Difficulty eating / drooling or facial swelling:

Signs of dental disease include irregular chewing patterns, dropping food when eating, weight loss, drooling, and facial swelling. Pain and reduced appetite can lead to gut stasis.

It is essential to keep an eye on your bunny’s faecal output. Check for small or abnormally shaped faeces, uneaten or excessively produced cecotropes (glossy, grape-like faeces that are high in nutrients and are often eaten by rabbits), soft stools, diarrhoea, or a reduced amount of faeces passed.

Rabbits are quite active. If your rabbit suddenly becomes lethargic, moves around less, or acts aggressively, they may be unwell or in pain.

It is important to watch for any change in gait (the way they move) or posture. Be on the lookout for any stumbling, staggering, head tilting or repeatedly stretching – these can be signs of pain or discomfort.

It’s best to contact your vet if your bunny’s coat is looking dull, balding, shedding excessively or they seem to spend an excessive amount of time grooming or scratching.

Rabbits are obligate nose breathers (must breathe through their nose), so a runny or blocked nose can be very worrying. Watch out for sneezing, a runny nose, or discharge from the eyes.