problems are one of the most common things we find in rabbits who seem fine at home.

GI stasis: the emergency to know

GI stasis is a condition where the digestive system slows or stops. It's one of the most common rabbit emergencies and can become life-threatening within 24 hours. Signs include not eating, not producing droppings, a hunched posture, and teeth grinding. If your rabbit hasn't eaten or produced droppings in 12 hours, call us immediately. This is not a wait-and-see situation.

Spaying female rabbits

Unspayed female rabbits have a very high rate of uterine cancer by age four. We recommend spaying female rabbits between four and six months of age. It's a routine procedure for us, though rabbit anesthesia does require specific protocols that differ from dogs and cats. We use isoflurane gas anesthesia and monitor closely throughout.

What to feed and what to skip

The foundation of a rabbit's diet should be unlimited grass hay, primarily timothy or orchard grass. Pellets should be limited, and sugary treats including most commercial rabbit treats and fruit should be rare. A lot of GI problems we see in rabbits trace back to diets that are too high in pellets and too low in hay. We're happy to talk through diet at any visit.

We see rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and small domestic birds at Marble Pine Cross. If you're not sure whether we can help with your animal, just call and ask.