Medical Terms found in the ARBA Book:
- Abscess of Boil: a inflamed infection under the skin, gland, or in a hair follicle. Can be swollen, produce abnormal heat, and may occur red. Could also have pus gathering in the inflamed area.
- Bowed Legs: can be on the front or hind legs. Bent like a bow, legs curved either inward or outward from the middle. Could affect how they move around.
- Butting Teeth: A form of malocclusion, where the incisors (teeth) do not match, Upper incisors overlap the bottom incisors.
- Caked Teat or Breast: Swollen, Hard, milk-filled mammary gland, caused by excess production of milk.
- Cataract: An opaque or white lens in either or both eyes. The animal is or partially blind.
- Cold: An infection normally noticed from the nose from mucus, or wetness around the nose. Signs are sneezing, discharge of white - green mucus coming from the nose. Sometimes can be seen from matted fur on the inside of the front feet.
- Conjunctivitis: Inflammation in the inner membrane of the eyelid, sometimes can have a milky white - yellow coming from the eye.
- Deviated Spine: A abnormal spine, its where the normal alignment of the bones between the neck and back, are replaced with deformed, misshapen, or misaligned vertebrae. Can normally be detected from palpating around the should regions.
- Deviated Sternum: A condition in which the connecting tissue of the ribs and/or breast bone fus together forming an irregular sternum. Typically found at the lower end of the rib cage. Can be noticed by a lump or protrusion of a boney cone shape.
- Ear Canker: An inflamed, scabby condition, within the ear. It is cause by an infection of the ear canal by an ear mite. If not treated can cause Wry Neck.
- Fleas: A small wingless bloodsucking insect that may feed on rabbits.
- Gestation: The length of time between conception and birth 28 - 32 days. Usually about 31 days.
- Hernia or Rupture: A protrusion of an organ or part (as the intestine through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity (as of the abdomen) in which it is normally enclosed.
-Lactate: To produce milk
- Lice: A small, usually sluggish insect that sometimes lives on Cavies and rabbits and sucks their blood.
- Malocclusion: Teeth having the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors with no overlap. This is hereditary, may also be known as buck teeth, or wolf teeth.
- Mange: A skin disease caused by parasites mites. May be characterized by itching, lesions, scabs, and loss of hair.
- Mastitis: An inflammation of the mammary gland(s).
- Mite: A small insect that often infects the rabbit(s).
- Parasite: An organism that lives on, or within, the host animal. Examples are mites, lice, fleas, etc.
- Peg Teeth: Two small residual incisors just behind the normal top incisors. May be incorrectly used to indicate butting teeth.
- Pigeon Breasted: A narrow chest with a protruding "V" shaped breast bone.
- Purulent Discharge: A discharge of white pus, emanating from the nose of the rabbit or from an abscess on the rabbit.
- Simple Malocclusion: A condition where the top and bottom teeth butt together without esptablishing an overbite.
- Slobbers: Excessive salivation creating wet or extremely moist and unsightly fur around the mouth, lower jaw, and forelegs.
- Sore Hock: An ulceration of the foot pad which can occur on either the hind or front feet.
- Splayed (Spraddled Legged): A condition where the rabbit cannot hold the front or back legs under the body. The legs spread out from the body.
- Strain: A genetically related bloodline possessing distinguishable characteristics such as type, color, or coats, and the ability to pass the characteristics to the offspring.
- Tumor: An abnormally growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function.
- Wall Eye (Moon Eye): An eye that is whitish on the surface (cornea). Having a milky film over the eye.
- Weeping Eye: An abnormal discharge from the eye, resulting in severe matting in the area below the eye.
- Wry Neck: Carriage of the head to one side at an angular place, instead of the normal carriage in a vertical plane.
- Wry Tail: An abnormal tail, bent, carried, or twisted permanently to one side. A corkscrew tail with one or more turns.
- Yellow fat: Body fat that is yellow in color. The fat is not harmful, but undesirable from a sales stand point.
Viruses and Infections:
Ear Mites:
Symptoms: Shaking of the head, scratching of the ears, holding the ear lop-like, or close to the body, redness in the ear, swollen ears, crustiness inside the ears, can be yellowish or black, an odor can be present.
Transmitted or created by: It is most likely transmitted by birds, poultry, pigeons, hawks, etc. Birds feces is the most common, or birds touching the animals feed, also can be carried by the wind. Second most common way of getting mites, is by feeding hay, since hay is left out in the weather, birds and other animals can easily come into contact it while its out in the fields, or within the hay company.
Treatment: Many breeders resort into using right away injections, I try other alternatives first, because that is injecting a medicine into the rabbit that can have side effects.
1. Try using Olive oil, Mineral oil, Rice oil within the ear twice daily for 7 days straight. It is highly important that you do not skip a day. I use the cap as a measurement, and also even if it's just in one ear, do both ears just to make sure. The rabbit will shake the ear but before you allow them to shake their ears, rub the base of the ear after applying it into the ear, to ensure it goes down. What the oils do is it drowns the mites within the ear.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
3. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
4. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
Ear Canker:second stage to ear mites, this is what happens when ear mites is not treated or correctly treated. At this time it is safe to say that you need to do immediate treatment and a quick treatment, recommend using injection, or oral treatment.
Symptoms: Shaking of the head, laziness of the rabbit's ear carriage, extreme ear crustiness, an odor is more than likely to be present. Redness, shaking of the head, bleeding from the ears.
Transmitted or Created by: From mites, second phase of ear mites.
Treatment: If ear mites are left untreated they go into ear canker.
1. Try using Olive oil, Mineral oil, Rice oil within the ear twice daily for 7 days straight. It is highly important that you do not skip a day. I use the cap as a measurement, and also even if it's just in one ear, do both ears just to make sure. The rabbit will shake the ear but before you allow them to shake their ears, rub the base of the ear after applying it into the ear, to ensure it goes down. What the oils do is it drowns the mites within the ear.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
3. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
4. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
Wry Neck: This is fatal, effects the movement of the rabbit, the intake of food and water. If left untreated death. Rabbits that have a genetic weakness for Wry Neck, are more likely to get wry neck when older, after maturity. Offspring of wry neck animal has a 50% chance of getting wry neck after the animal has reached 3 years old.
Symptoms: Tilting of the head, dilated eyes, wobbly movement, slobbering, clumsy disorderly functions, losing weight.
Transmitted or Created by: Genetic defect within the DNA, and caused by severe mites into the neurological system.
Treatment: This requires injection immediately, never be able to be cured by the process can be stopped, and the animal will not ever be the same.
1. Penicillin: Injection 1/10 cc per pound or 0.01 ml per pound for a rabbit, inject at the nape of the neck, only once. This will cause it to stop the process but will not be cured of it.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
Fur Mites: This is a mite that eats the end of the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out, and quickly become bare. This can result in many other health problems, infection sores, open sores that contain bacteria, and spread to other rabbits.
Symptoms: Hair loss, sores upon the body, dandruff, rabbit becoming nervous, scratching upon the body.
Transmitted or created by:
Treatment: Easy and manageable, if kept up and treated correctly. If not can be fatal.
1. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
2. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
3. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
4. Diluted Lysol: it can be toxic if you spray it directly on, I put it on a wet rag, with a quick spray and wipe the rabbit down from the nape of the neck and downward toward the tail. Some of the chemicals can be deadly, do not use any of the Lysol with added fragrance such as lavender, fresh mint, etc. I use this treated 7 days once daily, and works on contact.
Conjunctivitis: Also known as Pink Eye.
Symptoms: redness eye irritation, crustiness around the eye. yellow discharge, hair loss around the eye, frequent scratching of the eye(s), swollen eyelids.
Transmitted created by: caused by bacteria within the eye. Highly contagious, b sure to wash your hands after touching the infected eye, can be transmitted directly.
Treatment: Must be applied correctly, and thoroughly, and make sure to keep up with it to the end, do not slip any days! ALWAYS before any medicine applied wash the infected eye(s) clean the eye with a warm rag thoroughly.
1. Tetracycline gel/ Terramycine gel: Not expensive runs about $8 - $11 dollars, and its great to have on hand. Applied to both eyes in case it transmits to the other eye as well. Apply twice daily for 10 days straight. Make sure to finish the antibiotic and to wash the eye out before applying so the bacteria does not spread. Make sure the gel gets inside the eye, and not just around it, for direct contact.
2. Vanodine (V-8): Helps disinfect the eye, does not harm the rabbit and is not painful. Diluted Vanodine onto a rag and wipe the eye making sure to get some inside the eye and also get around the eye. Do this twice daily for 10 days. Vanodine is a product that is no longer being imported into United States.
Coccidiosis: One of the most common viruses, rabbits are a known carrier. Younger rabbits are more susceptible. Twp types one effects the liver (Hepatic) and one effects the intestines (Intestinal) of the animal. Fatal in left untreated.
Symptoms: Some rabbits do not have symptoms and end up dropping dead. Some symptoms can be Swollen stomach, loss of appetite and failure to gain weight, diarrhea, depression, rough coat, feces may contain blood and mucus also can appear slimy. Intestinal Coccidiosis symptoms: open lesions, intestine can be thick and pale. Thick mucus urine or fecal matter.
Transmitted or created by: created by a single-celled organism called a protozoa. Can be transmitted when a rabbit or animal eats the eggs of the parasite, off an infected animal or feed. Can be caused by unsanitary living environment. Contaminated water or feed.
Preventative: Giving rabbits a healthy amount of hay on a daily - weekly basis is required. Giving them correct amount of food, and when bringing a new rabbit to your barn to place that rabbit into a sanitary cage away from the others for 10 - 14 days before exposing the rabbit to the other rabbits. Making sure their cage is clean, including feed bowls, water bowls, and anything else in the cage should be disinfected every 10 - 14 days.
Treatment: Make sure to clean the cage with a disinfectant, a recommended disinfectant is Ammonia components in a solution 10% Ammonia, and 90% water. Clean on a daily basis for 10 days is recommended.
1. Ponazuril (aka Marquis from Bayer): was developed to treat a microsporidian parasite in horses, but it has been found extremely effective for permanently removing coccidia in rabbits. In the UK and Australia, there is a product called Baycox (toltrazuril) which has the same effect and is less expensive. Only 3 doses (1 per day are required) although some prefer to dose an additional 2 days to ensure that the protozoa are gone..
2. Hepatic Coccidiosis Specific Treatment: As we know already but to ensure this is the Coccidiosis that effects the liver, and is difficult to cure and to treat.
- Sulfaquinozaline: Administered continuously in the drinking water (0.04% for 30 days)
- Sulfadimethoxine: (0.5% - 0.7 g/l) into the drinking water, given a minimum of 5 days.
3. Intestinal Coccidiosis: Most are mild, and most of the time symptoms cannot be seen normally.
- Sulfaquinozaline: given 7 days and repeated after a 7 day interval. (0.04%)
Mastitis: A blocked or swollen Mammary gland within a nursing or weaning doe. Affects lactating does only. Normally found in heavy producers of milk, commerical breeds. More common in commerical rabbitries.
Symptoms: Swollen, red teats. Hard teat, a lump upon the mammary gland. Do NOT let the kits of the doe nurse on her until it is healed, the caked milk within the gland has become sour, and will make the kits sick.
Transmitted or created by: Caused by Staphylococci (Staph Infection). Unsanitary conditions have been known to promote the infection. Also dried up milk can cause a block within the mammary gland causing the milk to become caked and eventually sours the milk.
Preventative: Easy way if you are afraid your does may be affected by Mastitis.
1. High-Fiber Diet: Giving the doe a higher supply of fiber, such as Hay, dark green leaves (non that will give gas), even a fiber supplement pill.
2. High - Calcium: Giving the doe a higher supply of calcium, now I do not mean giving her milk from the store. a teaspoon of Barley or rolled oats a day is great for your does milk supply, and helps keep her milk flowing.
3. Sanitation: Making sure the nesting box, and the cage is clean, disinfecting the cage every 5-7 days is ideal, and can help the offspring grow healthier.
Treatment: Treatment is simple and in order for it to go away, you must follow directions accordingly, and ensure to go the maximum day, without skipping a day.
1. Hot compress: Simple and cheap way, also relaxing the doe. 3 times a day at minimum, best is 4 times daily for 7 days straight, without skipping. This helps reduce swelling and helps the caked milk within the teat come out. Use a wet warm rag.
2. Bayril: Only available by veterinarian prescription. Dosage is 1/10 cc or 0.01 ml per pound injected in the nape of the neck. Only is required once. Price can vary upon location, Bayril is normally $50 - 70 dollars for the bottle, and can be stored in the refrigerator, and is great to have on hand for other medical purposes.
3. Penicillin: Can be bought at the local TSC, Tractor Supply, any feed store that has horse, cattle, and livestock feed. Prices can vary on location, and store. normally for a small bottle $50 - $60 dollars. Another great medicine to have on hand, in case of medical emergencies.
- Injected behind the neck, 1/10 cc per pound or 0.01 ml per pound. Some breeders use this as a one time injection or if you are concerned injected once and wait 3 days than inject again.
Sore Hocks: Common in heavy set breeds, Mini Rex and Rex. This is common with rabbits that are on wire bottom cages, and also can be genetic weakness.
Symptoms: Redness, open lesions on the feet. Missing fur upon the feet. Yellow - Green crustiness on the bottom of the rabbit's feet. Rabbit may limit the amount of movement he or she moves. Lose of appetite may occur in severe cases. Can cause Abscesses.
Transmitted or created by: Unsanitary conditions within the cage leads to infections. A rabbit that has no option to rest his or her feet upon a resting board (Look in rabbit knowledge for information on resting board) can get irritated and sore feet. Also can be a genetic weakness passed down by the rabbit's sire and dam's, should be taken into consideration that the rabbit may easily get sore hocks.
Preventative: Easy and simple ways.
1. Making sure your rabbit's cage is sanitary, no bright red rust or urine in the wire where the rabbit may sit or relax upon.
2. Giving your rabbit a resting board to sit on, and to relax their feet. For more information on resting boards look on the rabbit knowledge page.
Treatment: Simple, affordable. However if the rabbit has a genetic weakness to have sorehocks you may see them appear frequently, and it that case you will have to use treatment frequently can be a pain.
1. Vanodine (V-8): This drys out the wound, and helps it dry out faster so it can heal properly, also ensures that if any infection within an open wound, does not occur. Put a little upon a rag (It will stain a rag, make sure its not an important towel or rag) and dab onto the sore on the feet, twice daily for 7 days straight, it is important that you do not skip or miss a day.
- This product is no longer being imported into the US, but you can get it at Bunnyrabbit.com, for under $12 dollars. Last awhile, and great to have on hands.
2. Perioxide: Another way to dry out the wound, and helps it disinfect and heal quicker. If this bubbles on the foot do no worry or panic, it means it is taking care of an infection. Place onto a rag and dab onto the wound twice daily for 7 days straight.
Abscesses: A lump on the rabbit's skin that is hard, swollen.
Symptoms: A foreign lump upon the flesh of the rabbit, if becomes open can be made out to be a sore, can have white puss, or blood when it is reduced or opened. White Puss means it is infected and it is trying to eliminate the infection. Loss of fur around swollen area.
Transmitted or created by: Several explanations. Puncture wound, that has gotten infected. Also most breeders claimed that it can be caused by a clogged pour, this hasn't been proven, but not saying it cannot be. Also if you injected the rabbit improperly or with an used or infected needle, an abscess is most likely to occur.
Treatment: Simple treatments. Easy and manageable, an abscess happens commonly on older rabbit, or over weight animals.
1. Hot compress: Using a hot compress relaxes the tissues, and helps soften the flesh so you can open the wound to be cleaned out. Apply a warm wet rag onto the abscess 3 times minimum or 4 times ideal for 7 days straight. Sometimes it can take less, but 7 days helps the rabbit as well, with relaxing and trusting you. After the wound becomes soft, I take a clean needle (sowing needle), that I have cleaned with alcohol and make three small holes within the abscess and help reduce the amount of fluid within the wound to get it to heal quicker and reduce chance of spreading the infection. I push gently on the abscess, and then disinfect the wound with either Peroxide or Vanodine (V-8). You can also use alcohol but some rabbits react differently to Alcohol.
Pasteurellosis (Pasteurella) Virus: Two types of know Pasteurella Virus. Rhinitis (Snuffles or Nasal discharge), and Pneumonia (Ammonia, or upper respiratory infection). If this happens in your herd best to cull right away, cull means putting the animal down in risk of infecting the rest of your herd. Most commonly effects weaker immune rabbits, and younger rabbits are more susceptible. Recovered rabbits most likely to be carriers of this virus.
Symptoms: Nasal discharge in the color of yellow, or green. Matted front paws, from the rabbits wiping the discharge off on his feet. Weepy eyes (discharge coming from the eyes), wheezing and difficulties breathing. The rabbit may hold his or her head upward trying to breath, mouth may be open, because of the congestion within the nose. Sneezing and having discharge coming from the nose.
Transmitted or created by: Bacteria, unsanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation.
Preventative:
1. Keeping an adequate ventilation system running whether it be fans circulating the ammonia fumes outward, and bring in new and fresh air, or having an open barn.
2. Keeping the rabbit cage, and area clean and sanitary.
3. Make sure when you expose a new rabbit to the rest of your herd you have in an isolation for 10 -14 days before exposing your new rabbit to your other rabbits. Keep an eye on that rabbit to ensure the welfare of the rabbits currently resend at your home.
Treatment: Most treatment fails, and of risking one rabbit for entire herd you should consider putting the rabbit down for the welfare of your other rabbits. Even if the rabbit recovers it is most likely that rabbit will become a carrier of the virus and can spread it to it's offspring and to other rabbits. While the rabbits are sick isolate them for all other rabbits, it is highly contagious.
1. Putting down the rabbit or culling the rabbit: It's sad and sometimes we have to do this to ensure the safety of the rest of the animals living at our home.
2. Bayril: Only available by veterinarian prescription. Dosage is 1/10 cc or 0.01 ml per pound injected in the nape of the neck. Only is required once. Price can vary upon location, Bayril is normally $50 - 70 dollars for the bottle, and can be stored in the refrigerator, and is great to have on hand for other medical purposes.
3. Enfrofloxacin (Makers of Bayril): (200mg/kg) for 14 days straight and additive to their drinking water, make sure to supply fresh water with the medicine in it daily. Only available by Vet prescriptions.
4. Parenteral: (5 - 10 mg/kg) for 14 days administered through the drinking water.
Allergies: Common mostly in the breeds where the head is more squished toward the face. Netherland Dwarfs, Polish, Lop breeds, and some breeds I have Harlequins do not have the squished up face, but have been known to have some allergies. Easy fix, and should not worry too much.
Symptoms: Dry cough, clear mucus coming from the nose. Sneezing frequently, in more severe cases can have swollen and red ears. Also pinkish colored skin.
Transmitted or created by: Pollen, often time dust particles. Rabbits that has had their immune system disrupted tend to be allergic to more dust, and pollen.
Treatments: Simple, easy and natural solutions work best.
1. Mint Herbal tea: You can make this yourself, or go to the store and get a mint tea, make sure it is not caffeinated.
- Making it yourself and all you have to do is get warm tea, place some pre-dried mint leaves into warm water, for 10 minutes and pour the tea into the rabbit's water. You can also add some rosemary. This helps open up the sinuses and reduces swelling within the membranes.
2. Giving your rabbit some mint leaves, lavender, or rosemary helps relax the rabbit, takes immediate effect on the rabbits allergies and helps the airways open up.
*If your doe is nursing giving the doe mint will dry up her milk supply not recommended on does nursing or pregnant.*
- Bowed Legs: can be on the front or hind legs. Bent like a bow, legs curved either inward or outward from the middle. Could affect how they move around.
- Butting Teeth: A form of malocclusion, where the incisors (teeth) do not match, Upper incisors overlap the bottom incisors.
- Caked Teat or Breast: Swollen, Hard, milk-filled mammary gland, caused by excess production of milk.
- Cataract: An opaque or white lens in either or both eyes. The animal is or partially blind.
- Cold: An infection normally noticed from the nose from mucus, or wetness around the nose. Signs are sneezing, discharge of white - green mucus coming from the nose. Sometimes can be seen from matted fur on the inside of the front feet.
- Conjunctivitis: Inflammation in the inner membrane of the eyelid, sometimes can have a milky white - yellow coming from the eye.
- Deviated Spine: A abnormal spine, its where the normal alignment of the bones between the neck and back, are replaced with deformed, misshapen, or misaligned vertebrae. Can normally be detected from palpating around the should regions.
- Deviated Sternum: A condition in which the connecting tissue of the ribs and/or breast bone fus together forming an irregular sternum. Typically found at the lower end of the rib cage. Can be noticed by a lump or protrusion of a boney cone shape.
- Ear Canker: An inflamed, scabby condition, within the ear. It is cause by an infection of the ear canal by an ear mite. If not treated can cause Wry Neck.
- Fleas: A small wingless bloodsucking insect that may feed on rabbits.
- Gestation: The length of time between conception and birth 28 - 32 days. Usually about 31 days.
- Hernia or Rupture: A protrusion of an organ or part (as the intestine through connective tissue or through a wall of the cavity (as of the abdomen) in which it is normally enclosed.
-Lactate: To produce milk
- Lice: A small, usually sluggish insect that sometimes lives on Cavies and rabbits and sucks their blood.
- Malocclusion: Teeth having the lower incisors extending in front of the upper incisors with no overlap. This is hereditary, may also be known as buck teeth, or wolf teeth.
- Mange: A skin disease caused by parasites mites. May be characterized by itching, lesions, scabs, and loss of hair.
- Mastitis: An inflammation of the mammary gland(s).
- Mite: A small insect that often infects the rabbit(s).
- Parasite: An organism that lives on, or within, the host animal. Examples are mites, lice, fleas, etc.
- Peg Teeth: Two small residual incisors just behind the normal top incisors. May be incorrectly used to indicate butting teeth.
- Pigeon Breasted: A narrow chest with a protruding "V" shaped breast bone.
- Purulent Discharge: A discharge of white pus, emanating from the nose of the rabbit or from an abscess on the rabbit.
- Simple Malocclusion: A condition where the top and bottom teeth butt together without esptablishing an overbite.
- Slobbers: Excessive salivation creating wet or extremely moist and unsightly fur around the mouth, lower jaw, and forelegs.
- Sore Hock: An ulceration of the foot pad which can occur on either the hind or front feet.
- Splayed (Spraddled Legged): A condition where the rabbit cannot hold the front or back legs under the body. The legs spread out from the body.
- Strain: A genetically related bloodline possessing distinguishable characteristics such as type, color, or coats, and the ability to pass the characteristics to the offspring.
- Tumor: An abnormally growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function.
- Wall Eye (Moon Eye): An eye that is whitish on the surface (cornea). Having a milky film over the eye.
- Weeping Eye: An abnormal discharge from the eye, resulting in severe matting in the area below the eye.
- Wry Neck: Carriage of the head to one side at an angular place, instead of the normal carriage in a vertical plane.
- Wry Tail: An abnormal tail, bent, carried, or twisted permanently to one side. A corkscrew tail with one or more turns.
- Yellow fat: Body fat that is yellow in color. The fat is not harmful, but undesirable from a sales stand point.
Viruses and Infections:
Ear Mites:
Symptoms: Shaking of the head, scratching of the ears, holding the ear lop-like, or close to the body, redness in the ear, swollen ears, crustiness inside the ears, can be yellowish or black, an odor can be present.
Transmitted or created by: It is most likely transmitted by birds, poultry, pigeons, hawks, etc. Birds feces is the most common, or birds touching the animals feed, also can be carried by the wind. Second most common way of getting mites, is by feeding hay, since hay is left out in the weather, birds and other animals can easily come into contact it while its out in the fields, or within the hay company.
Treatment: Many breeders resort into using right away injections, I try other alternatives first, because that is injecting a medicine into the rabbit that can have side effects.
1. Try using Olive oil, Mineral oil, Rice oil within the ear twice daily for 7 days straight. It is highly important that you do not skip a day. I use the cap as a measurement, and also even if it's just in one ear, do both ears just to make sure. The rabbit will shake the ear but before you allow them to shake their ears, rub the base of the ear after applying it into the ear, to ensure it goes down. What the oils do is it drowns the mites within the ear.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
3. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
4. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
Ear Canker:second stage to ear mites, this is what happens when ear mites is not treated or correctly treated. At this time it is safe to say that you need to do immediate treatment and a quick treatment, recommend using injection, or oral treatment.
Symptoms: Shaking of the head, laziness of the rabbit's ear carriage, extreme ear crustiness, an odor is more than likely to be present. Redness, shaking of the head, bleeding from the ears.
Transmitted or Created by: From mites, second phase of ear mites.
Treatment: If ear mites are left untreated they go into ear canker.
1. Try using Olive oil, Mineral oil, Rice oil within the ear twice daily for 7 days straight. It is highly important that you do not skip a day. I use the cap as a measurement, and also even if it's just in one ear, do both ears just to make sure. The rabbit will shake the ear but before you allow them to shake their ears, rub the base of the ear after applying it into the ear, to ensure it goes down. What the oils do is it drowns the mites within the ear.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
3. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
4. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
Wry Neck: This is fatal, effects the movement of the rabbit, the intake of food and water. If left untreated death. Rabbits that have a genetic weakness for Wry Neck, are more likely to get wry neck when older, after maturity. Offspring of wry neck animal has a 50% chance of getting wry neck after the animal has reached 3 years old.
Symptoms: Tilting of the head, dilated eyes, wobbly movement, slobbering, clumsy disorderly functions, losing weight.
Transmitted or Created by: Genetic defect within the DNA, and caused by severe mites into the neurological system.
Treatment: This requires injection immediately, never be able to be cured by the process can be stopped, and the animal will not ever be the same.
1. Penicillin: Injection 1/10 cc per pound or 0.01 ml per pound for a rabbit, inject at the nape of the neck, only once. This will cause it to stop the process but will not be cured of it.
2. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
Fur Mites: This is a mite that eats the end of the hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out, and quickly become bare. This can result in many other health problems, infection sores, open sores that contain bacteria, and spread to other rabbits.
Symptoms: Hair loss, sores upon the body, dandruff, rabbit becoming nervous, scratching upon the body.
Transmitted or created by:
Treatment: Easy and manageable, if kept up and treated correctly. If not can be fatal.
1. You can use: injection Ivomec injected under the skin of the shoulders at 0.018cc/lb of rabbit. This is also a great preventative for rabbits, and can last up to 6 months at a time, however can cause abscesses.
2. Ivomec also comes in a spray, however I have not seen this, it is only a rumor, but you may be able to find it. If you do not want to give a rabbit a shot, and who blames you.
3. Some breeders use gold bond powder back of the neck, and a tad in the ears. I have not used this and I looked at the ingredients in this and I don't see any reason not to use it. Use once a day for 5 days straight, be careful to not get it in the eyes.
4. Diluted Lysol: it can be toxic if you spray it directly on, I put it on a wet rag, with a quick spray and wipe the rabbit down from the nape of the neck and downward toward the tail. Some of the chemicals can be deadly, do not use any of the Lysol with added fragrance such as lavender, fresh mint, etc. I use this treated 7 days once daily, and works on contact.
Conjunctivitis: Also known as Pink Eye.
Symptoms: redness eye irritation, crustiness around the eye. yellow discharge, hair loss around the eye, frequent scratching of the eye(s), swollen eyelids.
Transmitted created by: caused by bacteria within the eye. Highly contagious, b sure to wash your hands after touching the infected eye, can be transmitted directly.
Treatment: Must be applied correctly, and thoroughly, and make sure to keep up with it to the end, do not slip any days! ALWAYS before any medicine applied wash the infected eye(s) clean the eye with a warm rag thoroughly.
1. Tetracycline gel/ Terramycine gel: Not expensive runs about $8 - $11 dollars, and its great to have on hand. Applied to both eyes in case it transmits to the other eye as well. Apply twice daily for 10 days straight. Make sure to finish the antibiotic and to wash the eye out before applying so the bacteria does not spread. Make sure the gel gets inside the eye, and not just around it, for direct contact.
2. Vanodine (V-8): Helps disinfect the eye, does not harm the rabbit and is not painful. Diluted Vanodine onto a rag and wipe the eye making sure to get some inside the eye and also get around the eye. Do this twice daily for 10 days. Vanodine is a product that is no longer being imported into United States.
Coccidiosis: One of the most common viruses, rabbits are a known carrier. Younger rabbits are more susceptible. Twp types one effects the liver (Hepatic) and one effects the intestines (Intestinal) of the animal. Fatal in left untreated.
Symptoms: Some rabbits do not have symptoms and end up dropping dead. Some symptoms can be Swollen stomach, loss of appetite and failure to gain weight, diarrhea, depression, rough coat, feces may contain blood and mucus also can appear slimy. Intestinal Coccidiosis symptoms: open lesions, intestine can be thick and pale. Thick mucus urine or fecal matter.
Transmitted or created by: created by a single-celled organism called a protozoa. Can be transmitted when a rabbit or animal eats the eggs of the parasite, off an infected animal or feed. Can be caused by unsanitary living environment. Contaminated water or feed.
Preventative: Giving rabbits a healthy amount of hay on a daily - weekly basis is required. Giving them correct amount of food, and when bringing a new rabbit to your barn to place that rabbit into a sanitary cage away from the others for 10 - 14 days before exposing the rabbit to the other rabbits. Making sure their cage is clean, including feed bowls, water bowls, and anything else in the cage should be disinfected every 10 - 14 days.
Treatment: Make sure to clean the cage with a disinfectant, a recommended disinfectant is Ammonia components in a solution 10% Ammonia, and 90% water. Clean on a daily basis for 10 days is recommended.
1. Ponazuril (aka Marquis from Bayer): was developed to treat a microsporidian parasite in horses, but it has been found extremely effective for permanently removing coccidia in rabbits. In the UK and Australia, there is a product called Baycox (toltrazuril) which has the same effect and is less expensive. Only 3 doses (1 per day are required) although some prefer to dose an additional 2 days to ensure that the protozoa are gone..
2. Hepatic Coccidiosis Specific Treatment: As we know already but to ensure this is the Coccidiosis that effects the liver, and is difficult to cure and to treat.
- Sulfaquinozaline: Administered continuously in the drinking water (0.04% for 30 days)
- Sulfadimethoxine: (0.5% - 0.7 g/l) into the drinking water, given a minimum of 5 days.
3. Intestinal Coccidiosis: Most are mild, and most of the time symptoms cannot be seen normally.
- Sulfaquinozaline: given 7 days and repeated after a 7 day interval. (0.04%)
Mastitis: A blocked or swollen Mammary gland within a nursing or weaning doe. Affects lactating does only. Normally found in heavy producers of milk, commerical breeds. More common in commerical rabbitries.
Symptoms: Swollen, red teats. Hard teat, a lump upon the mammary gland. Do NOT let the kits of the doe nurse on her until it is healed, the caked milk within the gland has become sour, and will make the kits sick.
Transmitted or created by: Caused by Staphylococci (Staph Infection). Unsanitary conditions have been known to promote the infection. Also dried up milk can cause a block within the mammary gland causing the milk to become caked and eventually sours the milk.
Preventative: Easy way if you are afraid your does may be affected by Mastitis.
1. High-Fiber Diet: Giving the doe a higher supply of fiber, such as Hay, dark green leaves (non that will give gas), even a fiber supplement pill.
2. High - Calcium: Giving the doe a higher supply of calcium, now I do not mean giving her milk from the store. a teaspoon of Barley or rolled oats a day is great for your does milk supply, and helps keep her milk flowing.
3. Sanitation: Making sure the nesting box, and the cage is clean, disinfecting the cage every 5-7 days is ideal, and can help the offspring grow healthier.
Treatment: Treatment is simple and in order for it to go away, you must follow directions accordingly, and ensure to go the maximum day, without skipping a day.
1. Hot compress: Simple and cheap way, also relaxing the doe. 3 times a day at minimum, best is 4 times daily for 7 days straight, without skipping. This helps reduce swelling and helps the caked milk within the teat come out. Use a wet warm rag.
2. Bayril: Only available by veterinarian prescription. Dosage is 1/10 cc or 0.01 ml per pound injected in the nape of the neck. Only is required once. Price can vary upon location, Bayril is normally $50 - 70 dollars for the bottle, and can be stored in the refrigerator, and is great to have on hand for other medical purposes.
3. Penicillin: Can be bought at the local TSC, Tractor Supply, any feed store that has horse, cattle, and livestock feed. Prices can vary on location, and store. normally for a small bottle $50 - $60 dollars. Another great medicine to have on hand, in case of medical emergencies.
- Injected behind the neck, 1/10 cc per pound or 0.01 ml per pound. Some breeders use this as a one time injection or if you are concerned injected once and wait 3 days than inject again.
Sore Hocks: Common in heavy set breeds, Mini Rex and Rex. This is common with rabbits that are on wire bottom cages, and also can be genetic weakness.
Symptoms: Redness, open lesions on the feet. Missing fur upon the feet. Yellow - Green crustiness on the bottom of the rabbit's feet. Rabbit may limit the amount of movement he or she moves. Lose of appetite may occur in severe cases. Can cause Abscesses.
Transmitted or created by: Unsanitary conditions within the cage leads to infections. A rabbit that has no option to rest his or her feet upon a resting board (Look in rabbit knowledge for information on resting board) can get irritated and sore feet. Also can be a genetic weakness passed down by the rabbit's sire and dam's, should be taken into consideration that the rabbit may easily get sore hocks.
Preventative: Easy and simple ways.
1. Making sure your rabbit's cage is sanitary, no bright red rust or urine in the wire where the rabbit may sit or relax upon.
2. Giving your rabbit a resting board to sit on, and to relax their feet. For more information on resting boards look on the rabbit knowledge page.
Treatment: Simple, affordable. However if the rabbit has a genetic weakness to have sorehocks you may see them appear frequently, and it that case you will have to use treatment frequently can be a pain.
1. Vanodine (V-8): This drys out the wound, and helps it dry out faster so it can heal properly, also ensures that if any infection within an open wound, does not occur. Put a little upon a rag (It will stain a rag, make sure its not an important towel or rag) and dab onto the sore on the feet, twice daily for 7 days straight, it is important that you do not skip or miss a day.
- This product is no longer being imported into the US, but you can get it at Bunnyrabbit.com, for under $12 dollars. Last awhile, and great to have on hands.
2. Perioxide: Another way to dry out the wound, and helps it disinfect and heal quicker. If this bubbles on the foot do no worry or panic, it means it is taking care of an infection. Place onto a rag and dab onto the wound twice daily for 7 days straight.
Abscesses: A lump on the rabbit's skin that is hard, swollen.
Symptoms: A foreign lump upon the flesh of the rabbit, if becomes open can be made out to be a sore, can have white puss, or blood when it is reduced or opened. White Puss means it is infected and it is trying to eliminate the infection. Loss of fur around swollen area.
Transmitted or created by: Several explanations. Puncture wound, that has gotten infected. Also most breeders claimed that it can be caused by a clogged pour, this hasn't been proven, but not saying it cannot be. Also if you injected the rabbit improperly or with an used or infected needle, an abscess is most likely to occur.
Treatment: Simple treatments. Easy and manageable, an abscess happens commonly on older rabbit, or over weight animals.
1. Hot compress: Using a hot compress relaxes the tissues, and helps soften the flesh so you can open the wound to be cleaned out. Apply a warm wet rag onto the abscess 3 times minimum or 4 times ideal for 7 days straight. Sometimes it can take less, but 7 days helps the rabbit as well, with relaxing and trusting you. After the wound becomes soft, I take a clean needle (sowing needle), that I have cleaned with alcohol and make three small holes within the abscess and help reduce the amount of fluid within the wound to get it to heal quicker and reduce chance of spreading the infection. I push gently on the abscess, and then disinfect the wound with either Peroxide or Vanodine (V-8). You can also use alcohol but some rabbits react differently to Alcohol.
Pasteurellosis (Pasteurella) Virus: Two types of know Pasteurella Virus. Rhinitis (Snuffles or Nasal discharge), and Pneumonia (Ammonia, or upper respiratory infection). If this happens in your herd best to cull right away, cull means putting the animal down in risk of infecting the rest of your herd. Most commonly effects weaker immune rabbits, and younger rabbits are more susceptible. Recovered rabbits most likely to be carriers of this virus.
Symptoms: Nasal discharge in the color of yellow, or green. Matted front paws, from the rabbits wiping the discharge off on his feet. Weepy eyes (discharge coming from the eyes), wheezing and difficulties breathing. The rabbit may hold his or her head upward trying to breath, mouth may be open, because of the congestion within the nose. Sneezing and having discharge coming from the nose.
Transmitted or created by: Bacteria, unsanitary conditions, inadequate ventilation.
Preventative:
1. Keeping an adequate ventilation system running whether it be fans circulating the ammonia fumes outward, and bring in new and fresh air, or having an open barn.
2. Keeping the rabbit cage, and area clean and sanitary.
3. Make sure when you expose a new rabbit to the rest of your herd you have in an isolation for 10 -14 days before exposing your new rabbit to your other rabbits. Keep an eye on that rabbit to ensure the welfare of the rabbits currently resend at your home.
Treatment: Most treatment fails, and of risking one rabbit for entire herd you should consider putting the rabbit down for the welfare of your other rabbits. Even if the rabbit recovers it is most likely that rabbit will become a carrier of the virus and can spread it to it's offspring and to other rabbits. While the rabbits are sick isolate them for all other rabbits, it is highly contagious.
1. Putting down the rabbit or culling the rabbit: It's sad and sometimes we have to do this to ensure the safety of the rest of the animals living at our home.
2. Bayril: Only available by veterinarian prescription. Dosage is 1/10 cc or 0.01 ml per pound injected in the nape of the neck. Only is required once. Price can vary upon location, Bayril is normally $50 - 70 dollars for the bottle, and can be stored in the refrigerator, and is great to have on hand for other medical purposes.
3. Enfrofloxacin (Makers of Bayril): (200mg/kg) for 14 days straight and additive to their drinking water, make sure to supply fresh water with the medicine in it daily. Only available by Vet prescriptions.
4. Parenteral: (5 - 10 mg/kg) for 14 days administered through the drinking water.
Allergies: Common mostly in the breeds where the head is more squished toward the face. Netherland Dwarfs, Polish, Lop breeds, and some breeds I have Harlequins do not have the squished up face, but have been known to have some allergies. Easy fix, and should not worry too much.
Symptoms: Dry cough, clear mucus coming from the nose. Sneezing frequently, in more severe cases can have swollen and red ears. Also pinkish colored skin.
Transmitted or created by: Pollen, often time dust particles. Rabbits that has had their immune system disrupted tend to be allergic to more dust, and pollen.
Treatments: Simple, easy and natural solutions work best.
1. Mint Herbal tea: You can make this yourself, or go to the store and get a mint tea, make sure it is not caffeinated.
- Making it yourself and all you have to do is get warm tea, place some pre-dried mint leaves into warm water, for 10 minutes and pour the tea into the rabbit's water. You can also add some rosemary. This helps open up the sinuses and reduces swelling within the membranes.
2. Giving your rabbit some mint leaves, lavender, or rosemary helps relax the rabbit, takes immediate effect on the rabbits allergies and helps the airways open up.
*If your doe is nursing giving the doe mint will dry up her milk supply not recommended on does nursing or pregnant.*