Ailments and Problems
Internal Blockage
This problem can have different causes. Have your rabbits been chewing rags or plastic items like a cat box? First Aid:If so, remove the item and give your rabbit a cat hairball remedy by mouth or syringe with the needle removed. This lubricant will help the blockage through your rabbit's system. Rabbits cannot throw up, so it is important to use toys and equipment around them that are safe for them to chew. Some blockages must be handled by a vet, it's understandably expensive, so it is more prudent to prevent the problem.
Fur Blockage
Sometimes long-haired breeds and molting rabbits of any breed can get fur or wool stuck in their stomach. The best way to prevent hairballs or impactions is to feed loose hay regularly. Feeding hay only (removing all other food) one day a week is very effective in preventing hairball formation. As I said before, rabbits cannot expel hairballs by vomiting so we need to use roughage to drive fur through the system.First Aid:If you suspect a fur blockage, remove all regular pellets and offer hay only, especially if you see their droppings strung together by strands of hair. If they do not eat the hay, buy a fresh pineapple, cut some up and put it in the blender, and see if they will drink it. If not, force feed 1/4 cup (for a medium-sized rabbit) of strained pineapple juice to the bunny twice a day using a feeding syringe until they willingly eat a considerable amount of hay a day. If they do not start eating within a day, visit your vet. You can purchase a feeding syringe from your dentist, it is used to irrigate teeth.Toes, Ears and TailsTrim toe nails regularly so they don't get caught on the carpet and on your clothing. Never hold a rabbit exclusively by the ears. The cartilage in the ear can break or bend and is not repairable. Don't catch your rabbit by the tail! Always hold your rabbit's whole body as carefully as you would hold a baby.First Aid:If your rabbit sustains an injury to its toes, ears or tail, keep it contained for a few days so nature can heal the best it can. Broken ears do not heal. Toes and tails can be bound to the body to knit, but it is difficult -- consult your vet. If you noticed it too late to fix; the injury is only cosmetic, your bunny is still your cute pet, and it doesn't matter to them.Cuts:Bunny cuts heal amazingly fast. Clean the cut if it is dirty and apply Neosporin or a similar ointment.Fleas:Use cat flea powder only. Never flea dip a rabbit. They are very susceptible to poison. A flea dipped rabbit can die within minutes.Ear Mites:Mitox or whatever your vet prescribes, works well. Keep it on hand. Completely disinfect the cage using diluted bleach (do not use Pinesol or other strong cleaners -- they are poisonous to rabbits) and rinse thoroughly. Do it again one week later, use cat flea powder for two weeks and wash all bedding when disinfecting the cage. Ear mites or fur mites also may be responsible for excessive loss of fur.Teary Eyes:Terramycin eye ointment is available at feed stores. Wash the eye with warm water, and carefully trim wet fur around the eye. Follow directions on Terramycin ointment.Broken ToothOops! Your bunny jumped and missed. Check those teeth! Top teeth should overlap the bottom. If one is missing or broken, check every day to be sure they are growing back in correctly. Gentle pressure, after a week or so, can be applied three times a day to guide the tooth to the correct alignment. Incorrectly aligned teeth can grow into the nose or into the mouth and prevent eating. Misaligned teeth need to be trimmed frequently. Your vet or groomer can teach you how to trim them.
The best first aid is prevention. Be familiar with your rabbit, note their moods and habits so you can tell when something is not right. Keep first aid products on hand, and treat problems immediately, don't delay. If possible, raise rabbits indoors and make them part of your family, you'll enjoy every minute of it.
EnteritisSigns:
Bunny has soft, loose, watery, jelly or mucousy stools. May sit in water bowl, grinding teeth, does not eat.
Treatment: Emergency!
Put probiotics in water, use electrolyte replacement with pedialyte. Do not give pellets, give hay and quaker oats. Will need albon or other antibiotic. High mortality rate.
Red Urine:Signs:
Red or orange discolored urine that does not contain "clots"
Treatment:
None. Bunny has had too much protein in feed or hay.
Wry NeckSigns:
Twisting of head, bunny will roll when excited, loss of balance.
Treatment:
Will need antibiotic ear drops. High mortality rate.
Hutch burnSigns:
scabbed, inflamed vent area
Treatment:
Keep cage clean, apply triple antibiotic cream to vent area until healed
WarblesSigns:
Swelling or lump-may be anywhere. Caused by fly that lays eggs under the skin of animals and the larvae grow under the skin
Treatment:
Difficult to remove at home. Take bunny to vet. Injuring larvae may cause it to release a toxin which can kill the bunny. Treat routinely with ivomec to prevent this.
GI StatisSymptoms:
Rabbit not eating or eating less, not producing feces or producing feces that are smaller than normal, hunched in pain, loud grinding of teeth due to pain
Treatment:
Gently massage abdomen to stimulate movement in the gastrointestinal tract. Simethicone (liquid is the cheapest form, and usually the easiest to administer) can reduce the amount of pain caused by gas bubbled. Give at 1 to 2 cc every hour for three hours, then reduce to 1 cc every 3 to 8 hours. Encourage the rabbit to eat good quality timothy hay. Hay can help restore the proper movements of the gut. Fresh leafy herbs, such as kale, mint, basil, dill, cilantro, or parsely can help to stimulate the rabbi's appetite. Soak the leaves in water for a few minutse to add extra moisture to them. Do NOT feed yogurt. This is a myth that can cause more harm to the rabbit by promoting the growth of the unwanted bacteria even more! Dehydration is a majour cause of death in rabbits with G.I. stasis so it is important to keep the rabbit properly hydrated. 100 cc (approximated one ounce) per pound of body weight is needed each day to remain properly hydrated. Seek help from a rabbit knowledgeable veterinarian if the rabbit shows no signs of improvement within a few hours. G.I. stasis can quickly kill a rabbit.
Prevention:
Provide quality timothy hay each day. Do not feed many treats that are high in carbohydrates (crackers, bread, etc.). Feed food that is at least 22% crude fiber. Make sure your rabbit drinks enough water each day to prevent dehydration.
Tyzzer's Disease
Symptoms:
Diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, and death.
Treatment:
Little, if anything can be done. Oxytetracycline is sometimes helpful to help contain the disease to prevent a majour outbreak.
Prevention:
Good sanitation and quarentine program, reduction of stress.
ToxoplasmosisCause:
The protozoa Toxoplasma gondii. Cats can spread the parasite in their feces, or a pregnant doe may spread it to her unborn offspring.
Symptoms:
There are two forms of the disease. In the acute form, anorexia, fever, and lethargy are the first symptoms. These are followed by central nercous sytem damage, which can result in paralasis of the hindquarters or convulsions. Death usually follows about a week after the first symptoms. In the chronic form, there are often no symptoms. When there are, they are usually hindquarter paralysis followed by death.
Treatment:
None noted.
Prevention:
Keep feed from being contaminated by cat feces by keeping cats away from stored feed. Ideally, rabbits should not be in contact with cats, or at least with areas where the cat may have contaminated the area with feces.
Bloody UrineSymptoms:
Actual blood in the urine, pink or red urine. There is a condition in rabbits called "red urine," which is a reddish or orangeish colour in the urine. This contains no blood and is completely normal and does not mean the rabbit is unhealthy. Only if there is actual blood in the urine should you be worried.
Treatment:
Treat the cause.
Rabbit Syphilis also known as Vent DiseaseSymptoms:
Raw, red, swollen areas that form blisters can be found primarily around the genitals, nose, and lips. These blisters form scabs when they heal. In young kits, the blisters often look whitish due to a white puss material inside of the blister.
Treatment:
An injection of penicillin antibiotic weekly for 3 weeks. Please consult your veterinarian if you are unfamiliar with injections and dosages in rabbits.
Prevention:
Keep affected animals away from healthy animals, and wash hands and clothing thoroughly after handling infected rabbits. Quarantine new rabbits for at least two weeks before introducing them into your herd. Do not breed rabbits without first doing a full health check on them, and do not breed ill rabbits.
MyxomatosisSymptoms:
Skin lisions, swollen lumps (especially on the ears, nose, and paws). Other forms can cause symptoms such as is seen in snuffles (Runny nose, sneezing, etc.), but this form is hard to distinguish from snuffles.
Treatment:
There is very little that can be done to treat a rabbit with myxinatosis. Keep the rabbit eating and drinking, and use antibiotics to control secondary infections. Even with such treatments, most rabbits succumb to the virus. Even if the rabbit recoers, it should be kept away from all other rabbits as it may be a carrier of the virus and could spread it to otehr rabbits.
Prevention:
The only real prevention is a vaccine. Unless Myxomatosis is a problem in your area, or if there is a large population of wild rabbits in your area, it is not usually worth the money it takes to vaccinate. To my knowledge, there is not approved Myxomatosis vaccination in the United States. Since the disease is spread by biting insects, keeping biting insects away from your rabbits as much as possible will help with prevention.
VHD/RHDSymptoms:
Lack of appetite, lethargy, high fever, spasms, difficulty breathing, bluish colouration to the mouth or lips, foamy nasal discharge, bleeding, sudden death. VHD is usually a swift killer, and the rabbit may not show any signs.
Treatment:
None known MEDICATIONS FOR RABBITS
Please always follow your veterinarians advise before giving any medication to your rabbit.
Aureomycin Soluble PowderOther Names:
Chlorotetracycline Hydrochloride
Type:
Water-soluble broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Usage and Dosage:
Mix with drinking water at a dose of 1/4 Teaspoon per 32-ounce water bottle for 5 to 10 days.
Safety:
Reported to be safe for use with young rabbits. Should be followed by a stomach remedy such as triple acid pack or Bene-Bac to keep the digestive system functioning poperly.
Affectiveness:
Helps with some bacterial respiratory problems and enteritis.
BaytrilOther Names:
Enrofloxacin
Type:
Broad spectrum antiobiotic.
Usage and Dosage:
Use the charry-flavoured version for oral usage. Comes in both a pill and an injectable form. Requires a veterinary prescription.
Safety:
Safe for adult rabbits. May cause cartilage damage in young rabbits.
Affectiveness:
Very effective in putting pastuerella into a dormant state, but it will not cure it. Also effective against other bacteria. A culture should be done to test the bacteria's sensetivity toward Baytril as some strains are resistant.
Bene-BacOther Names:
None
Type:
Stomach remedy.
Usage and Dosage:
1 gram per 10 pounds orally
Safety:
Safe for adult and young rabbits
Affectiveness:
Helps prevent diarrhea by replacing proper stomach bacteria. Very useful after treating a rabbit with antibiotics.
CoccidiostatOther Names:
Corid (Amprolium) brand name
Type:
Water-soluble coccidiostat.
Usage and Dosage:
Mix with water, one teaspoon per gallon of water. Use for 5 days straight, then use plain water for 10 days, and follow with another 5 days of the coccidiostat.
Safety:
Safe for rabbits as young as 3 weeks old.
Affectiveness:
Helps eliminate coccidia.
IvomecOther Names:
Ivomec 1% Solution for cattle, ivermectin
Type:
Antiparasitic
Usage and Dosage:
1/10 cc. per pound of body weight, given orally to treat internal parasites, followed by a stomach rmedy such as Triple Acid Pack or Bene-Bac to restore proper desireable bacteria. Apply a topical form for external parasites such as fur mites. Treat once, wait for 14 days, then treat again. You may need to continue this a few times to break the lifecycle of the parasite.
Safety:
Oral usage can destroy many benecicial bacteria in the rabbit's intestines, so it should always be followed by a stomach remedy such as Triple Acid Pack or Bene-Bac.
Effectiveness:
Very effective in treating and preventing various parasites, including pinworms and mites.
Micotil Other Names:
None noted
Type:
Antibiotic
Usage and Dosage:
Micotil should never be used, except in extreme cases where the rabbit is likely to die of a Pastuerella multicida infection.
Safety:
Micotil is very toxic to rabbits and to humans.
Effectiveness:
Extremelly effective against Pasteurella multicida, but will often poison the rabbit as well. There is approximately a 70% mortality rate for rabbits that are given this antibiotic. Do not use except in a last resort treatment for life-threatening infections of Pastuerella multicida.
Nutri-CalOther Names:
Vita-Cal
Type:
Dietary suppliment, high in calories
Usage and Dosage:
Note sure yet.
Safety:
I am currently researching the safety of Nutri-Cal in rabbits.
Effectiveness:
Not yet known.
OxytocinOther Names:
Pitocin
Type:
Labour inducing drug.
Usage and Dosage:
This drug is generally available by prescription only and should be administered by a veterinarian.
Safety:
This drug should be used only when delivery is very near, at or after day 30, or during a difficult delivery. It can rupture the uterus if administered incorrectly. This drug is extremelly dangerous to pregnant humans.
Effectiveness:
Very effective in inducing labour. It will also stop post partum hemmorhage.
PetromaltOther Names:
None noted
Type:
Hairball preventative
Usage and Dosage:
Use an inch-long ribbon once a week. Use the malt-flavoured kind that is specifically for rabbits.
Safety:
Safe for rabbits as young as 4 weeks of age. It can reduce vitamin absorption, so it is best to use only when there is a need (wooled rabbits, when a rabbit is moulting, etc.)
Effectiveness:
Effective in preventing hairballs. Not very effective for treating hairballs
SulquinOther Names:
Sulquin 6/50, Sulfaquinoxaline
Type:
Antiprotozoal
Usage and Dosage:
For treatment, use 1 Tablespoon per gallon of water. For prevention, use 1 to 1.5 teaspoons per gallon of water. Treat for 5 days, provide regular water for 10 days, then treat for 5 days again.
Safety:
Safe for adult rabbits. I am not sure of the saftey for young rabbits.
Effectiveness:
Effective in treating coccidiosis and intestinal enteritis.
Terramycin Soluble PowderOther Names:
None
Type:
Water-soluble broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Usage and Dosage:
Mix with drinking water at a dose of 1/4 Teaspoon per 32-ounce water bottle for 5 to 10 days.
Safety:
Reported to be safe for use with young rabbits. Should be followed by a stomach remedy such as triple acid pack or Bene-Bac to keep the digestive system functioning poperly.
Affectiveness:
Helps with some bacterial respiratory problems and enteritis.
Terramycin Eye OintmentOther Names:
None
Type:
Broad-spectrum antibiotic eye ointment.
Usage and Dosage:
Clean the affected area, then apply the ointment once a day until the infection has subsided..
Safety:
Safe for adult rabbits. Safety with young rabbits is unknown to myself.
Affectiveness:
Helps clear up eye infections.
Triple Acid PackOther Names:
None
Type:
Stomach remedy.
Usage and Dosage:
Mix with drinking water
Safety:
Safe for adult rabbits. Safety with young rabbits is unknown to myself.
Affectiveness:
Helps prevent diarrhea by replacing proper stomach bacteria. Very useful after treating a rabbit with antibiotics.
AUREOMYCIN (CHLORTETRACYCLINE)
Soluble powder used in the treatment of snuffles, infections, etc. 1 level teaspoon to 5 gallon water.
FIRST AID KIT: SUPPLIES TO HAVE ON HAND
These are a must for any rabbit owner or breeder. I keep a small tackle box with all my supplies inside so that in an emergency Im easily able to find everything that I need.
BAG BALM
BANDAGES/GAUZE
CHAMOMILE TEA OR RESCUE REMEDY- USED TO HELP CALM A STRESSED RABBIT
PEROXIDE
DISPOSIBLE RAZOR- MAY BE NEEDED TO SHAVE HAIR NEAR AN INJURY
ELECTROLYTES SUCH AS PEDIALYTE
EYE DROPPER
FLEA COMB
ICE PACK
VASOLINE
MITACIDE
NEOSPORIN
SYRINGES- NO NEEDLES
PETROMALT
Q TIPSQUICK STOP - JUST IN CASE YOU CUT A NAIL TO FAR AND IT BLEEDS
SALINE SOLUTION
SCISSORS
STERILE COTTON BALLS
SYRINGES WITH NEEDLES
THERMOMETER
TOWELS
TWIZZERS
