How Often Should Rabbits Go To the Vet?

Is your rabbit due for a hop over to the vet’s office? Getting your bunny quality preventive care and acting quick when illness strikes could be the difference between life and death. Rabbits are masters at hiding symptoms until an issue becomes severe, so being vigilant and acting fast is key. Join us as we cover everything from knowing when to schedule wellness exams, to how to find an experienced rabbit vet, to critical emergency warning signs requiring immediate vet care. We’ll discuss what to pack in your vet visit “go bag” to ease anxiety, plus tips for safe travel to and from the clinic. Read on to learn the knowledge that could save your bunny’s life and give them the best shot at living a long, healthy life in your home.

An annual health exam for your rabbit

It is generally recommended to bring healthy adult rabbits to see a rabbit-savvy veterinarian for an annual health examination and wellness visit. An annual visit allows the vet to do a thorough physical exam to check your rabbit's overall health and condition, and catch any potential issues early before they become major problems.

During the annual visit, the vet will check your rabbit's weight, body condition, teeth alignment, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, skin, fur, joints, muscles, gastrointestinal system, genitalia, and more. The vet will also discuss your rabbit's diet, behavior, housing, and litter habits to ensure your rabbit is receiving proper care and nutrition. Bloodwork and other diagnostic tests like fecal exams may be recommended depending on your rabbit's age and health status.

An annual visit gives you the chance to ask your vet any questions you may have about your rabbit's health, nutrition, or care. It's also a good time to discuss wellness topics like dental health, obesity prevention, arthritis management, or cancer screening if your rabbit is middle aged or older. Preventive care is very important for rabbits, since they are prey animals that often hide signs of illness until a problem becomes severe. An annual visit allows early detection and treatment of any issues.

Ideally, rabbits should have their first annual wellness visit at around 1 year old, then continue annual visits throughout their lifespan. More frequent vet exams may be advised for older rabbits over 5 years old or rabbits with chronic health conditions. For healthy adult rabbits under 5 years old, an annual wellness visit is sufficient in most cases. This gives your vet the chance to examine your rabbit and develop a baseline for their health as they age.

Older rabbits or sick rabbits

While healthy adult rabbits under 5 years only need an annual wellness exam, more frequent vet visits are often needed for older rabbits over 5 years old or rabbits with known medical conditions.

As rabbits reach senior age at 5+ years old, they become more prone to health issues like dental disease, arthritis, kidney disease, cancer and more. It's important to monitor their health more closely through semi-annual vet visits every 6 months or at least 2 visits per year. Your vet may want to do more frequent senior wellness exams like every 3-4 months for very old rabbits over 8-10 years old. This allows early detection of age-related problems.

For rabbits with ongoing medical issues like malocclusion, gastrointestinal stasis, urinary issues, arthritis, dental disease or other conditions, your vet may recommend exams every 3-6 months to monitor the condition. More frequent vet visits allow your vet to tweak medications, catch worsening problems early, and provide the best care for a rabbits with chronic health issues.

Some signs your older or sick rabbit may need more frequent vet exams include:

Loss of appetite or reduced food intake
Weight loss
Lethargy, less activity
GI slowdown or reduced fecal output
Increased water consumption or urination
Abnormal breathing like wheezing or coughing
Lumps, abscesses or abnormal growths
Signs of pain like tooth grinding or vocalizing
Arthritis symptoms like limping or stiffness
Poor coat, hair loss, dandruff or skin irritations

If you notice any of these symptoms in your older or sick rabbit, schedule an earlier vet visit to have them evaluated. Don't wait until your rabbit's next planned exam. Catching problems early greatly improves treatment success and outcomes.

When else to bring your rabbit to the vet

In addition to annual wellness exams for healthy rabbits and more frequent visits for senior or sick rabbits, there are some other instances that warrant scheduling a vet appointment for your bunny:

Spay or neuter surgery – Rabbits over 4-6 months old should be spayed or neutered for health and behavior reasons unless there are specific medical contraindications. The surgery requires an exam first to ensure they are healthy for anesthesia and the procedure.
Vaccination – Though not widely given, some vets may recommend certain vaccines for rabbits with high exposure risk to diseases like myxomatosis or RHDV2. Vaccines require vet exams to determine if they are appropriate.
Injury or trauma – Falls, bites, cuts, broken bones, burns and the like require urgent rabbit-savvy vet care to properly heal. Even small wounds need treatment to avoid infection risk.
Poisoning or toxin ingestion – Immediate vet treatment is crucial if you suspect your rabbit ingested something toxic like rat bait, lead, snail bait, antifreeze, plants, or other poisons.
Bite wounds – Bites inflicted from cats, dogs, predators or aggressive rabbits carry risk of infection and abscesses. Seek care promptly.
Parasites – If you find external parasites like fleas, mites or see worm segments in your rabbit's feces, your vet can provide parasite medication.
Suspected pregnancy – Breeding rabbits need vet care to confirm pregnancy safely and monitor mom's health during gestation. Deliveries can also require vet assistance.
Sudden illness – For any abnormal symptoms that arise suddenly in your rabbit like lethargy, appetite loss, diarrhea or respiratory signs, a prompt vet visit is key for diagnosis and treatment, even if your rabbit was recently seen. Rabbits can go downhill quickly when sick, so don't wait. Call your vet right away when you notice anything unusual.

Spay or neuter surgery

One of the most common reasons rabbit owners bring their bunnies to the vet is to be spayed or neutered. Rabbit spay/neuter surgery is an essential part of rabbit care and should be done at 4-6 months old in most cases. There are many health and behavioral benefits:

Prevents reproductive cancers – Unspayed females have a very high rate of uterine and ovarian cancers by age 4-5. Neutering males nearly eliminates their risk for testicular cancer.
Resolves problem behaviors – Unaltered rabbits often exhibit more territorial urination/marking, aggression and other problematic behaviors related to hormones that are resolved by fixing them.
Improves litter habits – Spaying/neutering makes rabbits much easier to litter train and reduces their tendency to mark territory.
Allows bonding – Fixed rabbits can be successfully bonded with other fixed rabbits. Intact rabbits have much more difficulty bonding.
Improves litterbox habits – Fixed rabbits tend to have fewer accidents outside their litterbox compared to unfixed bunnies.
Healthier life – Sterilized rabbits generally have lower risks for certain conditions like uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers and infections later in life.

The surgery requires an exam ahead of time to ensure your rabbit is healthy enough for anesthesia. Bloodwork may be recommended to check organ function depending on your rabbit's age and health status. Be sure to follow your vet's instructions for preparing your rabbit the night before surgery by restricting food and water intake. Also follow all post-operative care instructions carefully after they are home. Spay/neuter surgery vastly improves quality of life for pet rabbits, so make sure to have it done at the appropriate age.

Vaccination (if applicable)

Unlike dogs and cats, there are currently no vaccines routinely recommended for pet rabbits in the United States. However in some circumstances, certain vaccines may be advised by your veterinarian:

Myxomatosis – This deadly rabbit disease is not currently present in the US but has emerged sporadically in some areas like California. Vets may administer the myxomatosis vaccine if there has been local outbreak activity.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) – RHD type 2 strain emerged in North America in 2018 and some vets have begun prescribing the vaccine in areas where this new strain has been confirmed.
Rabies (rare) – Rabies vaccines are a legal requirement for rabbits in the UK. In the US, rabies vaccines are not routinely given but may be recommended by your vet if your rabbit's environment puts them at high risk for exposure to rabies infected wildlife.

While current AAV guidelines do not call for widespread vaccination of pet rabbits in the US, localized risk factors like disease outbreaks or frequent outdoor exposure may prompt your vet to recommend certain immunizations. Have an open discussion with your vet about any concerns you may have about infectious diseases in rabbits based on where you live and your rabbit's lifestyle and housing. Your vet can help weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination in your individual circumstances. Be aware vaccine recommendations may evolve over time as new disease threats emerge.

When your rabbit is sick or injured

In addition to preventive care visits when your rabbit is healthy, it's also crucial to immediately bring your rabbit to the vet anytime they are injured or showing signs of illness. Rabbits are very stoic by nature as prey animals and typically hide symptoms until a condition is advanced. This means prompt vet care is vital when problems arise.

Here are some situations when you should seek same day or emergency veterinary treatment for your rabbit:

Not eating, lethargic, or acting depressed
Runny nose, coughing, wheezing, sneezing
Diarrhea, small fecal droppings, or no fecal production
Bleeding from any body opening
Difficulty urinating or defecating
Loss of balance, head tilt, wobbliness, seizures
Abscesses, lumps, swelling, or abnormal growths
Signs of pain like tooth grinding or screaming
Trauma including falls, bites, burns, electrocution, vehicular injury
Difficulty breathing – open mouth, rapid breaths, cyanosis of gums/tongue
Sudden onset of illness symptoms like GI stasis
Strains, limping, reluctance to move – may indicate fractures or dislocations
Any non-normal behavior such as lethargy or lack of appetite
Eye discharge, squinting, pressure, or protrusion – may indicate infection, glaucoma or other eye issues
Dystocia (difficult birth) – Doe struggling to deliver stillborn kits or living kits over 30 minutes without progress.

Rabbits can go from seemingly fine to severely ill very quickly. Timeliness is key – when in doubt, call your vet right away for advice. Waiting just a few hours can be the difference between life and death with some rabbit health crises. Your rabbit vet may direct you to go to emergency vet services if it is after hours and your rabbit needs immediate treatment. Don't delay when your rabbit is injured or showing any signs of illness. Fast action gives them the greatest chance of recovery.

How to find a rabbit veterinarian in your area

Locating an experienced rabbit-savvy vet is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your bunny receives appropriate preventive and emergency care. Here are some tips for finding a qualified rabbit vet:

Check House Rabbit Society's directory of rabbit vets at https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/. HRS thoroughly screens vets for rabbit expertise before listing them.
Search databases like the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians https://aemv.org/vet-lookup/ or CatVets https://www.catvets.com/rabbit-vets for vets treating exotic pets.
Look for clinics listing "rabbits" or "exotics" as special interests. Avoid vets only advertising dogs/cats.
Ask local rabbit rescues which vets they use and recommend. Rescues have a strong vet network.
Inquire in rabbit owner Facebook groups or at rabbit shows/events to get vet recommendations from other area bunny owners.
Call prospective vets and ask detailed questions about their surgical and medical rabbit experience, disk surgery survival rates, typical treatments, and more.
Factor in necropsy/biopsy capabilities – critical for determining cause of death/illness.
Evaluate modern technology – radiology, ultrasound, endoscopy, etc – improves diagnostics and minimally invasive treatments.

Take time researching vets rather than going with the closest clinic. An experienced rabbit vet can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. Build a relationship with your top choice vet before your bunny gets sick. Finding the right exotic vet for your rabbit is one of the best investments you can make in their health and longevity.

What to bring with you when you bring your rabbit to the vet

Visiting a new vet clinic for the first time can be stressful for rabbits. You can help ease your bunny's anxiety by bringing along some familiar items from home:

Food and treats – Bring your rabbit's regular diet to avoid an abrupt food transition at a stressful time. Favorite snacks also help keep them occupied and comfortable in the clinic.
Water – Pack a bowl and bottle of the type your rabbit is accustomed to drinking from to help them stay hydrated.
Litterbox – Bring their normal litterbox with familiar litter to encourage continued use.
Hideout – A cardboard box with entry/exit holes makes a cozy retreat.
Blanket – Line their carrier with a blanket from home with your smell for security.
Toys – A favorite toy provides calming mental stimulation.
Pet carrier – Sturdy plastic or wire kennels with ventilation keep rabbits contained safely. Avoid cardboard boxes which can leak urine or allow escapes.
Leash/harness – Useful for controlled exercise breaks without escaping if needed.
Grooming supplies – In case the vet trims nails, cleans scent glands, or removes matts while your rabbit is there.
Critical care food – Life-saving support if your rabbit stops eating or needs syringe feeding.
Medications – Bring current meds to discuss proper dosing with your vet.

Packing familiar items mimics their home environment. Avoid sudden major changes while your bunny is under medical care. The less disruption to their routine, the lower their stress. A prepared bunny parent makes for a happier bunny patient!

How to transport a rabbit to the vet

Getting your rabbit safely to and from the veterinary clinic is an important aspect of their care. Here are some tips:

Carrier – Invest in an escape-proof plastic or wire carrier. Avoid cardboard carriers which can leak urine, rip, or allow escapes. The carrier should be large enough for your bunny to stand up and turn around comfortably.
Cushion carrier – Line the bottom with a towel or yoga mat and cover the top with a light blanket to make it feel more enclosed and cozy.
Seatbelt – Buckle the carrier securely into your back seat using the seatbelt, or wedge tightly between seats so it doesn't shift or tip during transport. Never hold a rabbit carrier in your lap while driving.
Provide water – Bring water in case of delays or longer travel times. Cycling cooling packs under the carrier can also prevent overheating.
Time trips – Schedule vet visits at cooler times of day and minimize transit time. Don't leave rabbits trapped in hot parked cars.
Feline leukemia testing – Consider having your cat tested for FeLV before transporting your cat and rabbit together, as this is transmissible between species. Isolate sick cats from transporting with rabbits.
Monitor while traveling – Check on your rabbit at stops and provide a litter break if needed for longer car rides. Extended travel may require overnight lodging.
Post-visit monitoring – After anesthesia or sedation, keep rabbits in a safe, confined space until fully awake and stable. Limit stairs/jumping until fully recovered.

Proper carrier selection, restraint, and travel precautions reduce the risk of your rabbit escaping or coming to harm during transport. Use extra caution when moving injured or ill rabbits. Partner with your vet for specific guidance to get your bunny to their office safely.