Your rabbit cannot tell you:

“My tooth hurts.”

“My stomach feels uncomfortable.”

“I'm finding it harder to move.”

And rabbits can be remarkably good at hiding illness.

As prey animals, showing obvious weakness can be disadvantageous. This means some rabbits remain quiet and relatively inconspicuous even when they are experiencing pain or disease. Veterinary guidance therefore emphasises noticing subtle changes in normal behaviour, appetite and activity.

For a guardian, one of the most powerful health tools is not sophisticated equipment.

It is knowing:

what is normal for your rabbit.

How quickly do they appear when breakfast arrives?

How much hay do they normally eat?

What do their droppings normally look like?

Where do they usually sleep?

How active are they?

How do they interact with their bonded companion?

Once you know the baseline, small changes become much easier to recognise.

This checklist will help you build that baseline.

Quick rabbit health checklist

A healthy rabbit will generally:

EAT

• Eat hay throughout the day
• Show normal interest in food
• Chew comfortably
• Maintain their usual food intake

DRINK

• Have regular access to fresh water
• Drink approximately their normal amount

PRODUCE DROPPINGS

• Produce plenty of normal hard droppings
• Produce droppings of a relatively consistent size for that rabbit
• Normally consume their soft caecotrophs

BEHAVE

• Be alert and responsive
• Show their usual interest in surroundings
• Interact normally with companions
• Rest normally
• Show normal rabbit behaviours such as exploring, grooming and foraging

MOVE

• Hop and move normally
• Bear weight normally
• Change position comfortably
• Show no obvious stiffness or reluctance to move

LOOK HEALTHY

• Bright, clear eyes
• Clear nose
• Clean ears
• Healthy coat
• Healthy skin
• Clean, dry hindquarters
• No unexplained lumps or wounds

MAINTAIN

• Stable healthy weight/body condition
• Normal grooming
• Normal toilet habits

But remember:

“Healthy” is not a single photograph.

It is a pattern over time.

1. A healthy rabbit has a normal appetite

Appetite is one of the most important things to monitor in rabbits.

A healthy rabbit should regularly eat:

• hay and/or grass;
• their normal greens;
• their measured portion of appropriate pellets where fed.

Hay should form the majority of the diet.

But for health monitoring, what matters most is knowing your individual rabbit's normal intake.

If Clover normally runs toward her hay every morning but today:

sniffs it and walks away,

that matters.

PDSA advises contacting a veterinarian immediately if a rabbit is eating less than normal because reduced food intake can lead to serious complications, including gastrointestinal stasis, dehydration and liver problems.

Healthy sign

Eating normally and showing normal interest in food.

Warning sign

Eating less, suddenly becoming selective or stopping eating.

2. Hay consumption deserves special attention

Do not only look at whether the pellet bowl is empty.

A rabbit with dental discomfort may sometimes continue eating:

• pellets;
• softer foods;
• favourite treats

while reducing hay consumption.

That can make the rabbit appear to still have an appetite when something has changed.

Dental disease can cause reduced appetite, difficulty eating and weight loss, and rabbit teeth continue growing throughout life.

So ask:

Is my rabbit eating normally?

But also:

Is my rabbit eating hay normally?

3. Healthy rabbits produce plenty of droppings

For rabbit guardians, droppings are valuable health information.

Rabbits produce two main types.

Hard faecal pellets

These are the familiar:

• dry;
• rounded;
• fibrous

droppings you see around the toilet area.

Caecotrophs

These are softer, nutrient-rich droppings that rabbits normally consume directly.

Eating caecotrophs is:

normal rabbit behaviour.

It is not something that should be discouraged.

4. Know what normal droppings look like for your rabbit

There is natural variation between rabbits.

Rather than trying to memorise one “perfect rabbit poo” photograph, learn the normal:

• size;
• shape;
• quantity;
• consistency

for your rabbit.

Then watch for changes.

Healthy sign

Regular production of relatively consistent hard pellets.

Warning signs

• fewer droppings;
• much smaller droppings;
• significant change in shape;
• persistently abnormal soft stool;
• diarrhoea;
• no droppings.

A reduction in droppings combined with reduced appetite is particularly important.

Merck advises prompt veterinary care when a rabbit stops eating or develops digestive signs such as diarrhoea or fewer droppings.

5. A rabbit that stops eating or producing droppings needs prompt veterinary attention

This deserves its own section because it is one of the most important rabbit-health rules.

Rabbits need regular food intake to support normal gastrointestinal function.

When gut movement slows—a condition often described as gastrointestinal or GI stasis—the rabbit can become:

• painful;
• dehydrated;
• bloated;
• increasingly unwilling to eat.

GI stasis can develop secondary to other problems, including pain, stress and dental disease, so “gut stasis” is not necessarily the original cause.

If your rabbit:

stops eating

or

produces significantly fewer or no droppings,

contact a rabbit-experienced veterinarian promptly.

Do not wait for tomorrow simply because the rabbit remains quiet.

6. A healthy rabbit maintains a stable weight and body condition

Weight is another useful health trend.

A rabbit can lose weight gradually enough that the change is difficult to see under their coat.

Regular weighing can reveal a trend before it becomes visually obvious.

Healthy sign

Relatively stable appropriate weight and body condition for the individual rabbit.

Warning signs

• unexplained weight loss;
• progressive weight gain;
• prominent bones;
• difficulty grooming due to body condition;
• reduced mobility.

RSPCA guidance recommends knowing your rabbit's weight and discussing concerns about being overweight or underweight with your veterinarian.

For 1KAHU, weight should therefore be displayed as a trend, not simply:

Current weight: 2.1 kg

A graph showing:

2.35 → 2.31 → 2.22 → 2.10 kg

may reveal something far more important.

7. Healthy eyes should be bright and clear

Look at your rabbit's eyes regularly.

They should normally be:

• open comfortably;
• bright;
• clear;
• free from persistent discharge.

PDSA's home health-check guidance recommends looking for eyes that are clear and free from abnormal tearing or discharge.

Warning signs

Contact your veterinarian if you notice:

• persistent watering;
• sticky discharge;
• redness;
• cloudiness;
• swelling;
• squinting;
• keeping an eye closed.

Eye problems can sometimes be connected to problems elsewhere—including dental disease—so simply cleaning discharge away does not necessarily address the cause. Dental disease in rabbits can be associated with weepy eyes.

8. A healthy nose should be clear

A rabbit's nose should normally be free from persistent:

• mucus;
• discharge;
• crusting.

Breathing should appear comfortable.

PDSA describes a healthy rabbit nose as generally dry and soft, without nasal discharge, and the rabbit should breathe freely.

Warning signs

• nasal discharge;
• repeated sneezing;
• noisy breathing;
• laboured breathing;
• wet or stained front paws from wiping the nose.

Respiratory disease in rabbits should not be dismissed as:

“just a cold.”

PDSA advises veterinary assessment for respiratory signs in rabbits.

9. Breathing should be quiet and comfortable

Observe your rabbit when they are relaxed.

You should not normally see obvious effort involved in breathing.

Warning signs include

• markedly increased breathing effort;
• open-mouth breathing;
• pronounced abdominal effort;
• blue/pale appearance;
• severe respiratory distress.

Severe difficulty breathing is an emergency.

Do not attempt a prolonged home examination of a rabbit that is struggling to breathe.

Keep handling and stress to a minimum and seek urgent veterinary care.

10. Healthy ears should be clean and comfortable

Rabbit ears vary enormously between:

• breeds;
• individuals.

A lop's ears naturally look very different from those of an upright-eared rabbit.

So again:

know normal for your rabbit.

PDSA recommends watching for:

• unpleasant smell;
• discharge;
• excessive wax;
• swelling;
• discomfort;
• scratching;
• head shaking;
• head tilt.

Do not insert cotton buds or other objects deep into the ear canal.

If something looks wrong, let the veterinarian examine it properly.

11. Healthy front teeth should be aligned

Rabbit teeth grow continuously.

The visible front incisors should normally be:

• smooth;
• appropriately aligned;
• able to meet correctly;
• free from obvious fractures.

PDSA advises that the upper incisors should sit slightly in front of the lower incisors and that visible teeth should grow straight.

Warning signs

• unusually long incisors;
• crooked teeth;
• broken teeth;
• difficulty picking up food;
• dropping food;
• drooling;
• wet chin;
• reduced hay consumption;
• weight loss;
• swelling around the jaw.

12. You cannot properly assess all rabbit teeth at home

This is an important limitation of home health checks.

You can see the front teeth.

You cannot properly examine the rabbit's premolars and molars simply by lifting the lips.

PDSA specifically notes that guardians cannot see the back teeth during a normal home check.

Therefore:

“The front teeth look fine”

does not mean:

“There cannot be dental disease.”

Regular veterinary examinations remain important.

13. A wet chin is not normal

Healthy rabbits should not routinely drool.

Persistent moisture around the:

• mouth;
• chin;
• chest

can indicate a problem.

Dental disease is a common cause, although other conditions can also cause drooling. PDSA advises contacting a veterinarian when a rabbit is drooling, especially when accompanied by reduced eating or droppings.

Healthy sign

Dry, clean fur around the mouth and chin.

Warning sign

Persistent wetness, saliva staining or hair loss.

14. A healthy coat reflects normal grooming

A healthy rabbit will normally groom themselves regularly.

The coat should generally be:

• clean;
• appropriate for the breed;
• free from significant matting;
• free from obvious parasites;
• free from unexplained bald or inflamed areas.

PDSA recommends checking the coat for matting, parasites and dandruff and the skin for wounds, rashes, bald areas and new lumps.

Moulting can create dramatic amounts of loose fur.

That can be normal.

But changes such as:

• poor grooming;
• persistent dandruff;
• bald patches;
• sores;
• excessive scratching

deserve attention.

15. Reduced grooming can be an early warning sign

If a normally meticulous rabbit suddenly looks:

• untidy;
• matted;
• dirty;

ask why.

Reduced grooming may occur when a rabbit is:

• painful;
• unwell;
• overweight;
• experiencing dental problems;
• having mobility difficulties.

Do not automatically interpret an untidy coat as:

“needs a bath.”

It may be health information.

16. Healthy hindquarters should be clean and dry

Check beneath the tail.

The fur and skin around the rear should normally be:

• clean;
• dry;
• free from urine staining;
• free from accumulated faeces.

RSPCA specifically recommends monitoring the skin around the rear for urine staining and stuck faeces.

A dirty bottom can occur with:

• dental disease;
• obesity;
• arthritis or reduced mobility;
• urinary disease;
• gastrointestinal problems;
• inappropriate diet.

The goal is not simply to clean the rabbit.

It is to understand why the rabbit became dirty.

17. A clean bottom also helps protect against flystrike

Soiled fur can attract flies.

Flystrike occurs when flies lay eggs on a rabbit and the resulting maggots damage tissue.

It can progress extremely quickly.

PDSA recommends checking under rabbits' tails at least daily and more frequently in warm weather or in rabbits at increased risk.

The RSPCA similarly recommends increasing hindquarter checks during warm, dry conditions.

If you find:

maggots or evidence of flystrike, seek urgent veterinary care.

18. Healthy skin should be free from sores and wounds

Part the coat gently in several places.

Look for:

• redness;
• crusting;
• wounds;
• lumps;
• parasites;
• bald areas;
• wet skin.

Pay particular attention to:

• feet;
• underside;
• hindquarters.

If you discover a new lump, wound or persistent skin abnormality, have it assessed.

19. Check the feet

Rabbit feet should allow comfortable movement and weight bearing.

Look particularly at the underside of the hind feet.

Healthy sign

Intact fur and skin, comfortable movement and normal weight bearing.

Warning signs

• red skin;
• sores;
• swelling;
• wounds;
• reluctance to move;
• limping.

Sore hocks—also called ulcerative pododermatitis—can occur in rabbits and may be associated with factors including inappropriate flooring, body condition and reduced mobility. Merck includes ulcerative pododermatitis among recognised noninfectious rabbit disorders.

20. Nails should not interfere with movement

Rabbit nails grow and require monitoring.

They should not become so long that they:

• alter foot position;
• catch;
• curl;
• make movement uncomfortable.

If you are not confident trimming them, ask a veterinary professional to demonstrate.

Do not cut blindly into dark nails.

21. A healthy rabbit moves comfortably

Observe your rabbit moving naturally rather than only while being handled.

A healthy rabbit should normally be able to:

• hop;
• run;
• turn;
• stretch;
• sit;
• stand;
• lie down;
• rise again

without obvious difficulty.

Warning signs

• limping;
• stiffness;
• dragging a limb;
• reluctance to move;
• difficulty rising;
• unusual posture;
• reduced jumping or exploration.

PDSA recommends monitoring whether pets can comfortably support themselves and move normally.

22. Behaviour is part of the health check

A rabbit's personality matters medically.

Some rabbits are:

bold.

Others:

cautious.

Some run toward people.

Others prefer watching from a distance.

There is no universal healthy rabbit personality.

What matters is:

change from the individual baseline.

PDSA notes that subtle changes in rabbit behaviour can reveal useful information about how they are feeling.

Watch for changes such as

• suddenly hiding more;
• reduced exploration;
• less interaction;
• unusual aggression;
• reluctance to move;
• sitting hunched;
• separation from a bonded companion;
• reduced grooming.

23. A quiet rabbit is not necessarily a relaxed rabbit

This is one of the most important behavioural distinctions for new guardians.

Rabbits may become quiet when they are:

• frightened;
• painful;
• unwell.

Merck notes that rabbits can conceal discomfort because they are prey animals and may remain quiet and inactive even when experiencing pain.

So:

“He's very quiet today.”

should not automatically become:

“He's having a relaxing day.”

Ask whether quietness is normal for that rabbit.

24. Tooth grinding needs context

Rabbits can make subtle tooth sounds in different contexts.

A very gentle tooth purr while a relaxed rabbit is being stroked is different from more obvious tooth grinding associated with:

• pain;
• hunched posture;
• appetite loss;
• reduced activity.

PDSA lists tooth grinding among potential signs associated with painful dental disease.

If you are uncertain whether a sound or behaviour indicates pain, contact your veterinarian.

25. Healthy rabbits show normal social behaviour

For bonded rabbits, social interaction itself can provide useful health clues.

Normally bonded rabbits may:

• rest together;
• groom one another;
• eat near each other;
• interact throughout the day.

A rabbit that suddenly:

• isolates themselves;
• stops joining their companion;
• avoids normal interaction

may be signalling discomfort or illness.

Again:

change matters more than a universal rule.

26. Monitor drinking and urination

Know your rabbit's usual:

• water consumption;
• urine output;
• toilet habits.

Water intake varies with:

• diet;
• temperature;
• body size;
• individual behaviour.

So rather than trying to match your rabbit to a generic number, notice meaningful changes.

Contact your veterinarian about

• suddenly drinking much more;
• drinking much less;
• urinating much more;
• difficulty urinating;
• blood or persistent abnormal appearance;
• urine scalding;
• signs of pain.

27. Rabbit urine can vary in colour

Rabbit urine can naturally vary in appearance, including shades that may surprise new guardians.

Diet and normal pigments can influence colour.

Therefore, do not diagnose:

“blood in the urine”

from colour alone.

But persistent or concerning urinary changes—particularly when combined with:

• straining;
• pain;
• reduced appetite;
• abnormal behaviour

need veterinary assessment.

28. Learn your rabbit's normal posture

Healthy rabbits use many different resting positions.

They may:

• sit upright;
• stretch out;
• tuck their legs beneath them;
• lie partly or fully on their side.

Some dramatic-looking relaxed positions can be completely normal.

The important question is whether the rabbit appears:

• comfortable;
• responsive;
• able to move normally.

A persistent hunched or tense posture—especially alongside reduced appetite or activity—can indicate discomfort.

29. Know what relaxed looks like

Healthy rabbits should have opportunities to show normal positive behaviour.

Depending on personality, you may see:

• exploring;
• running;
• jumping;
• “binkies”;
• relaxed stretching;
• grooming;
• foraging;
• social resting.

You do not need your rabbit to perform a binky every day to prove they are healthy.

But understanding their normal activity pattern helps you recognise when something changes.

30. Home health checks should be calm and low-stress

A rabbit health check should not become an ordeal.

Whenever possible:

• stay at floor level;
• use a non-slip surface;
• handle gently;
• avoid unnecessary restraint;
• stop if the rabbit becomes highly distressed.

PDSA advises never forcing a rabbit to tolerate a dental check if they struggle, flinch or panic.

You are looking for changes.

You are not trying to perform a veterinary examination at home.

The 60-second daily rabbit health check

This is the routine I would make the centrepiece of the article visually.

Every day, ask:

1 — EATING

Has my rabbit eaten normally today?

• Yes
• Less than usual
• No

2 — HAY

Are they eating their normal amount of hay?

• Yes
• Less than usual

3 — DROPPINGS

Are droppings normal in quantity and appearance?

• Yes
• Fewer/smaller
• None
• Abnormal

4 — BEHAVIOUR

Are they behaving normally?

• Yes
• Quieter/hiding
• Other change

5 — MOVEMENT

Are they moving comfortably?

• Yes
• Stiff/reluctant
• Limping/unable to move normally

6 — FACE

Eyes, nose and chin clean?

• Yes
• Discharge/wetness

7 — HINDQUARTERS

Clean and dry?

• Yes
• Dirty/wet

This is not a diagnostic test.

It is a change detector.

The weekly rabbit health check

Once a week, take a slightly closer look.

FACE

• Eyes clear
• Nose clear
• Chin dry
• Front teeth appear appropriately aligned

EARS

• Clean
• No smell
• No discharge
• No unusual scratching/head shaking

BODY

• Coat healthy
• No new lumps
• No wounds
• Skin looks normal

FEET

• No sores
• Nails appropriate length

HINDQUARTERS

• Clean and dry

WEIGHT

• No concerning change

RSPCA guidance specifically recommends monitoring eating/toileting, coat, eyes/nose, ears/teeth and hindquarters as part of routine rabbit health checking.

The monthly health record

This is where observation becomes useful longitudinal health data.

Record:

Weight

Body-condition observation

Diet changes

Medication

Veterinary visits

Dental issues

Vaccinations

Behaviour changes

Any illness episodes

A single measurement may mean little.

A trend can mean much more.

When should you contact a veterinarian?

Contact a rabbit-experienced veterinary practice promptly if you notice:

• reduced appetite;
• refusal to eat;
• significantly fewer or smaller droppings;
• no droppings;
• diarrhoea;
• unexplained weight loss;
• difficulty eating;
• drooling;
• wet chin;
• eye or nasal discharge;
• abnormal breathing;
• persistent hiding;
• unusual lethargy;
• hunched posture;
• reduced movement;
• limping;
• dirty hindquarters;
• urinary changes;
• persistent head tilt;
• new lumps;
• wounds;
• significant skin problems.

Rabbits can deteriorate quickly when food intake falls, and gastrointestinal disease can become life-threatening without treatment.

When is it an emergency?

Seek urgent veterinary care if your rabbit has signs such as:

• stopped eating, particularly with reduced or absent droppings;
• severe difficulty breathing;
• collapse or unresponsiveness;
• severe weakness;
• seizures;
• significant trauma;
• suspected poisoning;
• severe abdominal swelling or pain;
• uncontrolled bleeding;
• maggots or suspected flystrike;
• severe overheating;
• sudden inability to use one or more limbs;
• severe neurological signs.

Do not use an Academy article or AI conversation as a reason to delay emergency veterinary assessment.

What does a veterinary rabbit health check include?

A veterinary examination is much more comprehensive than anything you can perform at home.

Depending on the rabbit, the veterinarian may assess:

• body weight;
• body condition;
• teeth and mouth;
• eyes;
• ears;
• heart;
• lungs;
• abdomen;
• skin and coat;
• feet;
• mobility;
• reproductive health;
• vaccination status;
• diet;
• behaviour.

Further tests may be recommended when appropriate.

This is why:

daily guardian observation

and

professional veterinary examination

should complement each other.

Neither replaces the other.

Common mistakes when assessing rabbit health

“He's eating pellets, so his teeth must be fine.”

Not necessarily.

Dental disease can affect what and how a rabbit chooses to eat. Reduced hay consumption can itself be an important clue.

“She's quiet, so she's relaxed.”

Maybe.

But sudden quietness can also indicate pain or illness.

“There are still a few droppings, so the gut must be fine.”

A significant reduction or change in droppings can still be important.

“His front teeth look perfect, so there can't be dental disease.”

You cannot properly see the back teeth during a normal home check.

“Her bottom is dirty, so she just needs cleaning.”

A dirty bottom can reflect underlying health, mobility, dental or nutritional problems and increases flystrike risk.

“I'll see if he eats tomorrow.”

A rabbit that stops eating needs prompt veterinary attention.

“I'll syringe-feed because that's what people online recommend.”

Not without veterinary guidance. A rabbit that is not eating can have different underlying problems—including obstruction—and appropriate treatment depends on the cause. Merck notes that true obstruction and GI stasis need to be distinguished and specifically cautions against oral force-feeding in some circumstances.

Key facts

Rabbits often hide illness. Subtle changes in activity, posture, eating and behaviour can therefore be medically important.

Appetite is a critical rabbit health signal. A rabbit eating less than normal should receive prompt veterinary attention.

Droppings provide useful everyday health information. Fewer or absent droppings can accompany serious gastrointestinal problems.

Eating caecotrophs is normal. These nutrient-rich soft droppings form a normal part of rabbit digestion.

Rabbit teeth grow continuously. Dental disease is common and can cause appetite loss, drooling and weight loss.

You cannot fully assess rabbit dental health at home. The back teeth require professional examination.

A healthy hindquarter area should be clean and dry. Soiling increases flystrike risk and can indicate an underlying problem.

A health check is about change, not perfection. Knowing the individual rabbit's normal behaviour, appetite, weight and droppings makes abnormalities easier to identify.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if my rabbit is healthy?

Look at the whole pattern: normal appetite and hay intake, regular droppings, stable weight, normal activity and social behaviour, comfortable movement, clear eyes and nose, healthy coat and skin, a dry chin and clean hindquarters. Routine veterinary examinations remain important because some problems cannot be identified at home.

How often should I health-check my rabbit?

Observe appetite, droppings, behaviour and general wellbeing every day. A closer physical check can be performed regularly—such as weekly—provided it can be done calmly. RSPCA specifically recommends weekly monitoring of areas including ears and teeth and more frequent hindquarter checks during warm weather.

What should healthy rabbit droppings look like?

The normal waste droppings are generally firm, dry and fibrous. Size varies between rabbits, so consistency relative to your rabbit's usual droppings is particularly useful. Rabbits also produce softer caecotrophs that they normally eat directly.

Is it normal for rabbits to eat their own poo?

Yes—when they are consuming caecotrophs. This is a normal and important part of rabbit digestion.

Why are my rabbit's droppings getting smaller?

Smaller or fewer droppings can accompany reduced food intake or altered gastrointestinal function. Because gastrointestinal problems can become serious in rabbits, contact your veterinarian if you notice a significant change, particularly if appetite is also reduced.

My rabbit is still eating pellets but not hay. Is that okay?

A change in hay consumption deserves attention. Dental pain can alter food preferences and rabbits with dental disease may show reduced appetite, difficulty eating or weight loss. Contact your veterinarian if your rabbit's normal eating pattern changes.

What do healthy rabbit teeth look like?

Visible incisors should generally grow straight and meet appropriately; PDSA describes the upper incisors as sitting slightly in front of the lower incisors. However, you cannot properly assess the back teeth at home.

Is drooling normal in rabbits?

No. Persistent drooling or a wet chin can indicate dental disease or another health problem and should be assessed by a veterinarian.

Should a rabbit's nose be wet or dry?

PDSA describes a healthy rabbit's nose as generally dry and soft and free from discharge. More important than a precise degree of moisture is whether there is persistent mucus, crusting, abnormal breathing or a meaningful change from normal.

How do I know if my rabbit is in pain?

Possible signs include reduced appetite, hiding, reduced activity, hunched posture, reluctance to move, altered grooming and tooth grinding. Rabbits can conceal pain, so subtle changes from normal matter.

Is a quiet rabbit a sick rabbit?

Not necessarily—some rabbits are naturally quiet. A new change toward being unusually quiet, withdrawn or inactive is more concerning.

How often should I weigh my rabbit?

There is no single frequency appropriate for every rabbit. Regular measurements can be useful for establishing a trend, and rabbits with existing health problems may need more frequent monitoring under veterinary guidance. The important point is to recognise unexplained weight change rather than relying only on appearance.

My rabbit has stopped eating. Can I wait a few hours?

Contact your veterinarian promptly rather than adopting a prolonged wait-and-see approach. Reduced or absent food intake can lead to serious gastrointestinal complications in rabbits.

Should I syringe-feed a rabbit that isn't eating?

Do not automatically syringe-feed without veterinary guidance. A veterinarian needs to consider why the rabbit has stopped eating and, importantly, whether conditions such as obstruction need to be excluded.

How often should rabbits see a veterinarian?

Routine preventive examinations should be discussed with a rabbit-experienced veterinarian. RSPCA recommends at least an annual health check alongside vaccination, while age, health status and previous disease may justify more frequent assessment.

Healthy is not one look. It is a pattern.

A photograph can show:

bright eyes.

a beautiful coat.

clean ears.

But it cannot tell you that yesterday:

Clover ate half as much hay.

Her droppings became smaller.

She stopped running over at breakfast.

And she spent the afternoon sitting away from her companion.

That is why the most useful rabbit health checklist is not simply:

Does my rabbit look healthy?

It is:

Is my rabbit behaving like my rabbit?

Know their appetite.

Know their droppings.

Know their weight.

Know their movement.

Know their personality.

Know their routine.

Because when something changes, recognising it early can be one of the most important things you do for them.

1KAHU

Know their normal. Notice the change.

A rabbit's health story is rarely one isolated event.

It is a timeline:

Eating normally

↓

Hay intake reduced

↓

Droppings becoming smaller

↓

Weight declining

↓

Veterinary appointment

↓

Dental treatment

↓

Appetite normal again

1KAHU can bring those observations together with:

Weight History

Vaccinations

Dental Records

Medication

Veterinary Visits

Health Documents

Care Team

Everyday Health Observations

So the guardian sees more than today's symptom.

And the professional can understand what happened before it.

One Guardian. For All Pets.

1KAHU is a technology platform and is not a provider of veterinary healthcare. This checklist provides general educational information and cannot determine whether an individual rabbit is healthy or diagnose illness. Rabbits can deteriorate rapidly when appetite or gastrointestinal function changes. Contact an appropriately qualified rabbit-experienced veterinary professional if you are concerned about your rabbit.

1KAHU product recommendation

This article gives us a particularly strong use case for a species-specific Health Check module.

For rabbits, I would not simply reuse the dog/cat symptom tracker. The default rabbit dashboard could surface four high-value signals:

APPETITE Normal / Reduced / None

HAY INTAKE Normal / Reduced / None

DROPPINGS Normal / Fewer or smaller / None / Abnormal

BEHAVIOUR Normal / Quieter / Hiding / Other change

Then secondary signals:

Weight · Water · Urination · Movement · Dental · Eyes/Nose · Hindquarters

The important part is the relationship between signals.

For example:

Reduced appetite + fewer droppings

should trigger substantially different logic from:

Normal appetite + routine weight entry

This supports the knowledge-graph approach already defined for the Academy and AI Guardian rather than treating articles as isolated SEO pages. The agreed CMS architecture explicitly connects structured content, species, related features and related articles.

AI Guardian safety logic

For example:

Low concern / observation

“Clover's appetite and droppings are normal, but you've recorded slightly less activity today. Keep an eye on her behaviour and note any changes in eating, droppings, movement or posture.”

Escalation

“You've recorded reduced hay intake and smaller droppings today. Changes in both food intake and droppings can be important in rabbits. Contact a rabbit-experienced veterinarian promptly for advice.”

Higher urgency

“You've recorded that Clover has stopped eating and is producing no droppings. This can indicate a serious gastrointestinal problem in rabbits. Seek veterinary care promptly rather than continuing to monitor at home.”

AI Guardian should not diagnose “GI stasis” from those observations alone. Reduced intake and droppings can have multiple underlying causes, and obstruction versus stasis can require veterinary investigation.