Domestic rabbits are prone to a specific set of health problems, many of which develop quickly and can become serious if missed. The ten most common diseases and conditions in pet rabbits include gastrointestinal stasis, respiratory infections, dental disease, uterine cancer, viral hemorrhagic disease, myxomatosis, parasitic infections (ear mites and fur mites), urinary tract stones, sore hocks, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Here’s what each looks like, why it happens, and what you should watch for.
Gastrointestinal Stasis
GI stasis is the single most common reason pet rabbits end up at the vet. It happens when the digestive system slows down or stops moving entirely, allowing harmful bacteria to build up in the gut and produce painful gas. The key thing to understand is that GI stasis is almost always triggered by something else: a poor diet low in fiber, pain from another condition, stress, or illness. It’s a secondary problem, not a standalone disease.
The warning signs come on fast. A rabbit that hasn’t eaten or has shown reduced appetite for more than four hours is already a concern. You may notice smaller or fewer droppings than usual, lethargy, teeth grinding (a sign of pain), or a hunched or stretched-out posture. Some rabbits develop a visibly bloated belly. This condition can become life-threatening rapidly if untreated, so any change in eating or litter box habits warrants immediate attention.
Respiratory Infections (Snuffles)
Respiratory infections are among the most frequently diagnosed illnesses in pet rabbits. The most common culprit is a bacterium called Pasteurella, which causes a condition informally known as “snuffles.” A rabbit with snuffles may sneeze frequently, have a runny or crusty nose, develop red or watery eyes, snore or breathe noisily, and sometimes develop swelling around the face. The infection tends to become chronic, meaning the rabbit stays infected for a long time even with treatment.
Treatment typically involves a 30-day course of antibiotics, ideally chosen after a nasal swab identifies which medication will work best against that particular rabbit’s infection. Snuffles can also progress into pneumonia, which is common in domestic rabbits and significantly more dangerous. Keeping your rabbit’s living area clean, dry, and well-ventilated reduces the risk considerably.
Dental Disease
Rabbit teeth never stop growing. The upper incisors grow at about 2 millimeters per week, and the lower incisors grow even faster, at roughly 2.4 millimeters per week. In a healthy rabbit, chewing hay and fibrous food wears the teeth down at the same rate they grow. When that balance breaks, teeth become overgrown or misaligned, a condition called malocclusion.
The tricky part is that dental disease often shows no obvious mouth symptoms. Weight loss may be the only visible sign for weeks. Some rabbits develop watery eyes or eye discharge because overgrown upper incisor roots press against the tear duct and block it. If your rabbit is dropping food, eating less, losing weight, or has persistently runny eyes, dental problems are a likely cause. A diet built around unlimited grass hay is the best prevention.
Uterine Cancer
Uterine adenocarcinoma is the most common tumor in rabbits, and the statistics are striking. Studies have shown that 70 to 80 percent of unspayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer after the age of three. This is not a rare risk. It’s the expected outcome for most intact females who live long enough.
Early signs can include bloody vaginal discharge, decreased appetite, and behavioral changes, but many rabbits show no symptoms until the cancer is advanced. Spaying your female rabbit before she reaches maturity is the most effective prevention and eliminates the risk entirely.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2)
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly infectious viral illness with a mortality rate between 50 and 100 percent. It causes severe liver damage and internal bleeding, and rabbits often die suddenly with few or no prior symptoms. Some may develop fever, lethargy, or bloody nasal discharge shortly before death, but in many cases the first sign is a rabbit found dead in its enclosure.
A conditionally licensed vaccine for RHDV2 is now available in the United States, though availability varies by state. Your veterinarian or state animal health officials can advise on access in your area. Because the virus spreads through direct contact, contaminated objects, and even insects, both indoor and outdoor rabbits are potentially at risk.
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a viral disease spread primarily through biting insects: mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and fur mites. It’s a major threat in many parts of the world, though its prevalence varies by region. The symptoms are distinctive and distressing. Infected rabbits develop swollen, reddened eyelids and may have milky discharge from the eyes and nose. Swelling spreads to the lips, ears, face, and genital area. Skin lumps or nodules appear, ears may droop, and purple spots can develop on the skin.
As the disease progresses, rabbits become lethargic, lose weight, and may have difficulty breathing. In severe cases, convulsions, coma, and death follow. There is no specific antiviral treatment. Vaccines are available in some countries. Insect control, including mosquito netting and flea prevention, is the primary defense for pet rabbits.
Ear Mites and Fur Mites
Parasitic mite infestations are common in domestic rabbits. Ear mites cause thick, crusty buildup inside the ear canal and intense itching. Affected rabbits shake their heads frequently and scratch at their ears, sometimes causing secondary wounds. Fur mites, sometimes called “walking dandruff,” produce heavy flaking along the back and shoulders. You may see patches of thinning fur and visible white specks moving on the skin.
Both types of mites are treatable with antiparasitic medications prescribed by a vet. Left untreated, ear mites can lead to painful ear infections, and fur mites cause significant skin irritation and hair loss.
Urinary Tract Stones
The formation of mineral deposits in the kidneys or bladder is common in pet rabbits. Rabbits process calcium differently than most mammals, excreting excess calcium through their urine rather than their intestines. This makes them uniquely prone to calcium-based sludge and stones in the urinary tract.
Signs include straining to urinate, producing thick or gritty urine, blood in the urine, and reduced appetite. Rabbits in pain may hunch or become reluctant to move. Diets too high in calcium (from excessive alfalfa hay or calcium-rich greens in adult rabbits) increase the risk. Ensuring adequate water intake, whether through a bowl or water-rich vegetables, helps keep the urinary system flushed.
Sore Hocks (Pododermatitis)
Sore hocks develop when the skin on the bottom of a rabbit’s hind feet breaks down from pressure. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits don’t have protective paw pads. Their feet are covered only by fur and thin skin, which makes them vulnerable to hard or abrasive surfaces. Wire-bottomed cages are the classic cause, but any hard flooring without adequate cushioning can contribute, especially for heavier rabbits.
Early signs include thinning fur on the soles of the feet, followed by reddened or callused patches. Without intervention, the skin cracks open into painful ulcers that can become infected down to the bone. Providing soft, clean bedding or solid flooring with padded resting areas is essential. Overweight rabbits and breeds with thinner foot fur (like Rex rabbits) are at higher risk.
Encephalitozoon Cuniculi
E. cuniculi is a microscopic parasite spread through infected urine. Many rabbits carry it without ever showing symptoms, but when the immune system is stressed or weakened, the parasite can cause serious neurological and organ damage. The most recognizable symptom is a sudden head tilt, where the rabbit holds its head permanently to one side. Other signs include loss of balance, tremors, seizures, kidney failure, and loss of bladder control.
Because the parasite spreads through urine, rabbits living in shared spaces are especially vulnerable to transmission. The head tilt can be alarming, but many rabbits respond to treatment and adapt well even if some tilt remains permanently. Keeping living areas clean and promptly removing soiled bedding reduces the transmission risk between rabbits.
Flystrike
Flystrike happens when flies lay eggs on a rabbit’s skin, typically around the rear end, and the hatching maggots begin eating into the flesh. It can escalate from minor to fatal within hours. Rabbits most at risk are those with dirty fur around the tail, often because they have diarrhea, are overweight and can’t groom themselves properly, are fed an incorrect diet, have a parasitic infection, or have open wounds.
Flystrike is a true emergency. If you see maggots on your rabbit, get to a vet immediately. Prevention means checking your rabbit’s rear end at least twice daily in warm weather, keeping the living area clean, addressing any diarrhea or mobility problems quickly, and using fly screens on outdoor enclosures during summer months.