circling is a medical sign, not a quirk

in Singapore, rabbit owners face a challenge that owners in cooler climates rarely encounter. heat and humidity can make it hard to separate normal restlessness from something more serious. a rabbit who seems “extra active” or spinning around the enclosure might be trying to cool down or investigating a new smell. but if you look closely and see true circling, where the rabbit repeatedly loops in the same direction and cannot seem to stop, that is a medical red flag. Singapore has a limited number of exotic vets trained in rabbit medicine, and after-hours access is even more restricted. knowing what circling means, and catching it early, matters more here than almost anywhere else.

what circling actually looks like

circling means your rabbit moves in tight, repeated loops in one fixed direction. it is not the excited running that rabbit owners call “zoomies” or the binky 500. in a binky run, the rabbit changes direction freely and looks happy. in true circling, the rabbit appears unable to break the pattern.

some rabbits circle slowly, looking confused or distressed. others circle fast and frantic, losing their footing as they go. the head is often tilted toward the side they circle toward. the eyes may flick rapidly from side to side. this involuntary eye movement is called nystagmus, and it is a key sign of vestibular system disruption.

the rabbit may fall over entirely when trying to stop or turn the other way. the key clue is directionality and persistence. a rabbit who circles right, consistently, for more than a minute is showing a neurological or vestibular sign. a rabbit who briefly loops during play and then runs off freely in all directions is almost certainly fine.

the main causes of circling

inner ear infection

the vestibular system, a network of fluid-filled canals in the inner ear, tells the brain which direction is “up.” bacteria, most commonly Pasteurella multocida, can infect the middle or inner ear and disrupt this system entirely. the result is that the brain receives conflicting signals. the rabbit circles toward the affected side, tilts its head the same direction, and may roll over if the infection is severe.

the outer ear often looks normal from the outside. owners cannot diagnose this at home. a vet will examine the ear canal and may take a cytology sample or culture to identify the bacteria involved.

E. cuniculi

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microscopic parasite that infects rabbit brain tissue and kidney cells. estimates suggest that the majority of Singapore’s domestic rabbit population carries the parasite silently for most of their lives. exposure happens at birth or through contact with infected urine. the parasite stays dormant until something stresses the immune system: surgery, another illness, or the chronic low-level stress of living in a hot, poorly ventilated HDB flat.

once active, E. cuniculi creates inflammatory lesions in the brain. these lesions cause sudden-onset head tilt, rolling, and circling. it is one of the most frequently seen neurological presentations at Singapore exotic vet practices.

diagnosis is via E. cuniculi serology, a blood test that measures IgM and IgG antibodies. a high IgM suggests active infection. treatment involves fenbendazole, an antiparasitic, combined with meloxicam to reduce brain inflammation. most vets start treatment based on clinical signs before test results come back, because waiting 48 to 72 hours while brain lesions are active is too risky.

other causes

brain tumors, abscesses, stroke, and toxin exposure can all cause circling too. these are more likely in rabbits over five years old. head trauma from a fall is another common trigger in Singapore house rabbits. flat living means rabbits often access furniture, and a bad landing can damage the vestibular nerve.

why Singapore rabbits face higher risk

several local factors raise the likelihood of circling episodes.

heat is the first. Singapore’s ambient temperature sits between 28°C and 32°C year-round, with humidity above 70%. rabbits are prey animals evolved to hide illness. chronic heat stress suppresses immune function, and both E. cuniculi and bacterial infections exploit any window of reduced immune response.

space constraints are the second factor. HDB regulations limit the size and type of pets kept in flats. many rabbits in Singapore live in relatively small enclosures. a rabbit with mild early vestibular disease may only circle when stressed or picked up. owners with less floor space to observe their rabbit moving freely are more likely to miss these early episodes.

exotic vet access is the third factor. Singapore has fewer rabbit-savvy exotic vets per capita than countries like Australia or the UK. a general cat-and-dog vet may not be equipped to diagnose E. cuniculi or differentiate vestibular disease from other conditions. knowing the signs early means you can advocate clearly for your rabbit at the first appointment, regardless of which clinic you reach first.

fourth, sourcing and history. many Singapore rabbits come from pet shops where the breeding herd’s health history is unknown. E. cuniculi exposure may have happened before the rabbit even came home with you, meaning the parasite is already present and waiting for a stress trigger.

how serious is it

circling is a same-day emergency. the underlying causes are almost always progressive.

an inner ear infection left untreated for days can spread to the brainstem. E. cuniculi lesions grow and cause more permanent damage the longer they remain active. even if the circling episode stops on its own, the underlying disease is still present and active.

urgent: if your rabbit begins circling, contact a SG exotic vet the same day. do not wait overnight.

as of 2026, an initial exotic vet consultation in Singapore typically runs SGD 80 to SGD 150. diagnostics including E. cuniculi serology and ear cytology may add SGD 100 to SGD 300. a treatment course with fenbendazole and meloxicam may cost SGD 200 to SGD 600 depending on severity and duration. catching the first episode early reduces the number of treatment rounds needed and significantly improves the chances of a full recovery.

what to do while waiting for the vet

clear the enclosure of anything the rabbit could fall from: ramps, platforms, ledges, second levels. place the rabbit in a low-sided space with thick fleece bedding to cushion any falls or rolling.

keep the room cool. if you have AC, set it to 24°C to 26°C. heat worsens vestibular symptoms and adds immune stress. this is one of the most actionable things you can do while waiting for an appointment.

do not force feed or force hydrate. place hay and a water bowl within easy reach of where the rabbit rests naturally. if the rabbit cannot reach food independently, mention this to the vet and ask for supportive feeding guidance.

film a short video before you leave for the clinic. 30 seconds of the rabbit circling shows the vet the direction, speed, and severity of the episode. this helps differentiate the cause and guides treatment.

what owners often get wrong

mistaking circling for excitement

rabbits circle briefly during mating behavior or when very excited for food. but those circles are loose, brief, and break off freely in all directions. medical circling is tight, persistent, and directional. the rabbit cannot easily change direction or stop the pattern.

dismissing a short episode

circling that resolves after a few minutes is still a medical event. it may be the first detectable episode of E. cuniculi or early vestibular disease. do not assume your rabbit “just had a funny moment.” a single episode warrants a vet call within 24 hours.

going to a general small-animal clinic

a vet without exotic or rabbit training may miss E. cuniculi entirely, prescribe broad antibiotics that do not address the underlying cause, or use dosing guidelines not appropriate for rabbits. always seek a vet with rabbit or exotic animal experience for any neurological presentation.

waiting until the rabbit cannot stand

Singapore rabbit owners sometimes delay due to cost or the difficulty of getting an appointment. a consultation on day one of symptoms gives much better outcomes than day five when the rabbit cannot stand or eat independently. early treatment carries a good prognosis. delayed treatment risks permanent vestibular damage and a rabbit with a permanent head tilt.

related reading

• head tilt in rabbits: causes and what to do
• E. cuniculi in Singapore rabbits: what you need to know
• hind leg weakness and neurological signs in rabbits
• our vet directory, find a rabbit-savvy exotic vet in Singapore for neurological emergencies

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for any health concern see a licensed SG exotic vet.