Rabbits can be affected by certain diseases and thus meet an untimely death. As soon as the following symptoms occur in rabbits, the animal should be taken to the vet.


Rabbit owners are responsible for keeping their pets healthy. Unfortunately, however, there are some diseases that rabbits often get that the rabbit owner cannot prevent. For treatment, it is important to recognise the symptoms in good time and take the animal to the vet.

Symptoms of typical rabbit diseases

Mucus discharge from the nose, frequent sneezing, wet nose. These symptoms are similar to a normal cold. The disease is caused by bacteria (Pasteurella Multocida). The disease is contagious, so the sick animal must be separated from other rabbits.

Mucus from the nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, loss of appetite. These symptoms may indicate a lung infection (Bordetella) caused by staphylococci. The infection is treated with antibiotics, but the rabbit remains a passive carrier of the disease.

Blood in faeces, diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can take on very serious forms in rabbits. Diarrhoea is caused by an imbalance in the bacterial flora in the intestines. The rabbit should be treated by a vet within 24 hours, otherwise it may die.

Reddened eyes and eyelids, bloody nose, apathy, loss of appetite, fever. This is probably a dangerous viral disease that is very contagious and fatal if not treated. The symptoms do not always appear in the affected animal; a rabbit can die suddenly without having shown any symptoms of the disease beforehand. The disease is not life-threatening for humans.

Inflamed genitals and eczema around the genitals. This is the venereal disease syphilis. An infected rabbit shies away from mating, contrary to its usual sexual behaviour. Syphilis can be treated with penicillin and is usually rather harmless.

A female rabbit with young refuses to suckle them. The female's teats are probably inflamed (mastitis) and the milk is curdling, making it difficult to come out. Sucking out the milk causes severe pain, which is why the lactating female rabbit pushes her young away from the teats. She must be separated from her young immediately and given an antibiotic.