Rabbit diseases

This page is here to help you understand some of the diseases rabbits can get.
the lists below are just some of the diseases that we found our selves by researching them online.
 the sandy pond Rabbitry takes no responsibility and would recommend taking your pet to the vets right away

· Cold- symptoms are sneezing and a nasal discharge. Usually not as serious as pneumonia but should still be isolated and taken to the vet.

· Snuffles- is a thick white discharge from the nose accompanied with a lot of sneezing a more developed (Cold). It is caused by stress or bad ventilation. Seek medical advice. May be fatal.

Pneumonia- Symptoms: rabbit breathes hard, sneezing and nasal discharge. Seek medical advice right away. (May be fatal). Preventative: don't allow the rabbit to be in a draft (protect from wind and cold.

Rabbit has Fly-strike-Rabbits must have their bottoms checked daily in warm weather. Fly eggs laid on dirty bottoms hatch into maggots which literally eat into the rabbit. The maggots give off toxins which can kill the rabbit. Picking off visible maggots is not enough - some may have already got under the skin. If you can get to the vet within a few minutes, go there immediately. If you are more than about 10 minutes away, dunk the rabbit's hindquarters under a running Luke warm tap to get rid of the worst of the external maggots. The main priority is getting the rabbit to the vet fast. Even with antibiotics and intravenous fluids, the prognosis is fairly grim. Prevention is much better - ask your vet for advice if your rabbit is at-risk.

· Red Water- is reddish urine caused by cold temperatures, feeding too many greens or carrots. Provide plenty of water.

Ear mite- Symptom: scab like substance in ears Treatment: place mineral oil in ears .
 Allow rabbit to shake them out.

Fur mites- Treatment: mite powder.

Sore hocks- Treatment: Spray iodine on feet,  use antifungal powder

· Abscesses- are lumps that appear suddenly and are caused from fighting and from cuts and wounds sustained by sharp edges on feeders etc. The treatment for this condition is to clip the fur away from the wound, make an incision on the lower edge of this so that it can drain freely and then bathe with warm salty water or a mild antiseptic twice a day until it finishes discharging.

· Canker results from small mites that go inside the ear irritating it until causing a thin discharge which then forms a crust. The rabbit will shake its head and constantly try to scratch its ear. This can be treated with a canker cream over several days. The hutch should be cleaned and disinfected.

· Constipation- usually is the reason for when a rabbit goes off its food and only produces hard dried up droppings. More greens should be provided to prevent this occurring. Talk to a vet about other options.

· Conjunctivitis (Pink eye) is an inflammation of the eye caused by spraying urine, draughts, ammonia fumes, or a dusty atmosphere. An eye ointment available from the vet can easily treat this.

· Heat stress- will cause the rabbit to lie in a prostrate position panting rapidly. Keeping a bottle of water in the freezer and placing it in the cage near the rabbit so he can lower the temperature of his body. Heat stress can occur suddenly and kill within only a few hours. Rabbits cant sweat like humans so his is necessary for their survival.

· Mucoid Enteritis or bloat or scours- is one of the top ten main causes of death in rabbits. The symptoms are  loss of weight, apathy, grinding of the teeth and squinting eyes. Usually there is loose stools  with a clear mucous substance. The rabbit should be taken off pellets and fed only hay and given plenty of water to drink. Consult a vet about what to do next.

· Mastitis- is an inflammation of the milk glands a.  A swelling will appear but an injection of penicillin by a vet should cure the infection.

·Obesity-  in over-fed rabbits results in breeding difficulties and affected animals may become sterile. Sudden death can also occur. You should reduce food and increase exercise.

· Paralysis occurs in the hindquarters and is usually caused by injury such as dropping the rabbit or disturbance by other animals, jumping to much etc....  Talk to a vet about your options.

Wry Neck-  Rabbit turns head to side. Preventative - Make sure there is adequate ventilation as the cause usually is too much ammonia.

Watery eyes covered with white sticky substance (mainly occurs in babies)
- you can use visine to help clear this up-
 

Although it is necessary for the rabbits owner to recognize these conditions if in doubt a veterinarian should always be consulted.