Rabbit get sick by some diseases like coccidiosis, snuffles, sore feet, mange, mastitis etc. So be careful about those diseases.
Coccidiosis
- It is a protozoan disease affecting mainly intestine with the symptoms of diarrhea with or without blood, off-feed, rough body hair, depression and death.
- Preventive therapy with coccidiostat should be given at day 20-25 and at 40-45 every year.
- Regular cleaning and disinfection of cages and hutches is must.
- Give clean water and food regularly.
Snuffles
It is a very contagious bacterial disease with the symptoms of thick, sticky white nasal discharge, sneezing and high temperature.
- Proper ventilation is the most important to avoid this disease.
- Antibiotic treatments cure the cases.
Sore Feet
- Rabbit will be lame and unwilling to move. Inflamed sored areas on bottoms of the feet.
- Damage occurs generally from sharp pieces of floor wire and wet solid floor.
- To prevent this, provide good comfortable floor to the rabbit.
- Apply antiseptic cream to the wound.
- Badly injured rabbits are advised to be culled.
Mange
It is a parasitic disease affecting the skin, ear and mouth causing wound and irritation leading to stunted growth. This diseases spreads either by contact with an affected rabbit or by contamination of hutches, bedding, food or equipments.
- Regular checking of rabbits, isolation of affected rabbits, through cleaning of hutches reduce the chance of this infection.
- This disease may be treated successfully with lvermectin injections 3 weeks apart.
Mastitis
- It is an inflammation of mammary glands.
- Mammary glands become painful with a change in colour and the doe will not let her litter to suck and kids will probably die.
- It is usually caused by bacteria because of injury to teats. Dirty nest aggravates the situation.
- Clean nest and bedding prevent this condition.
- Antibiotic treatment is advocated to treat this condition.
- Try to foster the kids if they are very young.