Rabbit first aid, step by step

Watch appetite and droppings every day: rabbits often hide illness, and a skipped meal or fewer droppings is a reason to call a vet who treats rabbits right away. A healthy adult pet rabbit at rest runs 101.5 to 104.2 F, with a heart rate of 180 to 350 and 30 to 60 breaths a minute.

Written by Justin Alcalde, AHA and American Red Cross instructor, CPR West Covina · Reviewed

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Pick the emergency

What normal looks like in a rabbit

Published rabbit ranges differ a little. For temperature, House Rabbit Society uses 101 to 103 F, slightly lower than the Merck range below. Stress can push a reading up, so count while your rabbit rests calmly.

CheckNormal at restHow to check
Temperature101.5 to 104.2 F. Below 100.4 F or above 105 F is a warning signRectal, with a lubricated digital thermometer. Leave it to your vet unless your vet has shown you how: a rabbit that kicks can hurt its back
Heart rate180 to 350 beats a minuteHand flat on the lower left chest, or fingers on the inner upper thigh. Count 15 seconds, times 4
Breathing30 to 60 breaths a minute, through the noseWatch the chest rise and fall at rest. Count 15 seconds, times 4. Open mouth breathing is a sign vets treat as an emergency
Droppings and appetitePlenty of large, round droppings and a steady appetiteLook in the litter box and food bowl every day. Even one missed meal can signal serious illness

How to check your rabbit's breathing, heartbeat and gut

Do every check with your rabbit on the floor. Merck warns that a struggling rabbit can break its lower back, so if you must lift, read how to pick up a rabbit first.

  1. Let your rabbit settle

    Wait until it is lying still and relaxed, not right after play.

  2. Count breaths for 15 seconds

    Watch the chest, or feel each exhale near the nose, then multiply by 4.

  3. Feel the lower left chest

    Or the inner upper thigh, then count beats for 15 seconds, times 4.

  4. Feel both ears

    Healthy ears feel warm, so note any that feel hot or cold.

  5. Check the litter box

    Compare the size, shape and number of droppings with your rabbit's usual.

  6. Keep a daily note

    Droppings can get smaller or fewer over days, and a log shows it.

What your rabbit's droppings can tell you

House Rabbit Society calls droppings and urine the easiest health signs to spot. Smaller or fewer droppings can be an early sign of GI stasis, so compare them with your rabbit's usual each day.

What you seeWhat it can be a sign ofWhat to do
Plenty of large, round, firm droppingsA gut that is moving wellNothing. Note how many you usually see
Smaller, drier or fewer droppingsThe gut slowing down, or not enough hayCall your vet promptly. If it has also stopped eating, call now
No new droppings for several hoursThe gut may have slowed right down, or be blockedCall a vet who treats rabbits now. None for 12 hours is an emergency
Soft, sticky clusters left uneatenLeftover cecotropes: a diet too rich, a gut problem, or a rabbit that cannot reach its bottomBook a vet visit if you keep seeing them. Healthy rabbits usually eat these straight from the bottom
Loose or watery stoolDiarrhea, a serious warning sign in a rabbit of any ageGo to a vet now. It is easy to mix up with soft cecotropes, so take a photo
Small droppings in mucus, or jelly-like stoolAn inflamed gut, such as enteritis or mucoid enteropathyTreat it as an emergency and go to a vet now

Watch the steps

Your rabbit stopped eating: what to doYour rabbit stopped eating: what to doHow to pick up a rabbitHow to pick up a rabbitWhat to do when your rabbit's head is tiltedWhat to do when your rabbit's head is tilted

Keep the steps on your phone

PetAid for iPhone, for dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish and reptiles. Free on the App Store.

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Questions people ask

How do I find a vet who treats rabbits?

Line one up now. A University of Miami rabbit care page warns that many emergency clinics will not see rabbits, and head tilt can improve when treatment starts quickly. House Rabbit Society links to rabbit vet lists for Los Angeles and Southern California, and the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians has a search by location. Once the number is saved, PetAid puts rabbit first aid steps on the same iPhone.

Can my rabbit's ears tell me if it has a fever?

Only roughly. Rabbits use their ears to shed heat, and rabbit.org notes that noticeably hot or cool ears can point to a fever or a low temperature. Paired with another sign, such as not eating, that is worth a vet visit. Only a thermometer gives you a number.

Should I take my rabbit's temperature at home?

Only once your vet has shown you how. House Rabbit Society suggests keeping a digital thermometer and water-based lubricant in your kit and practicing on a calm day, long before an emergency. Until then, go by appetite, droppings and ear warmth.

Is it normal for my rabbit's nose to stop twitching?

It can be. A healthy rabbit's nose moves roughly 20 to 120 times a minute, and it can go still when the rabbit is deeply relaxed. A very ill rabbit's nose can go still too, so check appetite and droppings as well.

Pet first aid for every pet

This is first aid, not veterinary care. Get to a vet or an emergency animal hospital as soon as the steps are done.

Sources