How to tell if your rabbit is sick

Rabbits are prey animals — in the wild, showing weakness attracts predators. As a result, rabbits are hardwired to hide illness until they can no longer compensate. By the time obvious symptoms appear, a rabbit can already be in serious trouble. Knowing the subtle early signs dramatically improves outcomes.

Changes in normal behaviour — often the first sign

You know your rabbit better than anyone. Any change from their baseline should be noted:
- Less active than usual, staying in one spot for hours
- Not coming to greet you at feeding time
- Hiding when they usually do not
- Not doing binkies or zooming they normally would
- Less interested in interaction or play

Eating and drinking changes

Rabbits must eat continuously to maintain healthy gut motility. Any significant reduction in food intake is serious in a rabbit.
- Not eating hay: the most concerning sign. Hay is 70% of a rabbit's diet and must be consumed near-constantly.
- Not eating at all: this is an emergency — GI stasis can develop within hours.
- Not drinking: dehydration accelerates gut slowdown.
- Eating less than half their normal amount: see a vet today.

Changes in droppings — your best daily health indicator

Check the litter tray daily. Healthy rabbit droppings are round, firm, dark, and consistent.
- Fewer droppings than normal: gut motility is slowing
- Very small or misshapen droppings: gut stress or dehydration
- Strung together with fur: moulting — increase brushing, not immediately urgent but monitor
- No droppings for 6+ hours: potential GI stasis — seek vet care immediately
- Soft droppings (cecotropes) not being eaten: dietary problem or the rabbit is in pain and cannot reach them

Physical signs

- Hunched, rounded posture: pain — particularly gut pain. Normal rabbits sit with a flattened back.
- Grinding teeth (bruxism): a sign of significant pain. Different from quiet cecotrope-eating sounds.
- Laboured breathing, noisy breathing: respiratory emergency
- Head tilt or rolling: inner ear infection or E. cuniculi — see vet today
- Swollen abdomen: gas or GI stasis — emergency
- Wet fur around chin or eye: dental disease, eye problem
- Diarrhoea (true liquid droppings): emergency, especially in young rabbits — causes rapid dehydration

Temperature matters

A normal rabbit temperature is 38.5–40°C (101.3–104°F). Below 38°C suggests shock or hypothermia. Above 40°C is fever. Both require immediate veterinary care.