What to Do When a Rabbit Has Low Blood Sugar?

1 Overview

I. Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar in Rabbits

1. Most acute: the rabbit trembles all over, body temperature drops, drools, arches its back and neck, and paddles its limbs as if swimming. Act at once or it may die quickly.

2. Acute: the rabbit loses balance, stands unsteadily, eats little, cools down, and goes limp. Without prompt care it may lapse into coma and die.

II. First Aid for Low Blood Sugar

Warm the rabbit at once and drench it with 20%-50% glucose. It will not cooperate, so use a syringe, 10-30 ml every 2-3 hours. If no glucose water is at hand, use sugar water, then rush to a vet to find and treat the cause.

If you have medical skill, give an intraperitoneal injection of 10 ml 10% glucose every ~5 hours for 2-3 days, and the rabbit will recover.

II. Prevention of Low Blood Sugar

Feed scientifically, especially kits under two months – manage them well and meet their high nutrition needs. Do not starve them of nutrients for fear of urinary calcium; keep intake balanced with needs.

Tip: Do not think drenching glucose is the end of it. It only buys time; low blood sugar often returns. Take the rabbit to a vet to find and treat the root cause.