Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The ears should be clean and dry. The toenails should not be overly long. The teeth should not
be long or cutting into the roof of the mouth.
Common Rabbit Illnesses
Common health problems include ear mange, coccidiosis, and pasteurellosis. Many diseases
are spread by introducing new animals into an established herd. New animals should be quar-
antined from the main herd for 14 days and observed for any sign of disease during this time.
If you do find a sick animal, either a new arrival or one from your established herd, the sick
rabbit should be isolated from the rest of the rabbits, preferably in a different building. The
sick animal should be cared for only after you have taken care of the healthy rabbits. Wash
your hands and disinfect your shoes after caring for the sick animals. If the rabbit dies, its car-
cass should be burned or buried to stop the spread of diseases. Any pens and equipment used
for caring for the sick rabbit should be cleaned and disinfected before being reused.
Coccidiosis:
This disease is caused by a protozoa parasite. Coccidiosis affects the liver and
intestine of rabbits and causes diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Occasionally a rab-
bit will die from coccidiosis. It is spread through fecal contamination of cages, waterers, and
feeders, so daily cleaning of these items will help reduce the incidence of coccidiosis. Treat-
ment is through feeding a medicated feed for two to three weeks to reduce the number of
parasites.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye):
Young rabbits are commonly affected by conjunctivitis, especially
those that are raised in crowded conditions. Bacteria invade the conjunctiva (the red lining
around the eye) and cause infection. The eye then becomes red and swollen. A thick discharge
collects around the eye frequently, pasting the eye shut. One or both eyes may be affected.
You can treat the affected area by gently washing the eyelid with a warm washcloth to remove
the discharge, flushing the eye with sterile saline, and treating the eyes with an eye antibiotic
ointment.
Ear mites:
Ear mites are the most common external parasite of rabbits. Mites invade the ear
and thick, brown crusts of serum accumulate inside the ear. The rabbit shakes its head and
scratches its ears due to the intense itching. When the rabbit tries to scratch the itch, the toe-
nails on the hind feet cause scratches to the outside of the ear, as well. Serious infections can
cause weight loss, nerve damage, and ear infection due to bacterial invasion. Even if only one
rabbit in your herd is showing signs of an ear mite infection, all rabbits should be treated be-
