Generally speaking, rabbits are healthy animals, butit is wise to seek advice when signs of illhealth appear.
Factors that lead to ill health are bad feeding, weaning too early, overcrowding, failing to quarantine sick animals, purchasing from an unsuitable source, handling diseased rabbits before handling healthy rabbits, dirty hutches, failure to eliminate rats and mice, failure to prevent draughts and allowing rain into hutches.
WEEPY EYE
This is usually a bacterial infection of the eyelids, usually caused by dirt or dust, and is easily treated with antibiotic eyedrops or ointments obtained from your local veterinarian.
SNUFFLES AND COLDS
Similar to a cold in humans and usually characterised by sneezing, watery eyes and a nasal discharge. The front feet may become soiled and matted by rubbing the nose with the inside of the front paws. This complaint may sometimes be cured by placing water soluble antibiotic (obtained from your veterinarian) in the water bowl.
SCRATCHES AND CUTS Any cuts or scratches should be cleaned immediately and treated with sulphate ointment or powder. Deep puncture holes or severe lacerations should be attended by a veterinarian.
SCOURS OR DIARRHOEA
Usually attributed to over feeding of green food. Must be treated early as in severe cases it is usually fatal. Seek veterinary advice urgently.
MYXOMATOSIS
Carried by mosquitos. Cover cages with gauze wire to prevent infection.
The symptoms are a soft swelling in the region around the eyes, base of the ears and sometimes elsewhere on the body. There may be discharge from the eyes and nose. Infected animals should be painlessly destroyed by a veterinary surgeon as recovery is extremely rare.
Be sure that your rabbit's hutch is not in the hot summer sun. On the very hot days it helps to freeze a plastic bottle of water and put it in the hutch for the rabbit to lie next to. Take the bottle out at night and refreeze it again for another hot day.
Cutting your rabbit's toenails will help prevent you being scratched. Care must be taken not too clip too short or you may cut the blood vessel which is at the base of the nail. This can be easily seen in white rabbits but it is more difficult to see in coloured rabbits. It is better to seek help and be shown how to cut the nails before attempting them for the first time.