Instructions
Examine the eyes and nose. A healthy rabbit has clear eyes free of white matter and a clean nose. A nervous rabbit may have a moist nose, but the moisture should be clear, not white, yellow or green. If you are unsure about the state of your potential rabbit's health, check the paws; sick rabbits have matted and dirty fur on their paws from trying to wipe away mucous.
Look in the ears. A healthy rabbit's ears should not look red, irritated or scratched. If these signs are present, the rabbit may have ear mites which, although not serious, require treatment by a veterinarian.
Check the teeth. In a healthy rabbit, the top incisors overlap the bottom incisors in the front of the rabbit's mouth. If the teeth meet evenly and there is no overlap, the rabbit should have no ongoing issues if its teeth wear down evenly. However, unless you are willing to learn how to clip your animal's teeth, avoid rabbits whose bottom front incisors overlap the top front incisors.
Feel the rabbit's abdomen. A mass might indicate a tumor. A rabbit's abdomen should be firm but not doughy or full of gas, according to the website Precious Pet Rabbits.
Pay attention to the nails. If an adult rabbit's nails look clipped, it's a general sign that your potential pet rabbit has received proper care. A baby rabbit may not have had its nails clipped yet. If this is the case, ask the breeder to do it for you before you take it home and to show you how it's done for future trims.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian. Even if your new rabbit looks healthy to you, have your veterinarian give it a basic checkup as soon as possible after bringing it home. Your vet may see a potential health problem you missed.
How to Identify Signs of Health in a Rabbit
For the urban dweller, a rabbit just may be the perfect pet. Rabbits don't require daily walks, and they don't need a huge backyard to run around in. They can also be housebroken, and they aren't loud enough to annoy your neighbors. Before you buy a rabbit, you need to check carefully to make sure it is healthy. An unhealthy rabbit can result not only in extra veterinarian visits, but if its illness is severe, you could have to make a heartbreaking life-or-death decision too soon.