Common Severe Rabbit Diseases: Prevention & Treatment

Section 1: Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease, also known as Rabbit Viral Septicemia or Rabbit Hemorrhagic Pneumonia, is an acute, hemorrhagic infectious disease caused by viral infection. The disease presents in three distinct types: the most acute form, where affected rabbits suddenly scream, collapse, and convulse before dying rapidly; the acute form, characterized by a fever of 41 to 42 degrees Celsius, loss of appetite, depression, rapid breathing, and death within a few hours to two days; and the mild form, which is more common in young rabbits under three months of age. Affected young rabbits exhibit fever and neurological symptoms, with some rabbits recovering after treatment.

Prevention Methods:

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease can be prevented through vaccination with the inactivated vaccine for viral hemorrhagic disease. The first vaccination should be administered after weaning, with adult rabbits requiring two vaccinations per year, each involving a subcutaneous injection of 1 to 2 ml.

Treatment:

Administer the inactivated vaccine for viral hemorrhagic disease to affected rabbits, providing a 4 ml intramuscular injection during the early stages of the disease for effective treatment.

Inject hyperimmune serum against rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease into affected rabbits, with a 4 ml subcutaneous injection during the early stages of the disease, showing significant results.

Administer bovine hyperimmune serum to affected rabbits, via subcutaneous injection at a dose of 2 to 3 ml per kilogram of body weight, once daily for 2 to 3 consecutive days.

Inject Isatis root extract and vitamin C injections intramuscularly, each at 2 ml.

Alternatively, inject 1 mg of polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid, 500 mg of vitamin C, and 50 mg of hydrocortisone acetate intramuscularly for treatment. Simultaneously, dissolve Isatis root granules in warm water and feed them to the affected rabbits.

Section 2: Pasteurellosis

Pasteurellosis is a highly prevalent disease in rabbits, capable of causing acute septicemia, conjunctivitis, orchitis, abscesses, and other conditions. It is one of the significant diseases that pose a severe threat to the rabbit farming industry.

Prevention Methods:

Preventive measures include injecting the rabbit Pasteurella haemolytica aluminum hydroxidemerthiolate vaccine subcutaneously. Unweaned rabbits should receive a 1 ml injection, while other rabbits should receive 2 ml per injection, with vaccinations repeated every 4 to 6 months.

Treatment Measures:

Administer penicillin (100,000 to 200,000 units) and streptomycin (10 to 20 mg) intramuscularly to affected rabbits, twice daily for 2 to 3 days.

Intramuscularly inject ciprofloxacin at a dose of 0.5 ml per day for 3 days.

Administer 2.5% enrofloxacin at 0.5 ml per day, twice daily for 3 days.

Intramuscularly inject sulfadiazine at a dose of 0.1 g per kilogram of body weight, once daily for 3 days.

For rabbits with abscesses, once the abscesses become soft, surgically incise and drain them. After cleaning the area with 3% hydrogen peroxide, apply gentian violet and tetracycline ointment.

For rabbits with rhinitis, use chloramphenicol injections for nasal drops, 5 drops in each nostril, three times a day. For severe cases, inject chloramphenicol intramuscularly at a dose of 20 ml per kilogram of body weight, administered daily for 5 days.

That concludes our overview of Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease and Pasteurellosis. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to leave a comment below!