[Phil R]

Hi, we have a pair of rabbits aged 1 year &within the last day, one of them has become unwell. Her symptoms include passive & submissive behaviour, being quick to lay down, apparent drowsiness & very light & slow breathing. There's no discharge from her nose or eyes & she doesn't seem to have diaorrhaea. We plan to take her to the vet tomorrow but is there anything we should do tonight to help her? Thanks in advance, Phil

[Daisy]

It almost seems as if she is dehydrated, check to see if she needs water. One thing you can do (I am not sure if it works with a rabbit) is pinch the scruff on the back of the neck gently raise it and if it falls slow she is most likely dehydrated if not there may be somthing different.

[moravia16]

I would take her to the vets now, you would hate for it to be too late and you could have done something, if your partner was that ill would you wait to take them to the hospital

[fatboyslim]

Please get this little rabbit to the vet as soon as possible as it is proberbly in pain. Two fatal diseases that rabbits can get are; Myxomatosis: which is a virus and can be transmitted by insect bite or through direct contact with an infected rabbit. Another fatal disease is Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD)This is a very serious disease caused by a virus and can be transmitted in a number of ways:Through direct contact with another bunny;From water or greens contaminated by infected wild rabbits;Wild mice, squirrels and rats carrying the virus;Birds carrying the virus on their feet or in their droppings;People or other animals walking on contaminated (wild) rabbit droppings;Blown on the wind or spread by insects such as flies;From somebody elses rabbit or another rabbit owner (people can carry the virus on their skin and clothes).Rabbits who catch this virus become quite ill quite quickly and have difficulty in breathing, lose their appetite and bleed from their nose and bottom. Occasionally a rabbit gets only mildly ill and then recovers.Another illness is Bloat:If your rabbit has a swollen, hard stomach and difficulty in breathing, it may have bloat. This is usually the result of eating too many greens, such as cabbage, lettuce, clover or wet grass. It can also be caused by spoiled food and mouldy hay, whhich should never be given to your rabbit. Rabbits have a very sensitive bacterial flora in their intestine and the wrong food can cause certainkinds of organisms to multiply, resulting in excess gas production and a hard, distedded tummy.Bloat is a very serious condition and can be fatalj, so take your rabbit to the ver as soon as possible. In the meantime give your rabbit one or two teaspoons of caraway tea or half a teaspoon of liquid paraffin and gently massage its lower tummy to help break up the gas. Take away all bedding and food (including hay) but make sure your rabbit has plenty of fresh water. I hope your rabbits will be o.k.

[Martha G]

You don't mention if she is eating and peeing and pooping - if not, those are serious signs and good that you are getting her to a vet.It sounds like she might be having a slight gas attack. If you have baby simethecone, you could give her a little of that and see if it helps. Also, a gentle tummy massage and try to get her to move around. A pampered bunny seems to react better than one left alone. Hope you have good luck at the vet. You might want to print out this article to take with you if your bunny isn't eating:http://fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/ileus.htmor check out www.medirabbit.com































Have house rabbits and help with

[emily m]

if i were you i would take her to the vet today.he/she is probably in so much pain.

[shellysowner]

rabbits can die very quickly without showing signs og illness so take it to vet asap