Health Checks
There isn't much that a vet can do that we - our rabbit's owner, caretaker, and lover - can't do ourselves. For simple routine health checks, you don't really need to take your rabbit to the vet. There are certain things that we cannot do - such as take our rabbit's temperature (well, maybe we could do that...), checking the back teeth, and possibly catch cancer before it gets too bad.
MONTHLY HEALTH CHECKS
Once a month or so, I give my rabbits a thorough health check. Usually I do this while I'm grooming as well.
I check the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth/teeth to make sure everything looks healthy and clean.
I check the genitals/tail area to make sure the rabbit has been cleaning normally, and there's no scabs, ulcers, or problems down there.
I run my hands over the limbs, spine and stomach to check for any bumps, lumps, irregularities and make sure there are no broken bones or skeletal issues.
If your rabbit seems to be in pain (will be sitting hunched, grinding teeth slowly and loudly), they should be taken to the vet immediately unless you can discern what the problem is and cure it at home.
Rabbits can go downhill very quickly (even though my Hollands seem to be pretty hardy), do if you think your rabbit is sick or if it hasn't been eating like usual, take it to the vet.
DAILY HEALTH CHECKS
Once a day while you are feeding your rabbit is a good time to run your hands over the rabbit, make sure it's not to fat or thin. Also make sure it comes to the cage door to greet you (if it usually does that), is behaving normally, and takes interest in its food and water. Watch how it moves and make sure it isn't limping or favoring any part of its body. Make sure it ate the food it was given the day before.
These daily health checks will only take a couple minutes and you can easily do this to every rabbit you own while you are feeding/giving the rabbit water for the day.
MONTHLY HEALTH CHECKS
Once a month or so, I give my rabbits a thorough health check. Usually I do this while I'm grooming as well.
I check the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth/teeth to make sure everything looks healthy and clean.
I check the genitals/tail area to make sure the rabbit has been cleaning normally, and there's no scabs, ulcers, or problems down there.
I run my hands over the limbs, spine and stomach to check for any bumps, lumps, irregularities and make sure there are no broken bones or skeletal issues.
If your rabbit seems to be in pain (will be sitting hunched, grinding teeth slowly and loudly), they should be taken to the vet immediately unless you can discern what the problem is and cure it at home.
Rabbits can go downhill very quickly (even though my Hollands seem to be pretty hardy), do if you think your rabbit is sick or if it hasn't been eating like usual, take it to the vet.
DAILY HEALTH CHECKS
Once a day while you are feeding your rabbit is a good time to run your hands over the rabbit, make sure it's not to fat or thin. Also make sure it comes to the cage door to greet you (if it usually does that), is behaving normally, and takes interest in its food and water. Watch how it moves and make sure it isn't limping or favoring any part of its body. Make sure it ate the food it was given the day before.
These daily health checks will only take a couple minutes and you can easily do this to every rabbit you own while you are feeding/giving the rabbit water for the day.