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HEALTH CARE
Rabbits are usually healthy with regular care, they do not require vaccinations. But you should bring your bunny to the vet once a year for a general check up. There are a few things you can do to maintain you rabbit's good health:
Spaying & Neutering - If you are not going to breed you rabbit(s) you should seriously consider having them altered. The advantages far outweigh the risks.
Most undesirable behaviors are a result of hormones. Intact rabbits often urine mark and sometimes do not use the litter box consistently. Neutering will lessen these unwanted behaviors and in many cases will stop the behaviors altogether.
Spaying females is something that should definately be done if you are not breeding you rabbit. Unbred does have an 85% chance of developing uterine cancer. Spaying prevents this, and will also lessen other unwanted behaviors such as aggression, and marking. And if you ever plan on keeping more that one house rabbit you must have them fixed. Not only to prevent unwanted litters, but to prevent the rabbits from killing each other! Unaltered rabbits will litterally rip each other to shreds...females will fight if they smell a male, males will fight if they smell a female, and males and females will fight because the female will get annoyed by the male's constant attempts to mount her.
As with any medical procedure, there are risks. The degree of risk really depends on how the operation is done. If you plan on having you rabbit fixed take the time to find a reputable veterinary hospital that specializes in small animals & exotics. I am lucky enough to have a veterinarian that specializes in rabbit care. Be sure to ask questions, don't feel weird about wanting the very best for your bunny. If you feel at all unsure, go elsewhere. Ask the vet what they will use for anesthesia. (Isoflorane is recommended for rabbits). Ask if the rabbit will be kept overnight for observation as part of the procedure. Vets who are not experienced with operating on rabbits will raise the rabbit's risk of not making it through the surgery. A good rabbit veterinarian will do the operation correctly, therefore significantly lowering the risk.
Clipping Toenails - Their toe nails should be trimmed regularly to minimize scratching and to prevent them from getting caught or torn. Use a pair of cat claw clippers, and only trim off the tips of the nail. If your rabbit has light colored toenails you will be able to see the "quick" (a blood vessel which will look like a thin red line in the nail). Do not clip too close to the quick or you will cause the nail to bleed. If you would rather have this done professionally you can bring your rabbit to the petstore or veterinarian, and they will usually do it for a small fee.
Checking Ears - Their ears should be checked often. There should be no signs of swelling or crusty skin. Rabbits are susceptible to ear mites, which can be treated with cat medications. Baths are not recommended unless the rabbit has been infested with fleas. Use only flea shampoos that are cat safe.
Checking Teeth - The rabbit's teeth are also very important. They grow continually and must be aligned evenly, with the upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower incisors. A rabbit should be checked before purchasing for malocclusion, which is often hereditary, however rabbits that pull on the wire cages have been known to self inflict malocclusion. If the teeth become chipped or broken, they must be trimmed or filed to ensure they grow back in proper alignment.
Listen to Breathing - Respiratory problems are highly contagious in rabbits if your rabbit shows signs of sneezing, wheezing or discharge from the nose, you should consult a veterinarian.
Soft Stool - Any stress or change in diet can cause diarrhea, so stool should be watched. Often diarrhea is caused by too many treats such as banans, berries and other mushy foods. If your rabbit develops soft stool or diarrhea try offering only high fiber foods such as hay, this should bulk up the stool. If the rabbit has diarrhea for more than 1 day or if the rabbit stops eating or becomes inactive, a veterinarian should be seen.
No Stool - If your bunny is not pooping or is pooping rarely please get to the vet pronto! Chances are that your bunny either has a hairball or some other blockage that is preventing him from passing stool normally. If you can't get to the vet immediately try giving the rabbit some fresh pineapple juice (the enzymes in the pineapple aid in the digestion of hair).
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