Best Medications for a Sick Rabbit: Quick Guide

Part 1: What Are the Symptoms of Rabbit Cold?

The primary symptoms of a rabbit cold include sneezing, runny nose, decreased appetite, and coughing. Affected rabbits may also exhibit halfclosed eyes with tears rolling around, red conjunctivae, a reddened nose tip, and a discharge of clear mucus from the nostrils. They may appear listless, weak, shiver, and have a tendency to feel the cold.

Rabbit colds are typically caused by infections in the upper respiratory tract, often due to the invasion of viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma. Mixed infections of viruses and bacteria are the most common. If this inflammation is not treated promptly, it can easily spread to the lungs, leading to pneumonia in rabbits.

Part 2: Can Rabbit Colds Heal on Their Own?

Most rabbit colds cannot heal on their own. While some rabbits with strong immune systems may recover from mild symptoms early on, this is quite rare. It is very risky for owners to let their rabbits recover naturally. If left untreated, the condition can worsen, potentially putting the rabbit's life at risk.

Part 3: What Medication Should You Give a Rabbit with a Cold?

1. Owners can administer compound aspirin to treat the rabbit. For young rabbits, half a tablet is recommended, while adult rabbits should take one tablet.

2. You can also use 1% ephedrine drops in the rabbit's nostrils, applying 3 to 4 drops each time, three times a day.

3. If the rabbit's cold symptoms are severe, you can give them petspecific antibiotics, but the dosage should not be excessive.

4. If the sick rabbit shows signs of fever, a muscle injection of penicillin may be necessary, administered twice a day for 2 to 3 days.

For more information on rabbit colds, including the causes, you can read on in "What Causes Rabbit Colds?"