Health — Rabbit Rescue Las Vegas

Any advice or recommendations available on our site should not be substituted or followed in lieu of professional care by your veterinarian.

A mildly sick or injured bunny scenario could escalate into an emergency or life threatening incident in a short time. Please keep your vet & emergency clinic info accessible at all times.

If there is no exotic clinic nearby, consider a local vet to help with supportive measures in case of a dire rabbit emergency.

When to take your rabbit to the vet / ER

Please remember that you know your bunny best and you may sense when something is off. Trust your intuition and contact your vet if you feel your bunny has declined in terms of normal behavior or body language.

Common signs of illness:

GI Stasis:

bunny has stopped eating, pooping and may be hiding, hunched or even laying stretched out (appearing relaxed)
ears feel cool to the touch inside (this is not a true indicator of body temperature) but serves as a guide for you to know to take a rectal temperature or use a warming device.
audible sounds from the side of your bunny’s body such as gurgles that are loud-may indicate the presence of gas (in conjunction with not eating, pooping, etc).
bunny is hiding or constantly shifting positions from hunched, to flat & stretched out (pressing belly to floor), moving around to different spots and shifting.
laying in one spot for hours without moving (and you’re thinking, he/she is still there?)
lethargy, eyes look partially closed or slitty.
Further reading

Injured Bunny: bleeding, sudden appearance of an abscess, bite wound.

Please contact your veterinarian to determine if this is an emergency. If your vet clinic is closed, please access your bunny emergency kit if you have built one or purchased a kit.
In some cases a simple flush with sterile saline can help you determine the extent of the wound, or allow you to cleanse it well enough to see your bunny through until your vet office re-opens.

Labored breathing (especially a head tilted back with open mouth breathing meaning your bunny is in serious, life threatening distress). The sides of your bunny’s body may appear sunken and breathing looks exaggerated from the side.

Neurological issues such as suddenly falling over, inability to stand, or seizures must be treated as an emergency.

If you cannot reach your vet, please do your best to stabilize your bunny by propping up between rolled towels or fleece, place your bunny in a small laundry basket or carrier.
By limiting the space and helping your bunny to stay upright, you will hopefully be able to keep them safe until you can be seen by the vet.

*Remember to keep your regular vet info posted clearly and accessible in your home. Also be aware of local Rabbit savvy Emergency care numbers and locations for the hours/days your regular vet is closed.

Are my rabbit’s poops normal?

Your rabbit’s droppings are one indicator of their gut health.

Check out Christie Taylor’s Guide to Bunny Poops for a visual understanding of your rabbit’s poops, and what they might tell you about their health and current diet.

Bunny Emergency Supply list for Home Care:

Disclaimer: Home care, treatment, dispensing of medications without the advice or directive from your bunny vet are inadequate and unsafe practices. In the event that you cannot bring your bunny to a rabbit savvy veterinarian or clinic, please don’t spend your time on Facebook getting bad advice, obsessing over Dr Google. Try to contact a local rescue or spend your time searching for a vet that can at least provide supportive care in a bunny emergency. These include: oxygen, warming, subcutaneous fluid/lactated ringers.

All bunny owners should purchase & store adequate supplies to care for your bun(nies) in the event of an emergency, vet closure or lack of a veterinarian in the area. Prescription medications for pain or gut motility must be obtained by visiting your personal bunny vet and receiving proper care & dosing information.

We have a list of suggested emergency supplies for basic first aid and and pre-stasis items. These over-the-counter- items may help you get your bunny through the night, a holiday weekend or until your vet office opens.

You may purchase our list online for a donation of $20.00 by contacting us and making a Paypal or Venmo payment. The list will be sent to you via Facebook messenger or email (after payment) so that you may assemble your own Bunny Emergency kit.