Arthritis

​Arthritis in Rabbits

Osteoarthritis is most commonly seen in rabbits as opposed to Rheumatoid and is often simply called ‘arthritis’. It is an inflammation of the joints and is a very painful condition. It is more often seen in older rabbits, most over the age of six years, but may occur in younger rabbits too. Giant breeds usually become arthritic at a younger age than smaller breeds.

​

As we know rabbits are prey animals, and will therefore hide any signs of pain and / or illness, so if your rabbit has arthritis, you may not notice until they are a lot of pain.

Signs to Look Out For

• The first few steps they make after resting may look stiffer than normal or they may limp

• They may show signs of poor balance

• They struggle to eat their caecotrophs directly from their bottom and have to turn around to eat them from the floor (although this can be a sign of them being overweight too)

• If their bottom is regularly dirty or wet with urine it could be that pain is preventing them from being able to angle themselves properly when they toilet. This can mean they can’t completely empty their bladders fully which can lead to bladder sludge or stones

• Like us they move around less when the weather is cold or damp

• They may have a reduced appetite

• Difficulty in jumping into and out of their litter tray

• Sleeping and resting more than normal

• You may notice them being 'heavy footed'

• A change in behaviour, especially grumpiness or aggression towards their bonded partners / friends

 

If you notice any of the above signs then it’s best to ask your vet to assess them for arthritis.

​

Examination, Diagnosis and Treatment

• Your vet should examine your rabbits movements and check joints to feel for stiffness and / or a reaction to pain

• X-rays can be taken to check for inflammation in the joints but this would mean that your rabbit would need sedation or anaesthetic. This obviously is a risk in more senior rabbits. Usually, the vet will advise trying your rabbit with a short course of pain relief instead to see whether that makes a difference. Longterm pain medication may have side effects, and therefore they may want to take blood samples to check out your rabbit’s liver and kidney function first before prescribing them.

• Pain management generally outweighs the risk as it is important for your rabbit to be comfortable, mobile, clean and able to eat. Some arthritic rabbits will continue to take pain medication for the rest of their lives.

​

How You Can Help Your Rabbit

• Make sure your rabbit doesn’t become overweight as that will put extra strain on their joints resulting in more pain

• If the floors they have access to have a slippery surface such as hard wood, laminate or vinyl, use rugs or a similar floor covering so your rabbit doesn’t slip and strain any joints that are already inflamed. If there are any ramps or steps in their setup you will need to make them safe too

• Provide a litter tray that is low at the front, so it’s easier for your rabbit to get in and out. You can try a potting tray that would normally be used for gardening or cut down one side of their current tray. If you cut down a tray, make sure that the cut edges are not sharp

• Make sure your rabbit is kept warm in cold and damp weather, in particular if they are outdoor rabbits. Provide a microwaveable heat pad in very cold weather and overnight in the winter. If your rabbits live outside and you have space to bring them indoors during the winter months that would benefit them too

• Keep a careful eye on your rabbit’s bottom as it is difficult for an arthritic rabbit to bend around and clean themselves properly; this means they are at a greater risk of succumbing to Flystrike

• Keep areas they run or hop around as free as possible from obstacles that they could injure themselves on. It is harder for an arthritic rabbit to hop over obstacles, so a clear floor area is a great help to them