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  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

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Care for rabbits as they get older

Alicia

Mama Doe
Joey and Izzy are both now 5, and I know that's about middle age for rabbits, is there anything I should be doing differently as they get older? Neither of them have any health problems really, Izzy has had problems with her teeth in the past and the vet wants to keep an eye on Joey because she thinks he may have issues in the future but they both eat fine and their teeth don't seem to affect them, I just want to keep them as healthy as possible.
 
I would advise you to weigh them both at least once a week. Unexplained weightloss can be an early warning sign of problems. Given that your Vet has commented on the fact that their teeth need 'monitoring' I would get them checked by the Vet every 2-3 months even if they are not showing any obvious signs of tooth problems. It is always better for Dentals to be done before the Rabbit stops eating.

Older Rabbits (7+) may become less active, so care needs to be taken that they do not start to become over-weight. Age related arthritis can also become an issue and if it does then an anti-inflammatory analgesia would be needed, usually on a daily basis. Rabbits who become arthritic may have problems grooming themselves and will need help to keep themselves clean, including ear cleaning. Any condition effecting mobility can cause the Rabbit to develop sore hocks, so that is another thing to check for.

Some changes may be needed to accommodation if mobility becomes an issue, eg the Rabbit may become less able to get up and down ramps or to hop in to a litter tray with high sides.

There is more info here :

http://www.lafebervet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Senior-Rabbit-Client-Handout.pdf

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/pdfs/Feedingandcaringforseniorrabbits.pdf
 
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