We have checked many websites, talked with Breeders, Judges and from our own experiences, the following will help you keep your rabbit healthy and in the best possible condition. The most important of all is to handle your rabbit on a daily basis. Don’t just put water in the bottle and feed in their bowls. They cannot help themselves. They need you to be a responsible owner. This daily checklist will help you spot the signs of illness early enough for the intervention or elimination of a problem so you can get your bunny back to tip top shape. This list seems long but once you get accustomed to it, it only takes a few minutes. Better safe than sorry.

Water
One of the first signs that your bunny is sick is that it stops drinking. A bunny not drinking water is almost a certainty that it is not eating either. This is a danger sign that you need to look into further. Make sure your bunny has clean, fresh, cool water at all times. If you use automatic waterers, make sure the lines are not clogged. If you use a water bottle, make sure it is not leaking. A must is to make sure either are kept cleaned and sanitized.

Food
Check the feed dish each day; make sure to discard old food. Make sure to see that your bunny has eaten all of its feed and has not thrown it underneath its feeder. Never add fresh food to old. The feed becomes stale very fast. Molds and toxins build-up, which can be harmful to your bunny.

Droppings
One of the first signs that a bunny is getting sick is its droppings. Droppings that turn diarrhea-like or contain mucous is a strong sign for your bunny to make a visit to the vet. If the droppings start to decrease in size or your bunny stops producing droppings, or they look like a sting-of-pearls (droppings that are strung together) is a sign of fur (wool) block. Occasional string-of-pearl droppings are a sign that the bunny is passing its fur through its system.

General Appearance
Take a good look at your bunny. Does he look bright-eyed and alert? Or is it just sitting in the corner listless? Is it relaxed or hunched up? Is your bunny grinding its teeth? Does your bunny act the way it usually does? (Happy, playful and alert) If not, this is a good time to find out what is going on.

Let’s do a quick look at the following:

Eyes: A healthy bunny has bright and alert eyes. Watery eyes, eyes with lots of redness, pus in the eyes are a sign of an infection that needs medical attention NOW. Dull eyes indicate that your bunny isn’t feeling well and you need to determine the cause.

Ears: Look in your bunny’s ears. Is there a wax build-up or blackish debris in them? If it does, this is a sign that your bunny has ear mites and needs to be treated ASAP. This is contagious to other bunnies and spreads very fast.

Nose: Your rabbit’s nose wiggles continuously. If your bunny is sitting in the corner and you see that its nose is not wiggling, this is another sign that your bunny is not feeling well. You need to find out why.

Teeth: Check your rabbit for broken teeth and signs of malocclusion. If your bunny’s teeth are not in good condition, he cannot eat and will eventually starve to death. Malocclusion is not curable but it can be controlled and your bunny can live a happy and healthy life. But, you need to catch it in time. Contact your vet if you suspect malocclusion and he will show you what you will need to do to help your bunny.

Nails: You need to check on your bunny’s nail on a daily basis. Make sure they are not getting to long. If your bunny’s nails get too long they can catch on the cage floor and break off. Long nails do not feel good and can cause some major problems. It only takes a couple of minutes to trim their nails.

Feet: Check the bottoms of their feet for signs of infection, abrasions or sores. Sore hocks can result from poor sanitation, rough spots on the wires and even poor furring on their pads. Keep a close watch on the condition of their cages and your bunny. Some bunnies may never get sore hocks. If the condition is not caught in time, abscesses or an infection can make your bunny very ill.

Bunny’s Bottom: One of the fastest killers of rabbits, especially in young kits is diarrhea. Pick your bunny up every day and check its bottom. Is there cecal droppings stuck to its fur? Is there dried diarrhea on it? If so, please clean its bottom. If your bunny has diarrhea, you need to take immediate action!

Fur: Look at your bunny’s fur. Does it have fleas in it? White dandruff-like particles or black flea-like debris? Is the bunny’s skin dry and flaky? Does it have any cuts, wounds, sores, scabs or any other breaks in the skin? If your bunny has any of these problems, you will need to seek treatment and take corrective action to prevent them from returning or from spreading to any other bunnies.