Health & Grooming

Choosing an Exotic Vet for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

If you have ever been told your rabbit is “basically a small cat” or your guinea pig “can just skip food for a day,” you already know the uncomfortable truth: some otherwise wonderful veterinarians do not get much formal training in small herbivores during school, and may see them infrequently in...

Spotting Mites, Lice, and Fleas in Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

If your rabbit or guinea pig is suddenly scratchy, flaky, or acting a little "don’t touch me" about being handled, external parasites are high on my list of suspects. I see it often in rescue intakes because stress, poor nutrition, and cramped housing make it easier for mites and lice to take...

Cleaning Rabbit Scent Glands and Guinea Pig Grease Glands

Some grooming jobs are glamorous, like brushing out a fluffy coat. Others are… not. Rabbit scent glands and guinea pig grease glands fall firmly into the “thank you for your service” category. The good news is that with the right setup and a little patience, you can keep these areas clean without...

Why You Shouldn’t Bathe Rabbits or Guinea Pigs

I get why people reach for the sink. A bunny steps in a cecotrope. A guinea pig sits in a damp corner and suddenly smells like a sock. We humans are wired to think water plus soap equals clean, and pet store advice has not always helped. But rabbits and guinea pigs are not tiny dogs. A traditional...

5-Minute Weekly Health Check for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

Most rabbit and guinea pig illnesses do not start with a dramatic symptom. They start with tiny changes: a slightly wetter eye corner, a little crust in an ear, a new hesitation to chew, a slow drift in weight. The good news is you do not need a vet clinic setup to catch those early signs. You just...

Emergency First Aid Kit for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

When a rabbit or guinea pig takes a sudden turn, it rarely happens at a convenient time. One minute everyone is happily munching hay, and the next you are staring at a pet who will not eat, is breathing fast, or is bleeding from a torn nail. I have learned (sometimes the hard way) that the best...

Upper Respiratory Infections in Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

If you have ever heard a bunny do a tiny “snick” or watched a guinea pig pause mid-squeak to breathe a little harder, you know the feeling. Respiratory illness in small pets is scary because it can go from “maybe allergies?” to “we need a vet today” in a hurry. Rabbits and guinea pigs have small...

Dental Care for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

Teeth are the quiet make-or-break issue for rabbits and guinea pigs. Their incisors and cheek teeth are continuously growing , and they are very good at hiding discomfort until they are truly miserable. The good news is you do not need special tools or a veterinary degree to catch many problems...

Grooming Molting Rabbits and Long-Haired Guinea Pigs

Molting season has a way of sneaking up on you. One day your rabbit looks perfectly normal, and the next they are wearing a patchy “sweater” of loose tufts. Or your long-haired guinea pig goes from silky to tangled basically overnight. The good news is that grooming does not have to be a wrestling...

How to Trim Rabbit and Guinea Pig Nails Safely

Nail trims are one of those little “grown-up pet care” tasks that feel intimidating until you do them a few times. Rabbits and guinea pigs have tiny feet, big feelings, and a talent for yanking a paw away at the exact moment you line up the clippers. The good news: you can absolutely learn to trim...

Recognizing GI Stasis in Rabbits and Guinea Pigs

GI stasis (gastrointestinal stasis) is one of those phrases that makes experienced rabbit and guinea pig people go quiet, fast. It is not “a tummy ache.” It is a dangerous slowdown or shutdown of the gut that can spiral into dehydration, severe pain, shock, and death. The tricky part is that the...