Common Mistakes in Raising Otters: Avoid These Errors!

Common Mistakes in Raising Ferret Rabbits

1. Overfeeding with Concentrated Feed. Some rabbit owners mistakenly believe that feeding rabbits a high amount of concentrated feed will make them grow faster. Some even feed their rabbits three times a day with concentrated feed. This feeding method can easily lead to enteritis in rabbits, and in severe cases, it can cause acute diarrhea and even death. This is because the rabbits cannot digest the excessive concentrated feed, which accumulates and ferments in the intestines, producing a large amount of organic acid. This disrupts the rabbits' normal weakly alkaline intestinal environment, leading to a dysbiosis of the microbial flora.

2. Replacing Pellet Feed with Grains. While pellet feed is generally the best option for feeding rabbits, some rural rabbit farmers use whole grains instead of pellets due to the unavailability of pellets. However, this feeding method is not scientifically sound. Rabbits find it difficult to digest grain feed, and if the grains accumulate and ferment in the rabbits' intestines, it can easily produce some enterotoxins, causing diarrhea or enteritis.

3. Overuse of Antibiotics. Some farmers use antibiotics like terramycin and gentamicin to prevent rabbit diseases by adding them to the rabbits' feed. However, this preventive measure is harmful rather than beneficial to rabbits. Rabbits rely on the various microorganisms in their intestines to break down and absorb their food. Feeding antibiotics not only kills or inhibits harmful pathogenic bacteria but also kills or inhibits beneficial microorganisms in the rabbits' intestines. Moreover, it can make the pathogenic bacteria in the rabbits' bodies develop strong drug resistance, leading to the opposite effect. This makes rabbits more susceptible to diseases and increases the difficulty of treatment.

4. Improper Storage of Rabbit Vaccines. Some rabbit farmers are unaware of the correct storage methods for rabbit vaccines and simply store them in the refrigerator or freezer. However, vaccines stored this way often lose their efficacy. The correct way to store rabbit vaccines is to keep them unopened in a refrigerator at 48°C or in a cool, dark place at room temperature.

5. Unscientific Medication. In rural areas, some rabbit farmers still use outdated methods to treat rabbit scabies, such as washing the affected area with soap and then applying dipterex solution. This treatment method is extremely unsafe. Combining soap with dipterex can produce a toxicity similar to that of dichlorvos, which can easily cause poisoning in rabbits. However, if you wash the affected area with soap water and then rinse it with clean water before applying dipterex, the treatment is generally safe for the rabbits.

The above examples are some common mistakes in raising ferret rabbits provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor. We hope that rabbit farmers who have these misconceptions will correct them promptly to better care for their rabbits and prevent unnecessary harm.