Until not long ago rabbits were seen only as farm or wild animals, but not as companion animals. However, during the last thirty years more and more people have been encouraged to care for these lovely lagomorphs in the warmth of their homes. For this reason, more and more veterinary clinics provide specific care for rabbits. This can treat rabbit diseases and help ensure that they are better prevented. Knowing if a rabbit is sick is one of the fundamental issues to prevent serious health complications.
In this article we will talk about the 5 signs that can indicate the disease of a rabbit.
1. Lack of appetite
When a rabbit is not interested in food, its manager should be concerned. Problems may only be temporary, and your appetite may return in a short time. This could happen because of a mild digestive problem or even short periods of stress. However, if the rabbit does not regain its appetite after 24 hours, it is best to take it to the vet.
Although the lack of appetite is usually associated with digestive problems, it is also possible that other pathologies can generate this symptom. Since rabbits spend a large part of the day eating, it should be noticed pretty soon if they lose their appetite.
2. Diarrhea
Rabbits have very specific stools. If the rabbit has diarrhea, it means there is a serious problem. This problem can be fatal if the diarrhea occurs for a long time. Although it may only mean that the rabbit has digestive problems, diarrhea is a symptom of illness that in rabbits can be linked to many other serious problems.
3. Weight loss
Although it can be associated with almost any disease in rabbits, weight loss is a sign that deserves concern, since for some reason, even eating normally, the nutrients you eat are not going where they should.
4. Difficulty eating
Some rabbits don’t necessarily lose their appetite, but they have trouble eating. In these cases, the rabbit looks for food and tries to eat it. However, they cannot chew or swallow. One of the biggest problems related to this symptom of the disease is teething (the development of your teeth). Since a rabbit’s teeth never stop growing, they can grow abnormally and cause serious health problems. However, if the rabbit is unable to swallow, it could be related to other problems such as a sore throat.
5. Red or irritated eyes
Rabbits who are not properly cared for by their keeper or who have hygiene problems in their environment will likely develop eye problems. One of the most common is conjunctivitis, which causes redness and swelling of the eyes. This is common in poorly groomed rabbits. For example, if your hutch is not cleaned regularly, bacteria are spread, which can lead to different health problems for the animal.