Rabbit Health Advice

Rabbits are intelligent, social pets that require specialist care to remain healthy and happy. As prey animals, rabbits often hide signs of illness, making regular health checks and preventative healthcare particularly important.

Vaccinations

Rabbit vaccinations are essential to protect against several serious and often fatal diseases.

At Two By Two Veterinary Centre, we recommend a combined vaccination programme consisting of:

  • Nobivac Myxo-RHD PLUS to protect against Myxomatosis, RHD1 and RHD2.
  • Yurvac RHD administered 2 weeks later to provide additional protection against highly virulent RHD2 strains.

Vaccinations can begin from 30 days of age. Following the initial course, we recommend annual booster vaccinations to maintain protection.

Neutering

Neutering offers important health and behavioural benefits for both male and female rabbits.

Benefits include:

  • Preventing unwanted litters
  • Reducing territorial behaviour
  • Reducing aggression
  • Preventing uterine cancer in female rabbits
  • Supporting successful rabbit bonding

We generally recommend discussing neutering from around 4–6 months of age, depending on breed and development.

Diet

A rabbit’s diet should consist primarily of:

  • At least 85–90% good quality hay or grass
  • A small amount of rabbit pellets
  • Daily leafy green vegetables
  • Fresh water available at all times

A diet low in fibre can lead to dental disease, obesity and digestive problems.

Dental Health

Rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout life. Insufficient hay intake can prevent normal tooth wear and lead to painful dental disease.

Signs of dental problems include:

  • Reduced appetite
  • Drooling
  • Weight loss
  • Facial swelling
  • Changes in droppings

Regular veterinary examinations can help identify dental disease early.

Flystrike Prevention

Flystrike is a life-threatening condition that occurs when flies lay eggs on a rabbit, particularly during warmer months.

Rabbits should be checked daily for:

  • Soiling around the back end
  • Reduced appetite
  • Changes in behaviour
  • Skin irritation

Prompt veterinary treatment is essential if flystrike is suspected.

Annual Health Checks

We recommend annual health checks for all rabbits, even if they appear healthy. These appointments allow us to assess weight, dental health, mobility, diet and vaccination status, helping to identify problems before they become serious.

If you have any concerns about your rabbit’s health, please contact our team for advice.