Common Rabbit Poisonings & Effective Treatment Methods

Common Causes and Treatments for Rabbit Poisoning

1. Organophosphate Poisoning

One of the most common causes of organophosphate poisoning in rabbits is the accidental ingestion of contaminated forage or feed with pesticides, or improper dosing and administration of deworming medications by the owner. Symptoms of organophosphate poisoning in rabbits include excessive tearing, drooling, abdominal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, seizures, constricted pupils, shortness of breath, and a rapid heartbeat. The mortality rate for affected rabbits can be quite high.

Treatments for organophosphate poisoning include: 1. Administering pralidoxime intradermally or intravenously, at a dosage of 15mg/kg body weight, twice to thrice daily for 2 to 3 days. 2. Using atropine sulfate to treat the affected rabbits, with an intradermal injection of 1 to 5ml every 2 to 4 hours until symptoms subside. 3. Performing intravenous injections of 10% glucose at a dose of 20 to 40ml.

2. Poisoning from Toxic Plants

While rabbits have the ability to distinguish between toxic and nontoxic plants, they can still become poisoned if they are very hungry or if their feed is contaminated with toxic plants. Common toxic plants include celery, wild eggplant, sorghum leaves, potato sprouts and shoots, castor leaves, corn sprouts, mulberry leaves, willow leaves, and spinach. There are many more toxic plants that can cause poisoning in rabbits, and the ones mentioned above are just a few examples. Symptoms of eating toxic plants include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, drooling, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or paralysis.

There is no specific antidote for poisoning caused by toxic plants, so prevention is key. General methods include washing the stomach of affected rabbits with a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or normal saline; administering 10ml of a 1 to 2% copper sulfate solution to induce vomiting; or giving 6g of magnesium sulfate to promote excretion.

3. Salt Poisoning

The initial symptoms of salt poisoning in rabbits are a decrease in appetite, lack of energy, diarrhea, restlessness, increased thirst, and redness of the conjunctiva. Severe cases may also present with seizures, spasms, difficulty breathing, and even death.

Treatment involves giving the rabbit 5 to 10ml of paraffin oil to promote defecation, and if the rabbit has developed enteritis, using tannin protein or other medications to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is important to avoid using sodium sulfate (magnesium) to induce diarrhea, as this can lead to acute poisoning. During treatment, it is crucial to control the rabbit's water intake to prevent increased absorption and spread of salt in the affected rabbit.

This summary, provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor, outlines the common causes of rabbit poisoning and their corresponding treatments. We hope that owners will take strict care of their rabbits' diets to prevent poisoning.