Pet Rabbit Medical Emergencies

This is every rabbit owner's worst nightmare. You arrive home in the middle of the night to find that your rabbit is not moving, or that it has just eaten a bunch of poisonous plants. Would you know how to respond in these situations?

One of the most important aspects of selecting your primary rabbit care physician is determining when he will be available to take care of your rabbit. Of course, most vets will not be available 24/7, so it is important that you get the address and number of an emergency animal clinic that you can take your rabbit to after hours or on weekends. Not all emergency animal clinics have doctors that specialize in rabbits, but most will at least have some experience in dealing with them, and something is better than nothing if your rabbit is having an emergency. Also, know where to go before there is a serious health problem actually occurs. If you know exactly where to go when there is a medical emergency, it can save precious time that could mean life or death for your rabbit.

Before you head off to the vet or to the emergency clinic, there are some things you should determine. Of course, if your rabbit is not moving you will want to go right away. But if it is still acting relatively normal after eating what may have been poisonous materials, there are few things you can check. First, check the pulse by feeling gently around his groin or chest area. If you can't feel anything, the pulse may be diminishing and it is time to go to the hospital. If the pulse is normal, keep an eye on your rabbit and if his condition remains stable, then he may be okay. Second, look at the inside of his lips. Normally they should be a pink color. If they are blue, that means he has poor blood circulation and needs to be taken to the vet immediately. Lastly, check his temperature using a baby thermometer with lubricant applied for insertion into the rectum. Normal rabbit temperature is 101 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

Follow these steps, and procure some guidelines from your primary rabbit care veterinarian, and you will be ready if the time ever comes when your rabbit has a medical emergency.