Rabbits healthier over 5 years of age?

I may have this wrong but i saw somewhere that if your bunny hasn't been ill since it was a baby until its 5 years old then there is a lower chance of it becoming ill?

For example an younger bunny is more likely to catch illness unlike an older bunny who has never been ill before and there is a higher chance of it not becoming ill after 5 years of age.

Of course this isn't for every rabbit as there are many illness that they can get but would you say this is slightly true?

Julia25 said:

I may have this wrong but i saw somewhere that if your bunny hasn't been ill since it was a baby until its 5 years old then there is a lower chance of it becoming ill?

For example an younger bunny is more likely to catch illness unlike an older bunny who has never been ill before and there is a higher chance of it not becoming ill after 5 years of age.

Of course this isn't for every rabbit as there are many illness that they can get but would you say this is slightly true?

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Good point Julia

Yes in my experience it's more than slightly true

I think by that age the rabbit's immune system and genetic make up will help them cope with lots of things life may throw at them.

I think though, that elderly and weak rabbits, however strong their genetic make up or immune system, can fall prey to illness where they've been strong all their lives.

I'm not sure there has been any studies that back that up.

I think by five you'd have seen evidence of genetic issues e.g. teeth problems, genetic heart problems, or sensitivities that make them more prone to stasis so if they've made it to five without issues like that they are probably in the clear.

I'm not sure about illnesses they 'catch' as such, as their aren't too many of them so it's not necessarily like us in that they've caught things and now got the antibodies like chicken pox (for example).

You could factor in stress and immune system, for example it's thought mite outbreaks may have an element of lowering of the immune system due to stress, so rabbits that are better at coping with stress (a result of breed, genetics, and socialisation) would also be at a lower risk of this and that's something else you could establish one way or another by that age.

Tamsin said:

I'm not sure there has been any studies that back that up.

I think by five you'd have seen evidence of genetic issues e.g. teeth problems, genetic heart problems, or sensitivities that make them more prone to stasis so if they've made it to five without issues like that they are probably in the clear.

I'm not sure about illnesses they 'catch' as such, as their aren't too many of them so it's not necessarily like us in that they've caught things and now got the antibodies like chicken pox (for example).

You could factor in stress and immune system, for example it's thought mite outbreaks may have an element of lowering of the immune system due to stress, so rabbits that are better at coping with stress (a result of breed, genetics, and socialisation) would also be at a lower risk of this and that's something else you could establish one way or another by that age.

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I agree with Tamsin, especially the text in bold font above. But I dont think it's any certainty that a clear cut age (eg 5) could give a guarantee of what may happen during years 5- end of life.

For example some Rabbits who have never had Dental problems and have been raised on a good hay based diet can start to have some Dental problems at the age of about 7.

I think I just accept that with Rabbit Health related matters there will always be something that takes us by surprise ! Just when I think I understand Rabbits they throw another curved carrot in my direction !!

Tamsin said:

I'm not sure there has been any studies that back that up.

I think by five you'd have seen evidence of genetic issues e.g. teeth problems, genetic heart problems, or sensitivities that make them more prone to stasis so if they've made it to five without issues like that they are probably in the clear.

I'm not sure about illnesses they 'catch' as such, as their aren't too many of them so it's not necessarily like us in that they've caught things and now got the antibodies like chicken pox (for example).

You could factor in stress and immune system, for example it's thought mite outbreaks may have an element of lowering of the immune system due to stress, so rabbits that are better at coping with stress (a result of breed, genetics, and socialisation) would also be at a lower risk of this and that's something else you could establish one way or another by that age.

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Glad you agree with me Tamsin