Common Rabbit Diseases: Treatment for Rabbit Fever and
1. Rabbit瘟 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, RHD). This is a highly contagious and severe disease that can spread rapidly within a population, leading to high mortality rates if not controlled promptly. Although the incidence of acute RHD has significantly decreased due to the widespread use of vaccines and enhanced biosecurity measures, chronic RHD outbreaks still occur, particularly in densely populated rabbit farms, even among rabbits that have been vaccinated. The chronic form of the disease is characterized by a prolonged illness, with symptoms such as loss of appetite, drooling, head pressing against the cage floor, and in some cases, arching or paralysis. Affected rabbits typically die of exhaustion within 5 to 6 days.
Treatment: Administer a high dose of the RHD vaccine subcutaneously to the affected rabbits. For large rabbits, inject 3 to 4 ml per dose, and for small rabbits, 2 ml. This should be done once daily for three consecutive days. For small rabbits, the dose is halved. Most rabbits recover after treatment.
2. Rabbit Infectious Rhinitis. This is a common respiratory disease in domestic rabbits, known for its high contagiousness, high incidence, low cure rate, and tendency to recur and develop drug resistance. Affected rabbits often die due to secondary infections.
Traditional Treatment: Obtain fresh pig bile juice and use it to drip into the nostrils of the affected rabbits. Administer this twice or thrice daily for 3 to 5 days. This method has been shown to yield significant results.
3. Rabbit Willebrand's Disease. This disease can occur yearround in rabbits, with the highest incidence among young rabbits. Initially, affected rabbits may exhibit mucoid diarrhea without significant changes in appetite or energy levels. However, as the disease progresses, rabbits may develop watery diarrhea, lose their appetite, become listless, and have feces around the anus that are contaminated and smell strongly of fish. Acute cases can lead to death within a short period, while some rabbits may die after rapid weight loss.
Treatment: Early treatment can involve subcutaneous injection of 0.5% dysentery serum, with 1 to 2 ml administered to each rabbit twice daily for three days. In cases of acute watery diarrhea, treatment can be more challenging. Collect 10 ml of blood from healthy, vaccinated rabbits via ear vein, adding 1 ml of 4% sodium citrate to the syringe before drawing the blood. After collecting the blood, inject 5 ml into the affected rabbit, halving the dose for small rabbits. If necessary, administer the injection every 6 hours, which can lead to significant improvement.
4. Rabbit Mucoid Enteritis. This is an intestinal disease caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli, characterized by symptoms such as drooling, watery diarrhea, and mucoid or jellylike feces. Acute cases spread quickly and have high mortality rates, while chronic cases are often difficult to treat due to recurrent episodes and mixed infections. The disease can affect rabbits of all ages, but it is particularly severe in neonates and young rabbits.
Treatment: A combination of pipemidic acid and garlic juice can be effective. First, crush 500 grams of garlic into a paste and mix it with 1000 ml of白酒, allowing it to soak for 5 to 7 days before filtering out the residue. Then, grind 0.25 g of pipemidic acid and mix it with 3 to 5 ml of the garlic solution. Administer this mixture to the affected rabbits twice daily. Most rabbits will recover after 2 to 3 days of continuous treatment.
These are the insights provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor regarding Rabbit瘟, Enteritis, Infectious Rhinitis, and Willebrand's Disease. These conditions can pose significant threats to rabbits, so it is crucial for rabbit owners to take preventive measures!
