Rabbit Fever in Dogs and Cats: What Pet Owners Should Know

A dog that chases rabbits or a cat that catches small wildlife may seem to be following normal instincts, but contact with certain wild animals can expose pets to infections. Rabbit fever in dogs and cats is commonly associated with tularemia, a bacterial disease that can affect animals and people. Pets may become infected through tick bites, contact with infected wildlife, or eating contaminated animals. This guide explains how tularemia spreads, what symptoms to watch for, how veterinarians diagnose and treat it, and when urgent veterinary care may be needed.

What Is Rabbit Fever in Dogs and Cats

Rabbit fever is another name for tularemia, an infection caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Dogs and cats can become infected through tick bites, contact with infected animals, contaminated environments, or eating infected wildlife. Cats can sometimes develop serious illness after hunting rabbits or rodents.

Tularemia can affect multiple body systems because the bacteria can enter the body and multiply inside certain immune cells.

Easy Scientific Explanation

Your pet’s immune system contains cells that normally find and destroy invading organisms. Francisella tularensis has the ability to survive and multiply inside certain immune cells, allowing infection to spread.

Think of immune cells as security guards. Instead of being destroyed immediately after being captured, this particular bacterium can use those cells as a place to survive and spread.

Step	What Happens
Exposure	Bacteria enter through a bite, wound, mouth, or other route
Entry into the body	Bacteria reach tissues and immune cells
Immune response	The body tries to contain the infection
Bacterial spread	Infection can move through lymph nodes and other tissues
Illness develops	Fever, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, or other signs may appear

Because several diseases can cause similar symptoms, veterinary testing is important.

How Do Dogs and Cats Get Tularemia

Pets can encounter the bacteria in several ways. Tick bites are an important route of transmission, while hunting or handling infected wildlife can also expose dogs and cats. Contact with contaminated water, soil, or plant material may also contribute to exposure in some situations.

Potential exposure routes include:

• Tick bites
• Flea exposure in some settings
• Hunting infected rabbits or rodents
• Eating infected wildlife
• Contact with infected animal tissues
• Contact with contaminated environments
• Bacteria entering through wounds or mucous membranes

Cats that hunt outdoors may have more opportunities for exposure because they can catch and handle wildlife without an owner seeing the interaction.

Exposure	Why It Can Matter
Tick bite	Infected ticks can transmit bacteria
Hunting	Pet may contact infected tissues
Eating wildlife	Bacteria can enter through the digestive tract
Open wound	Damaged skin provides an entry point
Contaminated material	Bacteria may reach the mouth, eyes, or broken skin

Your veterinarian may ask about outdoor activity, hunting, ticks, and recent wildlife contact when investigating unexplained illness.

What Are the Signs of Tularemia in Dogs and Cats

Signs can vary depending on how the infection entered the body and how widely it has spread. Common concerns include fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness. Cats can develop more severe disease, particularly after hunting infected wildlife.

Watch for:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mouth ulcers
• Difficulty breathing
• Eye inflammation
• Sudden changes in behavior

Not every infected pet develops the same combination of symptoms.

Easy Scientific Explanation

Lymph nodes are small structures that help the immune system filter fluid and respond to infections.

When bacteria enter nearby tissues, immune cells may gather in regional lymph nodes. This can cause those nodes to become enlarged or painful.

Sign	Possible Reason
Fever	The immune system is responding to infection
Swollen lymph nodes	Immune activity increases in nearby tissue
Poor appetite	Infection and inflammation affect normal behavior
Weakness	The body is using energy to fight illness
Dehydration	Fever, poor intake, vomiting, or diarrhea may reduce fluid levels
Breathing changes	Infection may affect the respiratory system in severe cases

These signs are not unique to tularemia, so diagnosis requires more than observing symptoms.

Why Can Tularemia Be More Serious in Cats

Cats can develop significant illness after exposure to infected wildlife. Outdoor cats that hunt rabbits or rodents may have greater opportunities for exposure.

Cats may develop high fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, swollen lymph nodes, oral lesions, or other signs. Severe infections can affect breathing and multiple organs.

This does not mean every outdoor cat will develop tularemia. It means wildlife exposure should be considered when an outdoor cat suddenly becomes ill.

Dogs can also become infected, particularly those with significant exposure to ticks or wildlife.

Can Rabbit Fever Spread From Pets to People

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can infect both animals and people. People may become infected through tick bites, handling infected animals, inhaling contaminated material, or other exposure routes. Pet owners should use caution when handling a sick animal with a suspected wildlife-associated infection and follow veterinary guidance.

This does not mean owners should avoid their pets. Instead, use sensible precautions.

Situation	Safer Approach
Handling wildlife remains	Avoid direct contact when possible
Sick pet with suspected infection	Follow veterinary handling instructions
Contact with bodily fluids	Use appropriate protective measures
Tick exposure	Check pets and people for ticks
Bite or scratch	Clean the area and seek medical advice when appropriate

If your pet is diagnosed with tularemia, ask your veterinarian about precautions for everyone in the household.

How Do Veterinarians Diagnose Tularemia

Tularemia can be challenging to identify because its signs overlap with many other infections and inflammatory conditions. A veterinarian may consider your pet’s symptoms, outdoor exposure, wildlife contact, tick history, physical examination findings, and laboratory testing.

Diagnostic testing may include:

• Complete blood count
• Blood chemistry testing
• Testing for the bacteria or its genetic material
• Antibody testing
• Samples from affected tissues or lymph nodes
• Additional imaging or testing when needed

Easy Scientific Explanation

Some tests look for the bacteria itself, while others look for evidence that your pet’s immune system has responded to it.

Think of this as investigating a break-in.

One test looks for the intruder. Another looks for evidence that the security system has been activated.

Testing Approach	What It Looks For
Molecular testing	Genetic material from the bacterium
Culture	Growth of the organism under laboratory conditions
Antibody testing	Immune response to the infection
Bloodwork	Changes associated with illness
Tissue or lymph node testing	Evidence of infection in affected areas

Your veterinarian in Pasadena chooses testing based on symptoms, timing, and suspected exposure.

How Is Tularemia Treated in Dogs and Cats

Tularemia is a bacterial infection, so treatment generally involves antibiotics selected by a veterinarian. Supportive care may also be needed when a pet has dehydration, poor appetite, fever, or more severe illness.

Treatment can include:

• Appropriate antibiotic therapy
• Fluid support
• Nutritional support
• Treatment for vomiting or other symptoms
• Monitoring temperature and hydration
• Hospital care for severely ill pets

The choice of antibiotic, dose, and treatment length depends on the individual patient.

Pet owners should never use leftover antibiotics from another animal or human prescription. The wrong medication may not treat the infection effectively and can create additional health risks.

Hypothetical Example

Imagine an outdoor cat named Luna that catches a rabbit and returns home several hours later. The next day, Luna becomes unusually tired, stops eating, and develops a fever. Her family tells the veterinarian about the recent wildlife exposure, which helps guide the diagnostic workup. After evaluation and appropriate testing, Luna receives veterinary treatment and supportive care while her family follows precautions recommended by the veterinary team.

This example shows why mentioning wildlife contact can be valuable when a pet develops sudden unexplained illness.

How Can Pet Owners Reduce Tularemia Risk

You cannot eliminate every wildlife or tick exposure, especially for outdoor pets, but you can reduce opportunities for infection.

Consider:

1. Limit hunting: Reduce access to rabbits, rodents, and other wildlife.
2. Control ticks: Use veterinarian-recommended parasite prevention.
3. Supervise outdoor activity: Keep pets away from wildlife carcasses.
4. Secure food: Prevent pets from eating wild animals.
5. Check for ticks: Examine pets after outdoor activity.
6. Keep wounds clean: Contact your veterinarian about significant bites or injuries.

Cats that hunt frequently may benefit from transitioning toward safer, supervised outdoor activities.

When Should You Seek Veterinary Care

Seek urgent veterinary care when your pet develops sudden, severe illness after wildlife or tick exposure, especially if fever occurs alongside weakness, breathing difficulty, dehydration, or inability to eat or drink.

Prompt evaluation is especially important if your pet:

• Becomes severely lethargic
• Has difficulty breathing
• Cannot keep food or water down
• Develops significant dehydration
• Has a very high or persistent fever
• Has severe weakness
• Develops rapidly enlarging or painful lymph nodes
• Has a known bite or significant wildlife injury
• Suddenly deteriorates

A sick cat that recently hunted a rabbit or rodent should receive prompt veterinary attention, particularly if fever and loss of appetite develop.

Conclusion

Rabbit fever, or tularemia, is a bacterial infection that can affect dogs and cats after exposure to infected wildlife, ticks, and contaminated environments. Cats that hunt rabbits or rodents may face particular exposure opportunities, while dogs can also become infected through tick bites and wildlife contact. Fever, weakness, poor appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and other sudden changes should not be ignored, especially after known wildlife exposure. This is because tularemia can also infect people; appropriate precautions are important when handling a suspected case. Spencer Animal Hospital, Pasadena, TX, can evaluate concerning symptoms, investigate possible causes, and provide appropriate treatment when needed.

FAQs

Q1: What is rabbit fever in dogs and cats?
A: Rabbit fever is a common name for tularemia, a bacterial infection caused by Francisella tularensis. Dogs and cats can become infected through tick bites, wildlife contact, or eating infected animals.

Q2: Can a dog or cat get tularemia from a rabbit?
A: Yes. Contact with infected rabbits or other wildlife can expose pets to the bacteria. Hunting and eating infected animals are potential routes of infection.

Q3: What are the symptoms of tularemia in cats?
A: Cats may develop fever, lethargy, poor appetite, swollen lymph nodes, dehydration, mouth lesions, and weakness. Severe cases can involve breathing difficulties or more widespread illness.

Q4: How is rabbit fever treated in pets?
A: Treatment generally involves veterinarian-selected antibiotics, with supportive care added when necessary. Severely ill pets may require fluids, nutritional support, monitoring, or hospitalization.

Q5: When should I take my pet to a veterinarian for suspected tularemia?
A: Seek veterinary care promptly if your pet becomes sick after hunting, eating wildlife, or experiencing significant tick exposure. Urgent care is particularly important for severe weakness, breathing problems, dehydration, persistent fever, or sudden deterioration.