Rabbits should have a veterinary exam when they are first obtained and then once a year after that. Vets check rabbits in many of the same ways they check dogs and cats, including an exam to evaluate the teeth.
Vets can determine a rabbit's sex by examining the genital area, though this can be difficult in very young rabbits. Testicles usually become visible in males at 10–12 weeks, but nervous rabbits can pull them up into the abdomen.
Normal body temperature for a rabbit is 103–104°F (39.4–40°C). A temperature below 100.4°F (38°C) or above 105°F (40.6°C) is a warning sign of illness.
Spaying (surgically removing the ovaries and uterus) in female rabbits is very important. It prevents unwanted litters and eliminates the risk of cancer of the uterus, which is common and often fatal in rabbits over 3 years old. Neutering (surgically removing the testicles) in males helps decrease aggression, urine spraying, and unwanted pregnancy.
Routine Care of Your Rabbit
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Nails should be trimmed every 1–2 months or as needed. Rabbits should never be declawed.
The one routine vaccine recommended for pet rabbits is the vaccine against rabbit hemorrhagic disease caused by RHDV-2, a highly contagious and often fatal virus that can spread from one rabbit to another. Vaccination is especially important for rabbits that go outdoors, where wild rabbits might be, or that have contact with other pet rabbits. The usual schedule is two doses given 3 weeks apart, followed by yearly boosters.
