A tool to help assess the health status of your pet rabbit.
Quickly identify emergency situations and get appropriate guidance.
1.5M
Pet rabbits in France
#1
Emergency: gastrointestinal stasis
8-12 yrs
Average life expectancy
A rabbit that has not eaten for 12 hours is an EMERGENCY.
Call an exotic animal veterinarian or 3115 immediately.
Step 1 of 6 — Rabbit type
What type of rabbit do you have?
The breed and size can indicate specific predispositions to certain conditions.
Estimated weight of your rabbit
Step 2 of 6 — Medical history
Medical History & Treatments
This information helps refine the assessment. Check all that apply.
Current treatments
⚠ NSAIDs in rabbits: Only meloxicam is considered safe in rabbits (0.3-0.6 mg/kg SID).
Other NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin) are nephrotoxic and gastrotoxic and are contraindicated.
NEVER give human medication to your rabbit without veterinary advice.
Medical history
Vaccination
Is your rabbit vaccinated against myxomatosis and RHD (rabbit haemorrhagic disease)?
Neutering / Spaying
⚠ Important: Approximately 80% of unspayed female rabbits develop uterine adenocarcinoma
after the age of 4 years (Harcourt-Brown, 2002). Spaying is strongly recommended for female rabbits from 6-12 months of age.
Step 3 of 6 — Duration
How long have you noticed these symptoms?
In rabbits, the speed of onset is a critical factor. A rabbit can deteriorate within hours.
⚠ Warning: In rabbits, anorexia or cessation of faecal output for more than
12 hours already constitutes an emergency. The sooner treatment is started,
the better the chances of recovery.
Step 4 of 6 — Behaviour
How is your rabbit behaving?
Behaviour is a key indicator in rabbits. A rabbit that stops eating or grinds its teeth is expressing pain.
🚨 ALERT: A rabbit that stops eating is in danger.
The rabbit's digestive system must function continuously. Cessation of food intake,
even for a few hours, can trigger potentially fatal gastrointestinal stasis.
Step 5 of 6 — Observed symptoms
What symptoms do you observe?
Check all symptoms present. The more precise you are, the better the guidance.
💩 Digestive
💨 Respiratory
🦷 Dental
💧 Urinary
🦴 Skin / Coat
🧠 Neurological
👶 Reproductive
🚨 GI STASIS ALERT: You have checked symptoms consistent
with gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis). This is the number one emergency in rabbits.
The rabbit's digestive system must function continuously — a stoppage can be fatal within 24-48 hours.
See an exotic animal veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
🚨
Life-threatening emergency?
A rabbit that has not eaten for 12 hours is an EMERGENCY. Do not wait.
Legal disclaimer — This triage tool provides indicative guidance only
and does not in any way substitute for clinical examination by a qualified veterinarian.
The owner remains solely responsible for the health of their animal (Art. L214-1 of the French Rural Code).
The information provided is based on exotic pet veterinary literature and recommendations
from exotic animal medicine associations (GENAC, YABOUMBA).
Data — No personal data is collected or transmitted.
All processing is performed entirely within your browser.