One of the best ways to carry your rabbit is to place it in a towel and then cradle its back legs in one hand while holding the scruff of its neck with the other hand. If you do not know how to carry your rabbit, ask for instruction. Hairballs which accumulate in the stomachs of rabbits are also a common cause of death. Hairballs most commonly result from a lack of fiber in the diet. Feeding low quality pellets especially without the addition of good hay will predispose your rabbit to this life-threatening disease.
Hairballs are also more common in long-haired rabbits.
Brushing out your rabbits loose hairs a couple times a week can help prevent hairballs. Even with the best preventive care a few rabbits will develop hairballs. If they are caught early, often medical therapy alone is very successful. Unfortunately, the prognosis for this procedure is only fair. So, if your rabbit goes off its feed, produces less stool than normal, has abnormal amounts of hair in its stool, or feels like it has a wadded sock in its abdomen, your rabbit needs to see its veterinarian immediately.