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Diseases

Got any questions? Contact The Rabbit Guide for answers!

 

On this page I will place an 'index' for all of the diseases known to rabbits. They will be in groups, and the diseases in the groups will be going in alphabetical order. In each disease I will try and include a description, cause(s), symptoms, and treatment.
For a free downloadable/printable book on diseases and parasites go here.

Index:
Bacterial

  • Enteritis:  Enterotoxemia,

Misc. diseases

  • Sore Hocks

  • Urine Scald (Hutch burn)

 

 

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Enteritis (Diarrhea Disease Group)
Enteritis is the designation of any diarreal-type disease.  Many diarrhea diseases are fatal to rabbits.

The specific diseases that are under this category are

 

  • Enterotoxemia

  • Mucoid Enteropathy

  • Tyzzer’s disease

  • Coccidiosis

 

Enterotoxemia

Enterotoxemia is an explosive diarrheal disease that mainly affects rabbits at the age of 4-8 weeks old. A few uncommon happenings of this disease is when it affects adult and junior rabbits.  The rabbits are often fine one day then found dead the next. Signs of Enterotoxemia are lethargy, and messy bottom caused by diarrhea. The bacteria Clostridium spiroforme is often the cause of this disease.  The affected rabbit will die in 24-48 hours if they are young, adults may live as long as 96 hours.

 

Symptoms:

  • Lethargy

  • Rough Coat

  • Diarrhea

 

Treatment:

Most often the rabbit(s) die before you realize what is wrong. You can attempt to save the rabbit(s) by pulling out food pellets and any treats.  Then free feed hay, you may slowly add some rolled oats to the diet if the rabbit(s) will not eat the hay.  You may also buy Probios, a horse pro-biotic, you would sprinkle a little bit on top of the food. Follow the guidelines on the container on how to distribute it.

 

Preventative/ Decrease the chance:

You can decrease the chance of Enterotoxemia by a high in Fiber diet. The addition of hay will do that.

 

What goes on to cause it?

If you do a necropsy of the rabbit then you will most likely see a fluid filled intestine that is covered with petechial hemorrhages. The hemorrhage is most apt to be seen in the cecum.

If you are dealing with this problem this should help, however there are no guarantees.

 

 

 

Mucoid Enteritis

Symptoms may include:

  • Diarrhea

  • Soft stools with or without mucus

  • Slushy sound from gut

  • Bloated gut/ distended

  • Rough coat

  • Dull eyes

  • Decreasing or lack of appetite

  • Lethargy

  • Teeth grinding (sign of pain)

  • In older rabbits these symptoms may occur over a period of time. In younger rabbits, death can occur within 48 hours from when the diarrhea started.

 

Cause:

  • Stress (anything associated to stress)

  • Lack of a nutritious diet

  • Lack of good fiber content

  • Introduction to a new bacteria

  • Bacterial overload

 

Treatment:

  • Pull the pellets (food) from his cage and replace it with grass hay. Not timothy, because that will not help diarrhea. Then purchase Probios (large and small animal probiotic) and sprinkle some on the hay. You may also give old fashioned oats.

  • The reason do pulling out the food and replacing it with hay is because the rabbit will need lots of fiber to help the gut move well and harden stools.

  • Protein (in pellets) do not help in this case.

  • Also, you can give plantain and blackberry leaves if the rabbit has been introduced to them.

  • Stop feeding fruits and veggies during the treatment time because sugars and extra waters is only feeding the diarrhea.

  • If there is diarrhea showing then put some electrolytes in the water.

  • Reduce stress

 

Lots more info! (Includes a few photos.)

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_disease ... tis_en.htm

 

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Sore Hocks (Pododermatitis)
Sore Hocks is unfortunately very common for rabbits and painful as well.  This usually affects the bottom of their hind feet, aka hocks, and most often happens to larger and more heavier rabbits or breeds with thin padding (like Rex breeds).  It is ideally caused by pressure on the hocks against the cage's flooring (wire, wood, etc),  leaving the fur to erode away and skin to be exposed to wire and or wood.  If this is not noted soon then it will get worse.  The skin may start to rub off leaving open wounds that can lead to infection. Ulcers may appear in infected. If this happens then you should clean the rabbit’s feet thoroughly and dry then completely,  then apply Bag Balm or a triple antibacterial ointment to the hocks,  this leaves a protective layer. Clip the nails if they are long. Then place the rabbit in a clean cage that has EZ mats or daily cleaned carpet to keep it off wire and/ or wood.   If the rabbit is in pain then it may have lack of appetite,  which may lead to other problems.

Causes of sore hocks:

  • Over grown nails

  • Obesity

  • Damp or unhygienic surroundings

  • Being in a small confined place with wire floors for a long period of time

 

Symptoms:

  • Missing Hair from hock area

  • Sores and redness

  • open skin

  • Sometimes lack of appetite

 

Treatment:

  • Bag Balm

  • A&D ointment (zinc free)

  • Calamine lotion

  • or Epsom salts.

  • Open wounds should be treated with an antibiotic type ointment such as Neosporin.

  • A general antibiotic such as Terramycin Soluble Powder may be helpful in preventing further infection.

  • Clipping nails

  • Clean cage

 

If none of this works then seek Veterinary help.

Helpful sites –

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/sorehocks.php

http://www.netvet.co.uk/rabbits/sore-hocks.htm

 

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Urine Scald (aka Hutch Burn)

Urine scald is an unfortunate issue that is most common to rabbits in solid floor hutches/cages, in a small confined place, and or disabled. With urine scald, the rabbit's urine is in contact with it's fur and skin. The urine will 'burn/scald' the skin of the rabbit and cause great discomfort. The rabbit will have awful urine stained fur and bare spots of skin. The best thing to do is give a bottom bath. Use a rabbit safe shampoo, I suggest using Zymox's shampoo that is made for dogs, cats, small animals, and other furry animals. (Price is usually around $12 for 12oz however it should last a while.) After you give the rabbit a good bath (only the dirty places, the bottom, no sense in making the rabbit more wet) then risne all the soap off. Leaving any soap on the rabbit could potentially irritate the rabbit's skin. Dry thoroughly with a towel and a blow dryer if needed. Keep the blow dryer around 12 inches away from the rabbit and keep it on low. When drying the rabbit with a towel, be careful not to rub the raw skin. When you are done drying off the rabbit, it is best to take a fine tooth comb and gently comb the rabbit to fluff the rabbit's fur. Apply a skin ointment to the bare skin to seal and protect the skin. I would use A&D ointment (NO ZINC), Bag Balm, Neosporin (original formula only), or a Triple Antibiotic (no pain  reliever). At that time you may put the rabbit back in it's cage. Make sure that every inch of the cage is clean. Code the rabbit's skin with an ointment daily, till the skin is healed and starts to grow fur.

 

Causes of Urine Scald:

  • Unhygienic surroundings - dirty cage, contact with urine, etc

  • Solid flooring that isn't cleaned regularly

  • Small cage with little moving space

  • Disabled - ie. tail can't lift for proper projection of the urine, unable to move, etc

 

Symptoms:

  • Hair-loss (hair-loss is most common on the tail, underside of the rabbit near the genitalia, and legs)

  • Sores and redness

  • Open skin / inflamed skin

  • Discomfort by urinating or standing

 

Treatment:

  • bottom bath

  • skin cream:   such as A&D ointment (NO ZINC), Bag Balm, Neosporin, Triple Antibiotic

  • Clean Cage

  • Daily cleaning and applying cream 

 

If none of this works then seek Veterinary help.

 

How to do a bottom bath: 

Here are supplies that you need.

  • Tub (sink, paint tray, any type of tub that can hold water)

  • Shampoo (I suggest Zymox)

  • Towels

  • Fine tooth comb

  • Skin ointment (I suggest A&D ointment-NO ZINC, Bag Balm, Neosporin-original formula only)

 

More soon
 

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