Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
cause it is so easy for the mites to pass from rabbit to rabbit. If there is a lot of debris built up
in the ear, mineral oil should be placed in the ear to soften the debris. The material should
then be wiped out with a cotton ball. Medication is readily available in the form of eardrops,
which you can pick up at your local veterinarian's office. Each ear should be treated and the
base of the ear massaged after applying the drug.
Enterotoxemia:
This disease is characterized by an explosive diarrhea. It usually occurs in
young rabbits 1 to 2 months old. The rabbits may be normal one day, and then found dead the
next. It is caused by a bacterium,
Clostridium spiroforme
, which releases a deadly toxin caus-
ing death in one to two days after infection. How the rabbits are infected with these bacteria is
not entirely known, but it is thought that giving rabbits extra fiber such as supplemental hay
will help reduce the disease occurrence. Giving rabbits penicillin will also cause enterotox-
emia.
External parasites (fleas, mites):
Rabbits generally have mites on their skin, which usually
does not become a problem unless the animal becomes unhealthy. Then the mites can flourish,
causing intense itching, hair loss, and sores. To treat external parasites, apply a cat flea
powder weekly. This treatment is also effective against the rabbit flea, a seldom-encountered
parasite in domestic rabbits. If your rabbit does have fleas, its environment will need to be
treated with an insecticide to destroy flea eggs and larva.
Fungal infections:
Rabbits can harbor fungus that cause skin lesions. These fungi also can be
transmitted by and to humans. A rabbit with a fungal infection will have patchy hair loss, usu-
ally around the nose, eyelids, ears, and face. The affected skin may also become thick and
have yellow crusts. Usually, a young rabbit will show more severe hair loss and skin changes.
Treatment consists of spot treatment of affected areas with an antifungal ointment. If many
rabbits are affected, oral medication can be given.
Hutch burn:
This condition is caused by rabbits being subjected to wet and dirty floors. The
anus and genital region of the rabbit become chapped and red. The damp condition irritates
these delicate membranes, and soon, they become infected with a secondary bacterial infec-
tion. There is no reason for this condition to occur if you keep your pens clean and dry. You
can treat this ailment by cleaning and drying the pen and applying antibiotic ointment to the
affected areas.
Malocclusion:
A rabbit's teeth continuously grow throughout its lifetime, and they should be
straight and meet evenly. If the teeth do not meet properly, this condition is called malocclu-
