Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

Rabbits and guinea pigs are prey species. They can often hide signs of disease until the problem has become very advanced and many injuries that initially seem minor, can also be very serious.

We recommend always erring on the side of caution when something seems unusual with your small herbivore and having them examined by an small mammal veterinarian.

Signs of illness or injury in small herbivores:

• Less active, hunched or fluffed posture
• Refusing food, drooling, reduced appetite or inability to chew
• Reduced faecal production or changes in the consistency, size or shape of faecal pellets
• Changes in normal behaviours or routine
• Having difficulty moving, limping or not using a leg
• Breathing difficulties, discharge from the mouth or nostrils
• Sneezing, coughing
• Changes to one or both eyes (swelling, redness, discharge)
• Drinking excessively
• Urinating excessively or changes to the urine consistency or colour
• Seizures, tremors
• Bleeding, wounds, lumps or swellings
• Fur loss, itching