Acute Enteritis in Young Rabbits: Causes and Management

Section 1: Symptoms of Acute Enteritis in Young Rabbits

The symptoms of acute enteritis in young rabbits are quite pronounced. They include the passage of yellow feces and urine, weight loss, and the surrounding fur around the anus becoming wet with yellow urine, emitting an extremely unpleasant odor. Affected rabbits may appear weak and limp, and in the later stages, they often show signs of coma. The course of acute enteritis in young rabbits typically lasts for 2 to 3 days. If untreated, the rabbits can easily die from dehydration within three days.

Section 2: Prevention and Treatment Methods for Acute Enteritis in Young Rabbits

1. Preventing Mastitis in the Mother Rabbit: As mentioned, most young rabbits contract acute enteritis due to drinking milk from a mother rabbit suffering from mastitis. To prevent acute enteritis in young rabbits, it is crucial to prevent mastitis in the mother rabbits. Since young rabbits rely on their mother's milk for nourishment, this is the most effective way to boost their immunity. To prevent mastitis, pet owners should manage the mother rabbits' diet meticulously. Before giving birth, reduce the amount of concentrated feed and increase the intake of fresh, green, and juicy vegetables. Adjust the mother rabbits' diet based on the milk's concentration; if it's low, increase the concentrated feed and decrease the fresh vegetables. Additionally, you can mix sulfadiazine into the mother rabbits' feed at a rate of 0.2g/kg body weight, administering it for 3 to 4 days. Alternatively, mix 0.3 to 0.5g of sulfadiazine with one tablet of baking soda and feed it twice a day for 3 days to effectively prevent mastitis.

2. Maintain Hygiene of the Mother Rabbit's Nipples: Regularly clean the nipples of lactating rabbits with potassium permanganate solution to keep them clean and free from infection.

3. Immediate Isolation: If mastitis is detected in the mother rabbit, immediately separate the young rabbits from her and find another healthy lactating mother rabbit to nurse them. Treat the affected mother rabbit with procaine penicillin injections, administering 2ml each time, twice a day for 2 to 3 days.

4. Treatment for Acute Enteritis: If a young rabbit is diagnosed with acute enteritis, treatment can be administered with chloromycetin eye drops or coptis chinensis injections. Use a syringe to drop the medication into the rabbit's mouth, giving it one drop twice a day, for 2 to 3 days.

We hope this detailed explanation by Oxygen Pet Doctor has clarified the symptoms and treatment methods for acute enteritis in young rabbits. If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to leave a comment below!