Rabbits - Vet in Berea | MetroPet Veterinary Clinic

Rabbit Veterinary Care

Dr. Alice starting working as a rabbit vet in 2009, when she joined the staff at All Creatures Veterinary Care in Centre Hall, PA. Since then she has attended conferences and continuing education sessions all over the country to solidify herself as one of the best rabbit vets in the Cleveland area. She is a member of the Association of Exotic Mammalian Veterinarians, to keep her at the forefront of rabbit medicine.

Rabbits are herbivores, meaning that they eat only vegetable matter. In order to be healthy, herbivores need to always be eating food and always have quality food available. A good diet for a rabbit is 75% hay, 20% Fortified Diet (pellets) and 5% Treats and Greens. Water should always be available.

Rabbits are mammals, and so are susceptible to diseases and parasites that are common to mammals. During a routine vet exam, we will do a “nose to tail” examination to check your rabbit for signs of disease or stress, and check a fecal sample for signs of parasites.

Rabbit Health

Digestive Problems

Rabbit Specific Health Issues

Rabbits must be constantly eating in order to be healthy. If they stop eating for whatever reason (out of food, dental problems, stress) then they will get what is called GI stasis (their intestines stop moving). GI stasis can happen pretty quickly, so if your rabbit stops eating, they should be seen immediately by our vets.

Rabbits’ teeth grow constantly, so they need to chew on vegetable matter in order to wear them down (this is where the 75% hay in their diet comes in). Without this constant chewing, rabbit teeth may grow into the mouth and make it harder for them to eat. This situation requires immediate dental care. We will have to anesthetize your rabbit and then file the teeth down.

Dental Care

First and foremost rabbits are prey animals (dogs, cats, and humans are all predators) and so the presence of other pets will stress them out. It will also take some time to get accustomed to your presence and become comfortable with you. They (in general) do not like to be held at first, and so the best bet for building trust is to get down on the rabbit’s level and let them come to you. Treats are a good way to gain trust, but don’t overdo treats or the rabbit may begin refusing their regular diet.

Rabbit Services That We Offer at MetroPet

We are proud to be your rabbit vet. We offer the following services to keep your rabbit happy and healthy:

Preventative care exams
Medical Boarding
Vaccinations
Dietary/Housing Consultation
Rabbit Dental Care (filing)
Spay, Neuter, and General Surgery
Same Day ER Appointments for Established Clients (During Business Hours)

Rabbit Services That We Offer at MetroPet

We are proud to be your rabbit vet. We offer the following services to keep your rabbit happy and healthy:

Preventative care exams
Medical Boarding
Vaccinations
Dietary/Housing Consultation
Rabbit Dental Care (filing)
Spay, Neuter, and General Surgery
Same Day ER Appointments for Established Clients (During Business Hours)

Illness Signs to Look For

Most rabbit illnesses are due to nutrition, digestion, or dental problems. Call us immediately if you notice any of the following signs:

Loose or soft stools
Blood in the urine
Loss of appetite or change in eating/drinking/pooping schedule
Labored breathing, sneezing, or coughing
Change in behavior and body language (hunching, staying in the corner)
Overgrown teeth
Missing Hair/Bald Patches/Poor Grooming
Sores on the feet
Itching