Rabbits

Common Diseases,Cause,Symptoms and Treatment

Ear Canker (ear mange or ear mites)

Cause: Small mites.

Symptoms: Shaking head, effort to scratch ears. Yellow-brown

scales, sores in ear. Usually does not cause death but keeps rabbits in
poor condition.

Treatment: Swab affected area with ear mite medication.

Repeat in several days as needed.

Sore Hocks

Cause: Rough or sharp areas of cage floor. Tendency of some

rabbits to sore hocks when housed on wire.

Symptoms: Tendency to tread with rear feet in effort to remove

weight. Pads of feet (usually rear feet) have swollen areas or exposed
sores. Usually does not cause death but keeps rabbits in poor condition
and may interfere with breeding.

Treatment: Provide clean, soft bedding such as straw or hay

or a resting board. If abscessed, lance, irrigate with an
antiseptic and apply an antibiotic.

Snuffles

Cause: bacterial infection.

Symptoms: Sneezing, nasal discharge, rattling noise in breathing.

Snuffles is a common problem in rabbits. It is contagious and can cause
death.

Treatment: Elimination is difficult. Antibiotic treatment

may help. Isolate affected animals, keep cages clean, dry and
sanitary. Cull animals chronically affected.

Coccidiosis: Liver and Intestinal Types

Cause: Protozoa of Eimeria genus.

Symptoms: Diarrhea, pot belly, loss of condition. May cause death

in young.
 Treatment: Sulfa drugs in drinking water. Good sanitation
important. Consult a veterinary laboratory ,And increase Vit
A.D3.E in ration

Enteritis (Scours, Bloat)

Cause: Unknown

Symptoms: Young "primarily affected" prior to weaning.

Diarrhea, sometimes bloat, excessive drinking, poor condition, some
mortality.

Treatment: No specific treatment known.

Malocclusion (Buck Teeth)

Cause: Inherited, may be injury in older rabbits.

Symptoms: Incisor teeth grow excessively long and interfere with

eating.

Treatment: No effective treatment. Do not breed affected

animals. Teeth may be cut to allow eating and permit young to
reach market age.

Wet Dewlap

Cause: Dewlap under neck becomes wet, microorganisms grow.

Symptoms: Matted, discolored hair, loss of hair or irritated skin.

Treatment: Raise water bowl to prevent wetting. Clip

affected hair, apply powder or starch for drying. Apply ointment
if skin is irritated.

Spinal Fracture (Broken Back)

Cause: Injury from struggling or unusual activity.

Symptoms: Paralysis in rear quarters.
Treatment: None, dispose of animals. Minor injuries may
recover.