If you’ve spent much time looking through our offerings, you likely know the important role routine health checks play in keeping residents healthy and catching signs of concern early. Performing health checks regularly is imperative, but this should not be the only tool you use to monitor your residents’ health and well-being. The importance of thoughtful daily observation cannot be overstated. While some issues may be difficult to detect without a hands-on evaluation, other potential signs of concern could be missed during a health checkThe Open Sanctuary Project uses the term "health check" to describe health evaluations performed by caregivers who are not licensed veterinarians. While regular health checks are an important part of animal care, they are not meant to be a replacement for a physical exam performed by a licensed veterinarian., particularly those that manifest as slight changes in behavior or activity. By incorporating both daily observation and routine health checks into your care protocols, you are more likely to catch issues that develop in the period between health checks, as well as issues that are unlikely to be detected without a hands-on evaluation.
When it comes to daily observation, the keyword is “thoughtful.” Daily observation of residents must be more than just looking at them. Anyone caring for an animal, regardless of their species or breed, should be trained to observe the individuals in their care for behaviors and physical signs that are abnormal for the species, keeping in mind issues that are common in a particular species or breed and their warning signs. Of equal importance is getting to know the individuals being cared for and watching for things that are out of the ordinary for that particular individual. To read more about refining your observation skills, check out our resource here.
Familiarize Yourself With “Normal”
In order to identify signs of concern, it’s helpful to first consider how a healthy rabbitUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated rabbit breeds, not wild rabbits, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. typically looks and acts. While all rabbitsUnless explicitly mentioned, we are referring to domesticated rabbit breeds, not wild rabbits, who may have unique needs not covered by this resource. are unique individuals, there are some general characteristics that most healthy rabbits will present. As we mentioned above, it’s important to learn what is “normal” for each individual in your care.
With that in mind, in general, a healthy rabbit should:
- Be alert and active
- Have clear, bright eyes
- Have a clear nose that twitches regularly while they are awake and active (a healthy rabbit’s nose may twitch anywhere from 20-120 times in one minute)
- Have soft, shiny hair
- Be excited to eat and should be seen eating throughout the day
- Produce a large quantity of small, round, well-formed fecal pellets that are fairly uniform in size, color, and texture (rabbits typically produce approximately 150 fecal pellets during a 24-hour period)
Potential Signs Of Concern
Now that we’ve got an idea of what is “normal,” let’s look at potential signs of concern. As prey animals, rabbits will often hide any signs of illness or injury until they are no longer able to do so. This means that once you notice something is obviously wrong, the issue may already be severe. In order to catch and respond to health issues as soon as possible, it will be important to recognize the more subtle signs that something may be amiss.
As such, it’s important to get to know the individuals in your care so you can recognize when they are not acting like themselves. Caregivers who really spend time getting to know their residents in terms of their personality, typical behaviors, physical characteristics, and routines can sometimes catch when something is wrong before there are clear signs of illness or distress. Sometimes, it’s something as subtle as a change in their daily routine. Any time you notice a change in an individual’s typical behavior or routine, it’s a good idea to perform a health check and keep a very close eye on them. Be sure to bring any concerns to your veterinarian.
While not an exhaustive list, during your daily observation of your residents, be on the lookout for the following:
General signs of pain or discomfort, such as…
- Tooth grinding
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Painful vocalizations such as screaming or whimpering
- Changes to how they respond to handling, such as vocalizing or flinching when handled
Changes to their eating and drinking…
- Disinterest in eating or eating less than usual
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Not drinking water or increased thirst
- Not eating cecotropes (sometimes called “night droppings” or “cecal pellets”) – these are often smaller, softer, and bunched together and have a fermented scent. These provide important nutrients for the rabbits!
Changes in their posture, gaitA specific way of moving and the rhythmic patterns of hooves and legs. Gaits are natural (walking, trotting, galloping) or acquired meaning humans have had a hand in changing their gaits for "sport"., mobility, or activity level, such as…
- Standing in a hunched position
- Lameness
- Hindlimb weakness
- Head tilting
- Moving in a wobbly or disoriented manner
- Reluctance to move
- Lethargy
- Be immobile, inactive, or unresponsive to your approach (this may indicate a significant health emergency)
Changes to their physical appearance, such as…
- Swelling of the face
- Runny, squinty, cloudy, or crusty eyes (a small bit of crust in the corner of the eye is not unusual)
- Sunken or dull eyes (this could be a sign of dehydration)
- Bulging eyes
- Nasal discharge (rabbits will wipe their nose with their front legs, so in addition to paying attention to their nose, look for matted or wet fur on the front legs)
- A droopy ear (or ears) in someone who usually has upright ears
- Irritation or sores on the feet
- Hair loss
- Wet, dirty, rough, or matted fur
- Dirty/wet bum
- Unusual lumps or swelling
Changes in behavior such as…
- Hiding more than usual
- Being less interactive with companions or caregivers
- Overgrooming or excessive itching
- Barbering (pulling out their own hair or that of a companion)
- More frequent urination
- Urinating outside the litter box
- Changes in grooming behavior
- Excessive ear scratching
- Frequent rubbing of eyes or nose
- Mouth breathing (rabbits are obligate nasal breathers – open-mouth breathing is an emergency, and you should contact your veterinarian immediately)
Other things to watch for include…
- Drooling
- Sneezing, coughing, wheezing
- Labored breathing (slow, deep breaths)
- Elevated respiratory rate – normal is 30-60 breaths/minute, but it can be significantly higher in an individual who is stressed (when counting respirations, pay attention to their chest movements rather than their nostrils)
- Weight loss (in addition to at least monthly weigh-ins, be sure to pet and pick up rabbits often to get a sense of their weight and body condition)
- Changes in urinary or fecal output or appearance (if a rabbit is not passing any fecal pellets, this is an emergency)
- Diarrhea/soft droppings – the fecal balls should be separate and not come out in ropes or chains attached together
- Bloody urine (urine color can be affected by diet, so urine may appear reddish and be normal – blood in the urine usually appears in spots)
- Sandy or crystal deposits in urine, strong-smelling urine, or signs of pain or straining when urinating (if a rabbit is straining to urinate or you see spots of blood in their urine, contact your veterinarian immediately)
- Flies swarming a particular area (the individual should be checked for fly eggs or maggots – if maggots are noted, contact your veterinarian right away)
- Change their daily schedule or routine
If you see any of the signs above or anything else out of the ordinary, be sure to investigate further and consult with your veterinarian as needed. Depending on the severity and whether or not there are multiple signs of concern, the individual may need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. In some cases, conducting a health check, either in full or in part, can help you gather more information about the individual to share with your veterinarian so they can help determine the best course of action.
Now that you have an idea of what to look for, be sure to build thoughtful daily observation into your caregiving routine if you haven’t already! The more you observe your residents, the better you’ll become at differentiating between “normal” and potentially concerning. Whenever you’re in doubt, err on the side of caution and contact your veterinarian for guidance.
SOURCES:
How To Tell If Your Rabbit Is Sick | Oxbow Animal Health
Rabbit Health Check-Ups | Winter Park Veterinary Hospital
Rabbit Health Check: Signs of a Healthy Bunny | Best Friends
Pain In Rabbits | Litchfield Veterinary Hospital
Health Problems In Rabbits | VCA Animal Hospital
Signs That Your Bunny Is Ill | Richmond Veterinary Clinic
Physical Examination Of Rabbits | The University Of Edinburgh
BSAVA Manual Of Rabbits, First Edition
Recognising Rabbit Emergencies | Rabbit Welfare Association And Fund
Bladder Sludge and Bladder Stones in Rabbits and Guinea Pigs | VCA Animal Hospitals
