If your rabbits have a healthy diet, plenty of space, and at least one compatible rabbit companion, then they should live a happy and healthy life. However, health issues sometimes arise and if you are ever in doubt you should talk to your vet. It helps to recognize rabbits’ symptoms early, this is easier if you handle and check your rabbits daily.
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You should regularly check:
Your rabbit's weight, eyes, ears, nose, coat, droppings, teeth, and claws, as will give you a better understanding of your rabbit and its health.
Weight
A healthy weight for a rabbit is slim but not bony. You should be able to feel (but not see) their ribs just under their skin without a thick layer of fat. A monthly weigh-in is a good idea. Any sudden decrease in weight is likely to be health-related and must be taken seriously with a visit to the vet.
An overweight rabbit is likely to suffer from ongoing health issues, so it is important to feed your rabbit the right foods in suitable quantities and seek advice if they are overweight.
Eyes, Nose, and Ears
These should be clear, clean, and bright looking with no discharge. If your rabbit is shaking their head a lot and scratching around the ears, it could be a sign of ear mites or another issue so it will need to see a vet.
Coat
A rabbit’s coat should be thick and shiny. Dandruff is likely to mean your rabbit has mites, which requires vet advice. Rabbits can also get fleas; your vet or SPCA can advise a safe flea treatment. Never use a flea collar on your rabbits as this can be fatal. To keep your rabbit’s coat nice and healthy, regularly groom them with a soft brush. This is particularly important for long-haired rabbits. Rabbits also molt a few times a year and will require additional brushing at this time.
Droppings
Rabbits have two sorts of droppings – hard fibrous pellets and soft green caecotropes. Rabbits will reingest their caecotropes - this is a normal and important part of a rabbit’s digestion and does not indicate ill health. If you notice more cecotropes than usual, this means your rabbit is not ingesting them and is an indication of a low-fiber diet.
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Diarrhea is very serious for rabbits and can be deadly if not treated. Consult a vet immediately.
Teeth
Rabbits’ teeth continue to grow throughout their lives and dental problems can frequently occur. Make sure that you provide your rabbits with adequate chewing material. Branches from trees such as willow, apple, pear, poplar, and citrus trees, or other safe untreated wood treats, will help keep their teeth from getting too long.
Avoid trees that have been chemically treated or are close to sources of pollution. A rabbit who is reluctant to eat or drooling is indicating a potential dental or other health problem that should be checked immediately by a vet.
Claws
Rabbits' nails are likely to need clipping regularly (about once every six to eight weeks). Ask your vet to show you how to do this properly, as it is easy to do it incorrectly and cut through the blood vessel and sensitive tissue in the claw, causing bleeding and a lot of pain to your rabbits. Paving stones or similar that are placed in an area that your rabbits regularly travel over may help reduce the need to trim their nails as often.