Rabbits can be wonderful pets, but they are not cats or dogs, so they will need some specialized care Thus, if we want to take care of any of them, we must look for a veterinarian with experience in these animals who, in addition to checking their he alth, advises us on the best care and the most appropriate feeding.
Also, you should inform us about the warning signs that we should pay attention to, therefore, in this article on our site we will review the 15 signs of pain in rabbits. Essential for any tutor.
General signs of pain in rabbits
Pain in rabbits can go unnoticed in cases where it is milder. Even so, we can point out 15 signs of pain in rabbits, to which we must be attentive since, if we identify any, we have to seek veterinary assistance. They are as follows:
- Reduction of activity: we will notice that the rabbit remains motionless and, when it moves, it will do so slowly, sometimes limping.
- Dehydration: which we can appreciate because the skin loses elasticity, the hair is dull and the eyes seem sunken.
- Lethargy and apathy.
- Lack of hygiene: because the rabbit stops grooming itself, making the fur look unkempt.
- Changes in feeding: the rabbit eats and drinks less, it takes longer to feed and we can see that food falls from the mouth.
- Eye problems: one or both eyes have secretions, are closed, crossed or change color.
- Strange postures: the rabbit may draw in its abdomen, round its back, or keep its head against the wall.
- Self-protection: it means that the rabbit avoids being manipulated in the area that feels sore. Hides or may suddenly become aggressive.
- Loss of interest in what is going on around you.
- Teeth grinding or vocalizations: Usually when handled, moving, urinating or defecating.
- Respiratory difficulties.
- Sleep pattern disorders or trouble resting.
- Modified facial expression: that is, dilated pupils, absent eyelid reflex, etc.
- Hypersalivation.
- Isolation from the group: in the case of rabbits that live in a community, we can observe that the animal avoids contact with its peers.
Assessment of pain in rabbits
Of the 15 signs of pain in rabbits that we have highlighted, some will correspond to mild to moderate pain, while others will indicate severe or chronic pain. Keeping this in mind is important to know if the veterinary attention should be immediate or how carefully we should handle our rabbit.
We can distinguish the signs of pain as follows:
- Mild to moderate pain: would include eye discharge, nictitating membrane protrusion, photophobia, constipation or diarrhea, depression, body leaning against a wall, reduced food and water intake, disinterest, aggressiveness or vocalizations and grinding of teeth when handled.
- Severe or chronic pain: also occurs grinding teeth, lethargy, dehydration, weight loss, stool stuck around the anal area, loss of muscle mass that can be noticed in the hind legs, which will have hardly any meat, lack of response to stimuli or poor production of feces.
When to administer analgesia to a rabbit?
Once we have explained the 15 signs of pain in rabbits that we must pay attention to, we will now see in which cases it will be necessary to administer analgesia, that is, any drug, always prescribed by a veterinarian, to mitigate the pain that the different diseases of rabbits may be causing. But, in addition to treating the discomfort, it is essential to look for the cause that originates them, which is what must be cured to make the pain disappear. The 6 clinical signs for which analgesia is recommended are the following:
- Anxiety
- Inactivity
- Concern
- Squeaks or groans
- Teeth grinding
- Immobility
- Anorexia (of water and/or food)
- Slimming
As we have said, detecting any sign of distress in our rabbit is reason for veterinary consultation, always with a professional with proven experience in dealing with these animals. It is essential to reach a diagnosis to discover and treat the primary cause of the pain, while, when it is considerable, we administer adequate analgesia, prescribed in any case by the veterinarian.
