Do bunnies get sick often?

[Nina S]

Hi again 👋

Before adopting my first bunny, I wanted to come on here again and ask all you bunny owners one more question: What is the likelihood of a bunny getting sick? Do they get sick easily/often or can it be avoided by giving it the proper care?

Specifically looking to adopt a male Holland lop, not sure if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance!

 

[HipHopBunny]

I wouldn’t say that they get sick often if they are given proper care, which I’m sure you will. However, sometimes rabbits can get health issues, so I think it would be good to look into those as well before adopting. Certain types of hay, litter, and pellets could be bad for your buns. I do not know all of them, but I do know that moldy hay, and Pine shavings litter are not good for your bun, each gives different types of health issues, such as respiratory infections, etc.

These are all very good questions you are asking before getting a bun, ones I didn’t even think of in the beginning. You sound like you are going to take excellent care of whoever you choose. 🙂

[Hazel]

A rabbit’s digestive system is very delicate, if something goes wrong they can get GI stasis which can be fatal. I think every rabbit owner has dealt with tummy upsets, refusal to eat and the such. If a rabbit hasn’t eaten for more than 12 hours it’s important to take them to the vet right away to prevent it from turning into full blown GI stasis. They can die within 24 hours from this, waiting isn’t an option like with a dog or cat. Unfortunately, rabbits are considered exotics (at least in the US) so only an exotics vet will treat them, which will be more expensive than a regular vet.

Another common medical issue with rabbits is tooth problems, especially with lops because of their smooshed faces. Their teeth never stop growing, so if a dental issue arises the end result can be regular tooth trims for life, which again, gets expensive.

[Nina S]

@HipHopBunny thank you so much for your kind words 🙂 You are definitely making me feel even more confident 🙂

[LBJ10]

It depends on the rabbit, unfortunately. Some rabbits go through life with very few problems, while other rabbits suffer from chronic health issues. These issues can be anything from dental issues to EC episodes, digestive issues (GI stasis episodes) to sore hocks, and more. Bunnies can also become sick with URIs, UTIs, syphilis, ringworm, etc. Often times, these illnesses arise from something they acquired as a baby and it lies dormant until the rabbit is an adult. Stress can cause their immune system to weaken and the pathogen will take advantage of that.

I’m certainly not trying to discourage you, I’m just trying to be realistic. Like I said, there are lots of healthy bunnies out there that stay healthy for a very long time. But it’s good to be prepared and to realize most of these issues are manageable. Plenty of people have “special needs” bunnies that are perfectly happy, they just need extra vet care.

[Louiethebunny]

Another heads up just in case, sometimes rabbits from mill breeders, (if that’s where you plan on getting one from, I’m not sure) have underlying genetic issues that can cause different health conditions.

[DanaNM]

Agree with what’s been said so far, it really depends on the bun. Some buns have tons of problems, other’s never need to see a vet a day in their life.

As with dogs, poor breeding can lead to problems. Dental problems are especially common in netherland dwarfs, lops, and seems like lionheads are joining the ranks as well.

Many of the common issues can be avoided with good diet (lots of hay!). Hay is good for the teeth and important to keep the gut healthy. Good grooming practices also prevent fur-induced stasis. Healthy activity levels help with everything too. But then of course some things are genetic and will happen no matter how good the care is!

It’s a good idea to have a financial plan for anything that does pop up, and then hope to never have to use it. For example my Bertha lived to be about 11 (we think… didn’t know her exact age when we got her), and never had a problem her entire life, up until the very end. But then my Moose (who was only about 1 year old) had some congenital issues with his teeth, and had to be treated for a dental abscess plus molar extractions, and ended up passing away before he was 2 years old. So you really just never know!

It can also (but not always) help to adopt a bunny that is already a few years old, and who’s medical history you know. A young bunny (like a puppy), can be kind of a crap shoot because some problems don’t develop until well into adulthood.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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