3 Alarming Signs To Find Out That Your Rabbit Is Sick:

Anusha Rashid Siddiqui
3 min readNov 13, 2021

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Well, guarding a rabbit is no joke, but still, a recent survey shows that rabbit owners have been increased to 1.1 million. Rabbits being sensitive animals require more guardship and attention than other pets.

These small pets are good at hiding illness, making it difficult for the owner to get the early signs for any severe complication. Therefore, it is crucial for anyone petting a rabbit to know about their unique personality and the sudden change in their behaviour.

As mentioned, recognizing your furry friend is lonely, distressed, sad, or sick can be challenging for anyone. Therefore, we have gathered some of the alarming signs that your pet rabbit needs you.

GI Stasis:

GS stasis is also referred to as a gastrointestinal stasis. If you are a long-time rabbit owner, you might have known about it. It is one of the deep-seated disorders which can occur to your rabbits. Fortunately, it is also one of the most manageable disorders to be treated if diagnosed earlier.

However, the symptoms may vary from rabbit to rabbit, but the most common is uncomfortable little champ due to gas and cramps. If you feel your rabbit is not feeling comfortable in any condition, that might signify GS stasis.

Tilted Head:

A tilted head is one of the easily noticeable signs in rabbits. Head tilt disorder is also known as “torticollis” or “wry neck.” Moreover, it is mentioned in the Japanese journal of physiology that a rabbit exposed to head tilt does not show significant growth compared to normal rabbits.

Additionally, this disease is caused due to severe protozoan infections like ear infections, intoxication, and significant trauma. Luckily, this severe issue can be treated by proper medication and consultation with a great Vet.

Myiasis:

Well, myiasis can be one of the most painful conditions any rabbit can go through. It is also known as flystrike. It is a type of disease where a fly bites any rabbit until it is injured and bloody. Then that fly lays their eggs inside the wound, producing maggots that eat the dead tissue. However, it is painful but curable with some love, care, and attention.

One can keep their rabbits indoors to help prevent that furry champ from attacking by a fly. However, this disease is mainly effected outdoor rabbits who live in unhygienic conditions. So, a vital factor in avoiding this issue is to keep your little pet and its surroundings clean.

Are You Ready To Guard A Rabbit:

At last, rabbits are the third-most abandoned animals at shelters, showing that they are not starter pets. These babies require great food, a stimulating environment, regular checkups, and all. So, if you are thinking of petting a rabbit, then review your decision twice.

Wrap:

Above, we have mentioned some of the diseases any rabbit can suffer. Therefore, if you are a rabbit owner or thinking of one, then go through these diseases and their symptoms to better understand your new pet.

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Anusha Rashid Siddiqui

Food technologist; who loves to write about food and other stuffs.