Did you know that your rabbit needs to be seen by a vet at least yearly? Each visit is very important in order to establish healthy baseline, go over proper care and diet at home, and catch diseases early before they become life threatening.

What do I need to do or bring to my appointment?

At every visit, both for regular check-ups and for illness concerns, the doctor needs you to bring in a poop sample from home (same day sample please), pictures of a un-cleaned cage (yes we like it dirty ?)/home environment, and pictures of what your pet eats as well as any supplements or medications. Please also fill out the new patient form and send it to us prior to your visit. It can be attached and sent via the “contact us” part of our web page.

What is covered during a rabbit vet appointment?

At every visit, the doctor will perform a full physical exam. Healthy rabbits will have their blood count and organ function checked, their feces evaluated for intestinal parasites. We will also review the care and diet they get at home to see if there is any room for improvement. Any illnesses and concerns are also addressed.

Once your rabbit is 4 years of age or older, our doctor also recommends that he or she come in for a semi-annual exam too. As rabbits age, their risk for several common diseases increases exponentially, so screening tests to catch these illnesses early are paramount to ensuring your pet stays healthy and happy.

rabbit veterinarian in longwood fl

Rabbit Fun Facts

Life Span

On average we see rabbits live to be about 10 years old, and rabbits are known to live even to be 15 years old! With good care and a dash of luck so can yours!

Diet

Rabbits are herbivores, specifically “hind-gut fermenters” and cannot vomit, just like horses! This means that their diet should consist primarily of hay (available 24/7), veggies such as lettuce and tomatoes, a small amount of pellets offered only once daily, and rare treat such as a small piece of apple weekly. Without a diet high in fiber their guts slow down or stop moving, which is life threatening. So hay, hay, hay!

Happy Rabbits

When rabbits are happy, they will sometimes jump high into the air, this is called a “binky.”

Rodent or Lagomorph?

While rabbits share a lot of characteristics with rodents, they are classified as lagomorphs. The primary distinction between these groups is that lagomorphs have 4 upper incisors and rodents have only two.

Reproduction

Did you know that if you do not spay or neuter your rabbit, they will develop unwanted behaviors and eventually cancers of these very active organs? This is an extremely common finding in intact older rabbits, so please call to schedule a visit to discuss this very important surgery.

Medications

As hind gut fermenters, rabbits are deathly allergic to some antibiotics and extra sensitive to other medications that people, dogs, and cats are commonly prescribed.

Rabbit Common Illnesses

As rabbits age, they are at increased risk to develop one or more of several common illnesses. Examples are “snuffles” (pasteurellosis), “sore hocks” (pododermatitis), cancers of the reproductive tract, and spinal disease. In addition, any time a rabbit becomes stressed, they can start to feel sick. That is why regular checkups and screening tests are important to find these illnesses early.

Should I bring my pet in?

Our answer is: if you aren’t sure, better to be safe and have it checked out! Give us a call so we can help you determine how soon we can get you in!