Emergency First Aid for Rabbits

This is a list created by the late Karen Newberry of Springvalley Rabbitry.
For ease of understanding, the text was color coordinated. The disease/condition is listed in black, the signs is listed in green, and the treatment in red and italics.

Always Consult your vet first! Be prepared, have a few items on hand such as 4-Way acid pack or other probiotics.


Enteritis: Bunny has soft, loose, watery, jelly or mucous stools.
May sit in water bowl, grinding teeth, does not eat.
Emergency! Put probiotics in water, use electrolyte replacement
with pedialyte. Do not give pellets, give hay and Quaker oats. Will need
albon or other antibiotic. High mortality rate.

Red Urine: Red or orange discolored urine that does not contain "clots" None.
Bunny has had too much protein in feed or hay.

Weepy Eye: Matted or crusty eye.
Clean eye with warm water. Apply terramycin eye ointment if it
continues.

Wry Neck: Twisting of head, bunny will roll when excited, loss of balance.
Will need antibiotic ear drops. High mortality rate.

Sore Hocks: Ulcerated areas on back foot pads. May be scabs.
Give bunny a wood sitting board. More common in heavier breeds.

Malocclusion: Elongation of upper or lower teeth. May be genetic or from an accident.
Clip teeth or cull if genetic.

Paralysis: Drags rear legs, may not have bowel or bladder control.
Euthanasia.

Hutch burn: Scabbed, inflamed vent area.
Keep cage clean, apply triple antibiotic cream to vent area until healed.

Coprophagous (eating of night feces):
Usually seen at night or in the morning, rabbit will consume fecal material
directly from rectum. Sometimes he will drop these and they resemble a
cluster of grapes.
None. This is the way the rabbits increase the absorption of certain
nutrients.

Snuffles: Persistent sneezing, nasal discharge that is white or green. May have
matted fur on inside of front paws.
Bunnymycin nose drops and antibiotics will help symptoms. Rabbit will
always be a carrier.

Warbles: Swelling or lump-may be anywhere. Caused by fly that lays eggs under the skin of animals and the larvae grow under the skin. Difficult to remove at home. Take bunny to vet. Injuring larvae may cause it to release a toxin which can kill the bunny. Treat routinely with ivomec to prevent this.

Pin worms: Small "bean sprout" like worms-may be seen on rectum, fur or on stool. Treat routinely with ivomec or piperazine wormer to prevent or treat.

Fur or mange mites: Bald areas on skin, may be scaly. Rabbit may itch or have dandruff. Treat with ivomec or flea and mite powder.

Ear Mites: Rabbit may scratch at ears, persistent shaking of head, especially if you rub around the base of his ears. Treatment with ear mite medication for cats or treat with ivomec to prevent.

Coccidiosis: Diarrhea, not eating well, does not look well. May become thin.
Treat with amprol, corrid or albon. Treat routinely every 3-6 months to
prevent. Rabbits are carriers or coccidiosis.

Hair or fur ball: May see stool hanging from cage floor like a "string of pearls", may not eat or eats poorly. Remove pellets, give rabbit hay and fresh pineapple juice in water bottle. If condition last more than 2 days, see a vet. Treat with cat medication. May treat routinely to prevent. Increase fiber (hay) in diet.