Health And Vaccinations
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a potentially lethal disease affecting rabbits caused by the myxoma virus of the pox family. It originally came from Australia where it was released deliberately to reduce the massive wild rabbit population which were considered pests. It was transferred, again deliberately, to France and from there spread to the UK. It is common among the wild rabbit population in the UK. Over 90% of wild rabbis contracting Myxomatosis die from the disease. Recovery is more likely in pet rabbits if given intensive veterinary treatment.
It is spread by direct contact and by insects. Fluids from a infected rabbit such as discharge from the eyes, nose or lesions on the skin contain the virus and can infect another rabbits through scratches, abrasions or contact with mucus membranes.
Insects including mosquitoes, ticks, mites, lice and fleas can all carry the disease. This means that even if your rabbit doesn't come into contact with other rabbits it is still important to vaccinate. Insect carriers mean the disease can be transmitted over distances and even indoor rabbits are at risk.
Symptoms
The first symptoms are generally discharge from the eyes and swelling around head, ears and sometimes genitals. Within a fews days the eyes maybe swollen shut. The swelling can make eating, drinking and breathing difficult. Lumps or nodules may also develop. Secondary infections such as pastrella (snuffles) are common. Death can occur within a few days to several weeks. Those that recover may take weeks or even months to do so fully
Vaccination
Rabbits can be vaccinated against Myxomatosis from 6 weeks of age. Rabbits should not be vaccinated while pregnant or ill. After the first vaccination regular boosters are required. Boosters are given either every 12 months or every 6 months, depending on the risk in your local area.
Vaccination does not guarantee that a rabbit will not contract myxomatosis, there is still a small risk. Vaccinated rabbits contracting myxomatosis also have a greater chance of recovery.
For the vaccination to be effective it needs to be given partly into the skin and partly under the skin. Ask your vet to confirm that this is the procedure they will follow when vaccinating your rabbit. If they query this, ask them to check with the vaccine manufacturers Intervet. If the vaccination is given incorrectly then it may need to be repeated.
Vaccinations generally cost between £10-20 each
Vaccination does not guarantee that a rabbit will not contract myxomatosis, there is still a small risk. Vaccinated rabbits contracting myxomatosis also have a greater chance of recovery.
For the vaccination to be effective it needs to be given partly into the skin and partly under the skin. Ask your vet to confirm that this is the procedure they will follow when vaccinating your rabbit. If they query this, ask them to check with the vaccine manufacturers Intervet. If the vaccination is given incorrectly then it may need to be repeated.
Vaccinations generally cost between £10-20 each
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) is a more recent disease that Myxomatosis, it was first reported in the UK in only 1992. It is spread through direct contact between rabbits and also through contaminated surfaces such as bedding, hutches and clothing. This means both indoor and outdoor rabbits are at risk.
It can survive for 3 months at room temperature. The incubation period is 1-3 days and death usually occurs 12-36 hours after the onset of fever.
It can survive for 3 months at room temperature. The incubation period is 1-3 days and death usually occurs 12-36 hours after the onset of fever.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include high fever, lethargy, collapse, convulsions, paralysis, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite and bleeding from the nose. In some cases (approx. 1 in 10) there are no visible symptoms. The rapidness of the disease means that the rabbit may die within 24 hours of noticeable symptoms.
Vaccination
Vaccination is very successful, it can be done from 12-14 weeks of age. The vaccination is also safe for pregnant rabbits. A booster needs to be given ever 12 months to ensure continued protection.
Vaccination against Myxomatosis must not be done within 2 weeks of vaccination against VHD
Vaccination against Myxomatosis must not be done within 2 weeks of vaccination against VHD
Overgrown Incisors
The rabbit's front teeth, the incisors, continue to grow throughout life, so that wear is always made good. This is a great advantage in the wild, but can become a problem for captive rabbits who may be fed rather soft food and have little or no access to bark.
In severe cases the incisors grow so long as to make feeding impossible. Either they slowly lever the jaws apart, or an unopposed incisor will grow until it locks into the opposite jaw. This occurs when, as sometimes happens, one incisor falls out.
To keep the incisors in trim, rabbits need both hard food and a gnawing block. Greenstuffs such as kale and Brussels sprouts are best fed on the stem, which is tough enough to offer some resistance to the incisors, and root vegetables should be fed whole to rabbits big enough to manage them.
Any wood will serve as a gnawing block, but for choice a newly cut log with the bark left on is preferable. There is no danger of the rabbit swallowing splinters. When gnawing, the cheeks are drawn into the diastema, the space between the incisors and the cheek teeth, and this forms a barrier.
I have had several rabbits, that despite being given the correct food and wood to chew on, have suffered from overgrown teeth. In this case I have had to take the rabbit to the vet to have the teeth cut as it wasn't something I personally felt comfortable with doing. At one vet's they were able to laser the teeth which causes less stress for the rabbit. In extreme cases, your vet may recommend that the rabbit's teeth are removed.
In severe cases the incisors grow so long as to make feeding impossible. Either they slowly lever the jaws apart, or an unopposed incisor will grow until it locks into the opposite jaw. This occurs when, as sometimes happens, one incisor falls out.
To keep the incisors in trim, rabbits need both hard food and a gnawing block. Greenstuffs such as kale and Brussels sprouts are best fed on the stem, which is tough enough to offer some resistance to the incisors, and root vegetables should be fed whole to rabbits big enough to manage them.
Any wood will serve as a gnawing block, but for choice a newly cut log with the bark left on is preferable. There is no danger of the rabbit swallowing splinters. When gnawing, the cheeks are drawn into the diastema, the space between the incisors and the cheek teeth, and this forms a barrier.
I have had several rabbits, that despite being given the correct food and wood to chew on, have suffered from overgrown teeth. In this case I have had to take the rabbit to the vet to have the teeth cut as it wasn't something I personally felt comfortable with doing. At one vet's they were able to laser the teeth which causes less stress for the rabbit. In extreme cases, your vet may recommend that the rabbit's teeth are removed.
Overgrown Claws
In the wild the rabbits' claws are worn down naturally by burrowing; in captivity they may need clipping.
Owners often wisely prefer to let a veterinary surgeon, or an experienced rabbit keeper, cut the claws the first time, but once seen demonstrated, the procedure is not difficult.
Using a pair of animal nail clippers, available in shops, which sell pet-care accessories, the overgrown, nail should be cut straight across. Care has to be taken to avoid cutting into the blood and nerve supply, which can be seen in a pale coloured rabbit by holding the paw to the light.
Owners often wisely prefer to let a veterinary surgeon, or an experienced rabbit keeper, cut the claws the first time, but once seen demonstrated, the procedure is not difficult.
Using a pair of animal nail clippers, available in shops, which sell pet-care accessories, the overgrown, nail should be cut straight across. Care has to be taken to avoid cutting into the blood and nerve supply, which can be seen in a pale coloured rabbit by holding the paw to the light.
Obesity
Obesity, like so many rabbit disorders, is the result of poor management . Rabbits shut up for long periods in a confined space are most at risk. They need far more freedom to exercise, and possibly a small adjustment to their diet: more green stuffs, and less high calorie foods such as grains, balanced food pellets and bread.
The largest breeds tend to develop a dewlap under the chin. The does are most prone to this, and although the dewlap may look ominously like a goitre, it is in fact a roll of fatty tissue. A small one is to be expected in breeds as large as the New Zealand White and the Flemish Giant. Smaller breeds should maintain their neat build throughout life.
The largest breeds tend to develop a dewlap under the chin. The does are most prone to this, and although the dewlap may look ominously like a goitre, it is in fact a roll of fatty tissue. A small one is to be expected in breeds as large as the New Zealand White and the Flemish Giant. Smaller breeds should maintain their neat build throughout life.
Snuffles
Correctly known as contagious rhinitis.
A respiratory tract condition, similar to the common cold in man, is known throughout the rabbit world as snuffles. This is a highly infectious disease, and the danger is that it may lead to pneumonia. Rabbits displaying the two most obvious symptoms of snuffles, sneezing, and a discharge from the nose, should be isolated well away from other rabbits and veterinary help sought.
The nasal discharge can become thick and yellow as the disease progresses. The official info is that kept warm and dry, rabbits frequently recover by themselves. In severe cases, the use of suifa or penicillin or one of the mycins is usually effective.
However, in my experience the chances of recover are quite slim
A respiratory tract condition, similar to the common cold in man, is known throughout the rabbit world as snuffles. This is a highly infectious disease, and the danger is that it may lead to pneumonia. Rabbits displaying the two most obvious symptoms of snuffles, sneezing, and a discharge from the nose, should be isolated well away from other rabbits and veterinary help sought.
The nasal discharge can become thick and yellow as the disease progresses. The official info is that kept warm and dry, rabbits frequently recover by themselves. In severe cases, the use of suifa or penicillin or one of the mycins is usually effective.
However, in my experience the chances of recover are quite slim
Constipation and diarrhoea
Constipation may be a simple dietary disorder, cured by feeding more green stuffs; diarrhoea may be cured by withholding greens for twenty-four hours and feeding only hay and water. When persistent, or when combined with other symptoms, both conditions may indicate more serious illness needing veterinary diagnosis.
A warm mash of boiled potatoes with the skins left on, or clover leaves mixed with bran, can help to alleviate this condition. A modest increase in the amount of greens that you feed to your pet may also help. Clean fresh water should always be available.
Sometimes a little drained boiled rice does wonders for the sufferer.
A warm mash of boiled potatoes with the skins left on, or clover leaves mixed with bran, can help to alleviate this condition. A modest increase in the amount of greens that you feed to your pet may also help. Clean fresh water should always be available.
Sometimes a little drained boiled rice does wonders for the sufferer.
Canker
This ear ailment is sometimes not noticeable externally.If your pet is shaking its head constantly or scratching at its ears, or if you notice any signs of inflammation, it should be examined for canker. For treatment, begin by wiping out the ears with hydrogen peroxide applied with a cotton tipped swab. Afterwards, dust the ear with an appropriate antibiotic. Avoid using preparations that are formulated for dogs.If you are uncertain about selecting the right medication, consult your vet.
Fleas, Lice, Mites & Ticks
Rabbits which are seen to display symptoms of discomfort and irritation making them scratch, may be infested with fleas. These tend to cluster around the head, and particularly the neck, where the dark spots of their excreta may be noticed. Fleas can be destroyed by the application of an insecticide powder available from a veterinary surgery or pet shop. Make sure that none gets into the rabbit's eyes.
Fleas reproduce by laying eggs in the host animal's bedding, or on the floor. It is therefore impossible to eradicate them without burning every last straw of the bedding and the floor litter, scrubbing out the hutch and the grazing ark and thoroughly sluicing down all other areas in use. Any crack can harbour the eggs, and in a few days - two to twelve in summer, longer in winter - the larvae will emerge, and the life cycle begins again.
The rabbit flea has achieved some notoriety over the last twenty-five years as carrier of the virus that causes myxomatosis. During an outbreak the great majority of tame rabbits are safe. Veterinary advice should be taken about any felt to be at risk on account of the proximity of wild rabbits. An injection of vaccine will give immunity within three days and last approximately one year.
Similar discomfort, and scratching, is caused by an infestation of lice. Unlike fleas, lice lay their eggs - known as nits - in the fur of the animal host. The eggs are white and secured to the fur by a natural adhesive. They show up particularly well on dark-coated rabbits, but will be noticed on any fur during grooming.
Lice can also be destroyed by a specially prepared insecticide powder supplied by a veterinary surgeon. It is effective, however, only when the maker's instructions are followed exactly. Several applications are necessary to eliminate the succeeding generations of lice emerging from the nits.
Rabbits are frequently troubled by several different mites. The ear mite can cause a condition generally known as ear mange, or car canker. Any rabbit showing symptoms of irritation and distress that make it scratch the ears and shake the head, or those with a powdery brown matter in the ears need prompt veterinary treatment.
Forage and harvest mites also attack rabbits. They burrow into the skin and set up an area of intense irritation that the rabbit will scratch until it is raw. This condition, usually known as mange, must also receive veterinary treatment.
Sometimes ticks attach themselves to rabbits and feed on their blood for several days. Once fully engorged, the ticks will drop off naturally, but they cannot be pulled off whole while still alive. The head remains firmly embedded in position. They can be killed by cutting off their air supply for about thirty minutes with a smear of vaseline, fat or butter. Afterwards it is possible to pull them away cleanly using a pair of tweezers
Fleas reproduce by laying eggs in the host animal's bedding, or on the floor. It is therefore impossible to eradicate them without burning every last straw of the bedding and the floor litter, scrubbing out the hutch and the grazing ark and thoroughly sluicing down all other areas in use. Any crack can harbour the eggs, and in a few days - two to twelve in summer, longer in winter - the larvae will emerge, and the life cycle begins again.
The rabbit flea has achieved some notoriety over the last twenty-five years as carrier of the virus that causes myxomatosis. During an outbreak the great majority of tame rabbits are safe. Veterinary advice should be taken about any felt to be at risk on account of the proximity of wild rabbits. An injection of vaccine will give immunity within three days and last approximately one year.
Similar discomfort, and scratching, is caused by an infestation of lice. Unlike fleas, lice lay their eggs - known as nits - in the fur of the animal host. The eggs are white and secured to the fur by a natural adhesive. They show up particularly well on dark-coated rabbits, but will be noticed on any fur during grooming.
Lice can also be destroyed by a specially prepared insecticide powder supplied by a veterinary surgeon. It is effective, however, only when the maker's instructions are followed exactly. Several applications are necessary to eliminate the succeeding generations of lice emerging from the nits.
Rabbits are frequently troubled by several different mites. The ear mite can cause a condition generally known as ear mange, or car canker. Any rabbit showing symptoms of irritation and distress that make it scratch the ears and shake the head, or those with a powdery brown matter in the ears need prompt veterinary treatment.
Forage and harvest mites also attack rabbits. They burrow into the skin and set up an area of intense irritation that the rabbit will scratch until it is raw. This condition, usually known as mange, must also receive veterinary treatment.
Sometimes ticks attach themselves to rabbits and feed on their blood for several days. Once fully engorged, the ticks will drop off naturally, but they cannot be pulled off whole while still alive. The head remains firmly embedded in position. They can be killed by cutting off their air supply for about thirty minutes with a smear of vaseline, fat or butter. Afterwards it is possible to pull them away cleanly using a pair of tweezers
Eye Infections
A rabbit well cared for and properly fed rarely encounters this serious illness. Keep the rabbit's environment consistent, including the ambient temperature; sudden changes in temperature diminish a rabbit's natural resistance. A listless, unhappy, unhungry bunny requires your attention, as these are signs of pneumonia, in addition to mucus around the mouth and nasal passages. The assistance of a vet is essential, as most rabbits die within a few days of contracting the illness
Sore Hocks
Sore hocks is a condition normally caused by insufficient bedding in the hutch. Tender, cracked and possibly scabbing skin covers the infected hind limb where the fur has been rubbed away. Since the smaller rabbits have larger foot padding on the hind feet, the larger breeds are more typically affected. Cleaning and applying an antiseptic ointment help the rabbit to recovery. Veterinary advice is also recommended.
Slobbers, Hutch Burn & Scabby Face
These three problems are serious and you should take your pet to the vet if you suspect that it has any of them. Slobbers is caused by abscesses of the mouth and the rabbit drools continuously Little can be done for slobbers, and the affected animal will need to be put down.Hutch burn, commonly known as vent disease, is caused by dirt contacting the sex organ of the rabbit. The infected organ then becomes scabby and later purulent. Not surprisingly, infected rabbits exhibit a great reluctance to mate (which is fortunate for its partner, who could become contaminated). if the rabbit licks its infected private parts, a scabby face and mouth may result. A vet should be contacted as soon as possible
Fly Strike
This is a particular problem for longhaired rabbits in the summer. Flies lay their eggs in the soiled fur under the tail. The maggots hatch out 12-24 hours later and burrow into the flesh. Flystrike can lead to death, so check every day to make sure your rabbit, its hutch and its bedding, is clean and fresh.
I have experienced this for myself and lost 2 rabbits to this problem. It literally happens overnight. The most common time of the year will be summer when it is warm and ideal temperatures for flies to strike.
It is quite a distressing site to see as the rabbit will be covered in maggots around its back end and these quite literally crawl up inside the rabbit and kill it.
You need to seek immediate medical attention (even if this means calling a vet out at the weekend or at night) as the rabbit will surely die if the maggots are not removed immediately. You can provide temporary relief by bathing the rabbit in cool water and trying to kill as many of the maggots as you can.
The risk of Flystrike can be minimised by stepping up cleaning regimes in summer and checking rabbits at least twice a day. Rearguard (avavilable for vets) prevents maggots developing so can save a bunnies life
Coccidiosis
A microscopic, internal parasite is responsible for this common, but very serious disease of the liver. The organism is present in the faecal pellets, and so can be transmitted from one rabbit to another, and particularly from a doe to her kittens, in a dirty hutch.
Symptoms of coccidiosis are a yellow, jaundiced look, persistent diarrhoea and extreme weakness. Without treatment the rabbit becomes emaciated, yet develops a pot-bellied appearance due to enlargement of the liver. Death is due to exhaustion.
It is necessary to isolate a suspected case of coccidiosis, and to seek veterinary help immediately. Drugs can effectively control the disease if it is diagnosed and treated professionally without delay.
Symptoms of coccidiosis are a yellow, jaundiced look, persistent diarrhoea and extreme weakness. Without treatment the rabbit becomes emaciated, yet develops a pot-bellied appearance due to enlargement of the liver. Death is due to exhaustion.
It is necessary to isolate a suspected case of coccidiosis, and to seek veterinary help immediately. Drugs can effectively control the disease if it is diagnosed and treated professionally without delay.