Two Types of Rabbit Enteritis: Causes and Management

Section 1: Types of Rabbit Enteritis

Rabbit enteritis can manifest in several forms, primarily categorized into two main types:

1. Primary Causes:

(1) Poor Feeding Management: This includes factors such as a damp, dirty living environment, exposure to cold drafts, or contaminated feed and water. These conditions can weaken the rabbit's immune defenses and gastrointestinal barriers, allowing pathogens like E. coli to invade and cause enteritis.

(2) Poisoning: Accidental ingestion of toxic plants, contaminated forage, or items with chemical agents can severely damage the rabbit's gastrointestinal mucosa and deeper tissues, leading to gastrointestinal inflammation.

(3) Incorrect Medication: The improper use or overuse of antibiotics by owners can disrupt the rabbit's normal gut flora, leading to severe enteritis.

(4) Heavy Gastrointestinal Burden: Issues like poor gastrointestinal circulation and impaired function can lead to undigested feed accumulating in the gut, fermenting and causing enteritis.

2. Secondary Causes: Secondary enteritis in rabbits is often due to gastrointestinal inflammation and obstruction, or triggered by certain infectious diseases and parasitic conditions, such as hemolytic septicemia and coccidiosis.

Section 2: Symptoms of Rabbit Enteritis

In the early stages of rabbit enteritis, common symptoms include decreased appetite, indigestion, and diarrhea with mucus. As the condition worsens, affected rabbits may show signs of exhaustion, loss of appetite, shortterm constipation followed by diarrhea. Some may experience diarrhea without constipation, with feces resembling syrup or water, extremely foulsmelling, and mixed with mucus, possibly containing undigested hay. Other symptoms include a hunched posture, loud gut sounds, and a normal body temperature, although a few cases may exhibit a slight rise to around 41°C.

In the later stages of the disease, rabbits may exhibit weakened or absent gut sounds, relaxed anal sphincters, incontinence, dehydration, sunken eyes, dull vision, reduced skin elasticity, rough and lackluster fur, decreased or absent urine output, irregular heartbeat, and cyanotic mucous membranes with generalized congestion. Many affected rabbits may collapse into spasms or coma and ultimately succumb to the disease.

Section 3: Treatment Methods for Rabbit Enteritis

The primary treatment for rabbit enteritis involves protecting the mucous membranes and preventing the absorption of toxins. This includes clearing the rabbit's gastrointestinal tract of toxins and harmful substances, and, if necessary, administering laxatives. For example, 3 to 5 grams of artificial salt can be mixed with an appropriate amount of water and administered to the rabbit.

With this information from Oxygen Pet Doctor, we hope that all rabbit owners take note of the causes mentioned and take preventive measures to avoid their rabbits from developing enteritis.