How to Treat a Sick Rabbit

All animals get sick from time to time, even rabbits. As you interact with your rabbit during play, cleaning and feeding times watch for any symptoms of illness and be prepared to treat your sick rabbit accordingly. Follow these steps to treat a sick rabbit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine what ails your rabbit by observing his behavior and taking note of any changes in habits. Behavioral changes or physical changes such as diarrhea, constipation, loss of fur or not eating can all be indicative of an illness.
2. Separate the sick rabbit from other rabbits. If you have more than one rabbit and you suspect that one is ill, it is best to keep it away from other rabbits to keep any contagion from spreading.
3. Bring your rabbit in the house, if you usually keep it outdoors, so you can observe it more closely.
4. Keep food and water available to your sick rabbit. If the rabbit isn't moving around much, keep food and water close to it. Try to get the rabbit to drink often, as dehydration is deadly to rabbits.
5. Clean the rabbit's cage often. Put towels or a blanket in the cage to keep the rabbit warm as sick rabbits will often not move much and stay close to a wall. Make sure the rabbit is not in a draft.
6. Treat some symptoms with medications you might have in the house. For instance, a small amount of Pepto-Bismol can be given for diarrhea, or mineral oil can be administered if there seems to be an intestinal blockage. However, it is best to consult your veterinarian before giving any medications.
7. Bring your sick rabbit to your vet so the proper diagnosis can be made and the proper medication or treatment plan be administered.

Tips & Warnings

• A sick rabbit displaying any symptoms has most likely been sick for a while; it is not recommended to wait to see if the rabbit gets better. Take action immediately upon noticing any signs of illness.