Cardiovascular disease
This article is incomplete because it lacks depth or is unfinished. Help by expanding it.
Cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, is not unheard of in rabbits, and they can suffer from both congenital and acquired heart disease. Most recorded information about cardiac diseases relates to infectious, toxin-induced, or diet-related diseases of laboratory rabbits, but heart disease does occur in pet rabbits as well. Unfortunately, heart disease often goes unnoticed until it is fairly advanced (see congestive heart failure below for more information).[1]:400
Some examples of heart disease in rabbits include congenital abnormalities such as ventricular septal defects and age-related cardiac problems such as valvular disease.[1]:400
Most cardiac disease is diagnosed in pet rabbits over the age of four years, and the larger breeds such as New Zealand whites and French lops are over-represented.[1]:401
Symptoms
Symptoms of cardiovascular disease in rabbits include (but are not limited to) the following:[1]:400[2]
- exercise intolerance or decrease in activity level (lethargic or only able to exercise for very brief periods)
- difficult or labored breathing (dyspnea)
- nasal flaring
- increased respiration rate
- tilting head back with the nose lifted upwards without apparent reason (as though looking above towards the sky or ceiling)
- anorexia or decrease in appetite
- weight loss or weight gain
- weakness
- abdominal distension (ascites)
- distinctive resting position, with the front portion of the body elevated; propping the upper body up to rest on objects, furniture, or their bonded rabbit partners
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (also referred to as “CHF”) is the end stage of many cardiac conditions. At this stage, the heart fails to properly pump and circulate blood throughout the body. Because of this, blood (also referred to as “fluid”) may pool within the lungs (pulmonary edema), around the lungs and chest (pleural effusion), within the abdomen (ascites), the liver may become abnormally enlarged (hepatomegaly), or all of these things may occur simultaneously.[1][3]
Treatment aims to support cardiac function in order to shift abnormal fluid accumulation(s) in the body appropriately. In early stages of congestive heart failure, providing oxygen support can be life-saving for the rabbit. The use of diuretics is common within the management of CHF, often in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or pimobendan. Nevertheless, it is important to note that CHF is a chronic and dynamic condition that eventually will outrun attempted treatment.[1][3]
Experiences
- Judith Books. (2023). Burt's story
- B. Lord et al. (2010). Congestive heart failure in two pet rabbits (RIP)
- The Town of Imagination for Rabbits and Dr. Chloe Block DVM. (2025). Herman’s HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) diagnosis and plans going forward
Further reading
- Dr. Maggie Wood. Heart Disease in Rabbits
- Vetlexicon. Heart failure
- Esther van Praag. Congestive heart failure in rabbits [PDF] (Graphic)
- Barbara Deeb, DVM. (2011). Cardiovascular Disease in Rabbits: More questions than answers
- Kathy Smith. (2004). Heart Disease [PDF]
- Ashton Hollworth. (20 December 2019). Cardiac Disease in Small Exotic Mammals
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Varga Smith, M. (2022). Textbook of Rabbit Medicine (3rd ed.)
- ↑ Marie Mead. Heart Disease in Companion Rabbits: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Retrieved 13 Sept 2025 from https://rabbit.org/health/heart-disease/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ozawa, S., DVM, et al. (2021). Clinical and pathological findings in rabbits with cardiovascular disease: 59 cases (2001–2018)
(Graphic)