10 Signs Your Rabbit Needs Emergency Vet Care

Rabbits are prey animals that have evolved to hide signs of illness and pain. In the wild, showing weakness attracts predators — so the instinct to appear normal is hardwired. By the time a rabbit shows you they are unwell, they are often already seriously ill. Never take a “wait and see” approach with a rabbit showing any of these ten emergency warning signs.

Keep your exotic vet’s emergency number saved in your phone. In the UK, the RWAF maintains a vet directory. In the USA, the House Rabbit Society has a vet finder. Know who to call before you need them.

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1. No Droppings for 6+ Hours

A healthy rabbit produces 200–300 droppings per day. Finding none — or drastically fewer than normal — for 6 or more hours means the gut has slowed or stopped. This is GI stasis. Without intervention, stasis can be fatal within 24–48 hours. Call your vet immediately.

Check the litter tray and enclosure thoroughly. If unsure, observe your rabbit closely for 30–60 minutes. No droppings = emergency.

2. Laboured or Open-Mouth Breathing

Rabbits are obligate nasal breathers — they breathe exclusively through their nose. Open-mouth breathing means the nasal passages are so blocked, or the lungs so compromised, that the rabbit cannot get enough oxygen through normal means. This indicates severe respiratory distress, which can progress to respiratory failure within hours. Any rabbit breathing with their mouth open needs emergency veterinary care immediately — this cannot wait until morning.

Also watch for: rapid breathing at rest, head stretched forward and down (the “stargazing” neck extension trying to open the airway), or blue/grey lips and gums.

3. Seizures or Sudden Loss of Coordination

Sudden seizures, violent rolling, or complete inability to right after a fall requires emergency assessment. The most common causes include Encephalitozoon cuniculi (neurological), vestibular disease (inner ear), stroke, or trauma. These conditions are manageable if caught early — but rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential.

4. Bleeding from Any Orifice

Blood in the urine (haematuria) can sometimes be normal in does (unspayed females may have bloody discharge from uterine bleeding), but should always be assessed by a vet to rule out reproductive cancer, bladder stones, or infection. Blood from the nose or mouth is always an emergency. Blood from the bottom requires urgent assessment.

5. Suspected Broken Bone

Rabbit bones are extremely fragile — particularly the long bones of the hind legs. A fractured femur or tibia can occur from a fall, being dropped, being startled and kicking against a cage, or even from being held incorrectly. Signs include: the rabbit screaming (rabbits only vocalise loudly in extreme pain), complete refusal to weight-bear on a limb, obvious deformity, or the leg at an unusual angle.

Rabbit bone fractures are surgical emergencies. Do not wait.

6. Not Eating for More Than 6 Hours

Rabbits must eat continuously — their gut motility depends on constant fibre intake. A rabbit that refuses all food (especially hay) for 6 or more hours is either in pain, severely unwell, or developing GI stasis. Unlike cats and dogs, a rabbit cannot safely fast. Anorexia for 12+ hours is a critical emergency.

7. Suspected Heatstroke

Rabbits cannot pant or sweat effectively. In ambient temperatures above 28–30°C (82–86°F), rabbits risk heat stroke. Signs include: panting with mouth open, hot ears, drooling, wet nose, extreme lethargy, confusion, or collapse. Immediate cooling action is required:

• Move to the coolest available room
• Apply cool (not ice cold) water to the ears only — the ears are the primary thermoregulation organ
• Offer cool water
• Fan the rabbit gently
• Call the vet immediately while doing the above

8. Sudden Severe Head Tilt

A rabbit that was normal one hour ago and now has a severe head tilt, rolls uncontrollably, and cannot stand requires same-day emergency veterinary assessment. This presentation typically indicates either acute Encephalitozoon cuniculi activation or inner ear infection. Both conditions respond much better to treatment when caught in the acute phase. Lying injured on a hard floor for hours causes secondary injuries and GI stasis from stress.

9. Discovery of Flystrike (Maggots)

If you find maggots anywhere on your rabbit’s body during a daily check, this is an immediate emergency. Do not attempt to remove them. Do not apply any home remedies. Call your vet or emergency vet straight away. Even 2–3 hours delay in treating active flystrike can be fatal.

10. Known or Suspected Poisoning

If your rabbit has consumed any of the following, call your vet immediately — do not wait for symptoms:

• Avocado (any part)
• Onions, garlic, or any allium
• Chocolate
• Rhubarb leaves
• Any insecticide, rodenticide, or garden chemical
• Any unknown mushroom or plant from a garden or field

Note the time of ingestion and bring the plant/packaging to the vet if possible. The sooner treatment begins, the better the outcome.

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The 30-Second Morning Check

Building a quick daily check into your routine allows you to catch problems before they escalate into emergencies. Every morning, observe your rabbit:

• Are they active and alert?
• Do they approach food enthusiastically?
• Are droppings present in the litter tray from overnight?
• Is water level normal?
• Do they move and sit normally?

Any “no” answer warrants a closer look. The RabbitCare App (free on Android) includes a daily health checklist with these observations — building a habit of daily monitoring that gives you the baseline to recognise when something is wrong before it becomes critical.

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References & Sources

1. House Rabbit Society (HRS) — “When to Call the Vet” — rabbit.org
2. RWAF — “Rabbit Emergencies” — rabbitwelfare.co.uk
3. PDSA — “Signs Your Rabbit is Unwell” — pdsa.org.uk
4. Harcourt-Brown, F. (2002) — Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Butterworth-Heinemann
5. Varga, M. (2014) — Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, 2nd ed., Elsevier