I recieved a buck from another breeder.  He appeared to be in good shape.  His coat wasn't perfectly maintained, but I don't expect a perfectly maintained coat for a rabbit that isn't showing!

His wool was loosening up, he was just starting to mat and molt.  He had small mats on his hocks.  Because the hair was "balled up" in these spots, his skin rested on the wire, causing sore hocks.  The irritation caused him to groom himself - and with his newly molting coat, his intestines clogged with a potentially fatal rabbit-sized hairball called "wool block."

I noticed right away when he started eating less after he was here just a few days.  Then he stopped eating - two days before I was leaving the country for vacation!

Here's the good news:  I had already done my homework.  I contacted my "rabbit vet" immediately and got an appointment for early the next morning.  I cut his coat short to prevent him from ingesting more wool.  I added a water crock to his cage in addition to his bottle and put extra hay in for him to (hopefully) nibble on.

In the morning, the vet gave him subcutaneous fluids, laxatone, an enema, and a gut motility injection.  He was feeling much better in just a few hours.  My rabbit vet came out to the rabbitry 3 times a day to give him his injections while I was on vacation!

He is completely better now - playful, active.  With a long rest from the wire cage floor, his hocks have also healed completely.

Educating yourself, preparing, and preventing are essential to taking care of all pets, especially rabbits.  Take time to learn about common health problems and warning signs.  Find a veterinarian who specializes in rabbits.  Take preventative measures - like maintaining the angora coat, providing flat boards for rabbits to stand on, and checking regularly for sore hocks.

Taking action early saves money and lives!