Top 5 Most Common Rabbit Testicle Problems

Rabbits are animals with the same reproductive features as most creatures, and they have problems there too.

These problems may not happen regularly, but it’s still essential to have them checked out. You may also check the video below for some of the familiar rabbit testicle problems.

Problem # 1: Testicular Cancer

The first and probably the most common testicle problem in rabbits is testicular cancer. Most of the time, rabbits are neutered to preserve their lives and avoid complications.

If your rabbit remains unneutered, there is a big chance that your rabbit may get testicular cancer. Learn more about neutering here.

Testicular cancer is not easy to diagnose in rabbits since it does not show any symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of testicular cancer is the enlarging of the rabbit’s testicles, but this can also be associated with many other things.

Your rabbit may show weakness or loss of appetite. Still, these symptoms can also be for other health problems aside from testicular cancer.

If you see any of these symptoms together, it’s better to have your rabbit checked by a vet. This will help you find out about the problem early on while it’s still treatable.

You can keep your rabbit healthy by regularly visiting a vet for check-ups even if they are not sick. It will lessen the chance for your rabbit to develop any health problem.

The best way to prevent your rabbit from having testicular cancer is to have them neutered while they are young, preferably when they turn six months.

Doing this will significantly reduce the chances and let your rabbit live a happy life. It will also remove the aggressiveness of rabbits from developing over time.

Problem # 2: Treponematosis or Rabbit syphilis

Treponematosis, also known as Rabbit syphilis, is a health condition in rabbits caused by a bacteria called Treponema.

One of the ways that a rabbit can have this disease is through sexual intercourse, which means that it can be transmitted from a female rabbit to a male rabbit and vice versa.

Another way for rabbits to be infected with their version of syphilis is by having close contact with an infected rabbit. It’s essential to be careful with this disease since it can also be passed from a mother rabbit to its offspring.

All rabbits can have this health condition, regardless of gender or age. However, it’s safe to say that it cannot be passed from rabbits to other living creatures such as animals or humans.

One common sign to look out for is blisters on your rabbit’s skin which may evolve into a sore that takes too long to heal and, eventually, a massive, painful wound. You may be able to spot these blisters in the genital area of your rabbit.

Once you have a hunch that your rabbit may be suffering from this disease, immediately take them to a vet to be checked. Do not let them breed with other rabbits and carefully isolate them.

Laboratory tests will be conducted to determine if the disease is indeed Treponematosis. Regular check-ups can help prevent the risk of your rabbit having any sort of disease.

Once the disease is detected, your rabbit will need a shot of Penicillin G to get rid of the bacteria completely. Take note of the rabbits that stayed within the infected area and have them taken a shot, too, even though they don’t have any symptoms.

Once they have taken the shot, it will take 10 to 14 days for them to fully recover and breed again with no risks whatsoever.

Problem # 3: Inflammation

You may notice that your rabbit’s testicles may look swollen or inflamed from time to time. While it may be some minor issue, some inflammation may cause concern for rabbit owners who need to do something immediately.

Aside from health-related problems, rabbits may also experience inflammation and have swollen testicles for non-infectious reasons.

One of them is scratches or bites from other rabbits. This may not be too difficult to fix, but it can be a point of concern for the other rabbits who bite and scratch.

The first thing to do in this situation is to identify which of the rabbits harms the others. Once it has been identified, isolate this rabbit and find out the cause of its aggression.

Most of the time, rabbits’ aggression is caused by something bigger that can be solved quickly. Once the problem is solved, you can return the rabbit to the more giant cage where the others are to see if they will continue the behavior.

Another factor that can cause inflammation or swollen testicles in rabbits is their environment. It’s essential to note that hot temperatures can cause the skin in the testicles to rub against each other, making it swollen and inflamed.

Always be wary of the temperature in the area where your rabbits are and keep them cool.

Another environmental cause that can lead to swollen testicles is sharp objects in the cage. Without noticing it, some items in their cage can be turned sharp over time, especially if they nibble on it for a long time.

Ensure that you inspect their cells daily for any surface that may be too harsh on the rabbits or cause them harm.

Problem # 4: Hutch burn or Urine scald

The following disease on our list is the hutch burn, also known as urine scald. This infection is known to cause burning pain for your rabbit.

Their rear end will start swelling because it will burn due to the chemicals in a rabbit’s urine. If you try to check near their back end, the infection may cause a visual that looks like a swollen testicle.

One of the most common reasons rabbits experiences hutch burn is that they are not cleaned well. Their ends may still have some drop of urine left in them which then stays on for some time and burns their skin.

To prevent this from happening, you need to thoroughly clean your rabbit from time to time so that there won’t be any excess urine left on its rear end or genitals. You may also opt to buy more materials to put on their cage’s floors to soak up the excess urine from their skin.

While it is not common, urine scald can also happen if your rabbit cannot urinate properly. Some conditions may be a root cause for it, such as urinary tract infections, disorders, arthritis, or obesity.

You should have your rabbit regularly checked by a vet to prevent any health problems from existing.

Problem # 5: Genital Infections

One of the easiest health problems that rabbits may catch is genital infections. It is caused by a number of bacteria and can easily infect other rabbits.

The most common way to diagnose it is by letting your rabbit undergo several laboratory tests to determine the bacteria that caused the problem in the first place.

One of the many ways to determine if your rabbit has genital infections is to check if its testicles look more extensive than usual. This is one indication that your rabbit may be having some health problems related to his reproductive system.

You may also notice some pus coming out from the rabbit’s urethra, which can also indicate genital infections. Be vigilant in checking these signs since they can be crucial to your rabbit’s health.

If you think that one of your bucks has been infected, abstain from breeding. If they are bred with female rabbits or does, chances are that they might infect the females too.

Genital infections don’t care if a rabbit is a male or a female, but they can only infect adult rabbits. In fact, female rabbits are more prone to any genital infection compared to male rabbits.

Once your vet has diagnosed your rabbit with genital infections, the first step to treatment is antibiotics.

For rabbits with severe cases or if antibiotics won’t work, another suggestion that your vet may give is to have a surgical solution to get rid of affected organs and help your rabbit become healthier.

It’s essential to act quickly once diagnosed since infections can cause burning pain for rabbits, making them agitated most of the time.

Problem # 6: Inguinal hernia

Last, on our list is a health condition called Inguinal hernia. One fact about male rabbits is that their inguinal canal does not entirely close on its own. Because of that, many organs can travel down to it and get trapped.

Most of the time, damages are prevented by the testicle since they are literally on the way. However, suppose your rabbit has been neutered early on, and the inguinal canal was not surgically closed. In that case, it can still happen to them.

If your rabbit is suspected of this health condition, contact your vet immediately. Some cases can be life-threatening, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Summary

Now that you know the top 5 most common rabbit testicle problems, you can be more vigilant to see how your rabbit’s health is doing. Testicle problems are not too familiar with rabbits. Still, this article is a safety reminder for all rabbit owners to take care of their rabbits.