Care of geriatric rabbits
Sarah Dehn
Monday, July 2, 2018
With the continual advancement in veterinary medicine, rabbits have the care they need to live longer. While rabbits of all ages have similar needs, geriatric rabbits can have a longer, better quality of life with proper identification and management of age-related diseases. Important considerations for elevated quality of life for geriatric patients include: adjustments in husbandry and nutrition, and medical management of age-related diseases such as congestive heart failure, chronic renal insufficiency, and a wide variety of mobility issues. Becoming familiar with signs of age-related medical complications is extremely important due to a rabbit's natural instinct to hide signs of illness. Supportive care at home is key to the ongoing wellbeing of geriatric pets with health conditions. It is also important to be prepared to discuss the delicate subject of end-of-life care and euthanasia with owners of geriatric rabbits. Humane and stress-free euthanasia is important for all species, including pet rabbits.
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