| Common
medical complaints in rabbits
Overgrown Teeth.
This is the most common problem encountered by vets
in pet rabbits. Rabbits teeth grow constantly throughout
their lives, and if there is not enough fibre in the
diet or if the teeth are not properly aligned they can
overgrow. Overgrown teeth become spiked and cut into
the mouth and tongue causing ulcers, infections and
inability to pick up food and eat. Dental problems may
result in the rabbit having to be put to sleep if not
treated early enough, which is why rabbits need regular
dental checks.
Mites and fleas.
Fleas transmit myxomatosis in rabbits so it important
to keep them under control. Rabbits can also become
infected by small parasites called mites. They cause
excessive wax production when living in the ears, and
dry skin and dandruff when living on the back. Mites
can also cause a mild rash in humans so it is important
to treat affected rabbits.
Eye problems.
Rabbits can develop eye infections which present as
discharge from the corner of the eye and sore reddened
skin below the lower eyelid. Tear ducts often become
blocked and need to be flushed, this can be linked to
tooth problems.
Obesity.
Overweight rabbits are more likely to suffer with flystrike,
arthritis, osteoporosis, urine scalding and metabolic
disease. Rabbits on incorrect diets or with too little
exercise are most at risk. Rabbits have a sweet tooth
so take care with giving your rabbit treats. When changing
and improving your rabbits diet always do so gradually
to avoid upsetting digestion. If your rabbit won’t
eat a high fibre diet it may be because its teeth need
attention, so seek veterinary advice.
Preventative medicine
Fly strike.
Fly strike is a distressing and potentially fatal infestation
of maggots, if you find maggots on your rabbit contact
us immediately. Rabbits produce soft droppings at night
which they then eat as an important part of their diet.
If a rabbit is obese, elderly, has back problems or
dental disease it will be unable to reach around to
clean itself and the droppings become matted around
the tail base. In the warmer months these may attract
egg laying flies, the maggots then hatch and begin to
bore into the rabbit, ultimately killing it. If you
find maggots on your rabbit don’t panic but treat
it as an emergency and contact your vet. Attention to
hygiene and twice daily checks of your rabbit are paramount
to preventing this distressing and serious condition.
We can provide you with a treatment called Rearguard,
which is used to prevent fly strike.
Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD)
The symptoms of this disease range from loss of appetite
to sudden death, most owners don’t realise something
is wrong until it’s too late. The virus can be
spread indirectly via people, objects, fleas and animals
that have been in contact with the disease, so your
pet doesn't even need to have been in contact with an
infected rabbit. Fortunately we can vaccinate rabbits
against VHD; a minimum 14 day interval is required between
this and the myxomatosis vaccination.
Myxomatosis.
Myxomatosis is typically spread by blood-sucking insects
and in particular the rabbit flea. The flea is frequently
found on wild rabbits, but mosquitoes and other biting
flies can also carry the disease, so whatever the lifestyle
or breed, there is a potential risk to all rabbits.
Once a rabbit has been bitten by an infected flea or
mosquito the virus multiplies in the skin and death
usually occurs within 12 days.
Protection is simple. We recommend vaccination of all
healthy rabbits over six weeks of age, with those rabbits
at particular risk receiving a booster vaccination at
six monthly intervals to maintain optimal protection.
Outbreaks of myxomatosis have been reported in pockets
across the country in recent years as weather has become
milder. This could pose a serious threat to pet rabbits
unless they have been protected against this horrid
disease. If your pet rabbit is not protected, take heed
and book an appointment today, call 01539 721344 to
book a date and time. We can also advise you on insecticidal
products and insect repellents at the same time.
E. cuniculi
E. cuniculi is a microscopic brain parasite spread by
infected urine. It can cause a number of illnesses including
head tilt, which is often mistaken for a stroke. It
can also affect other species that live with rabbits
such as guinea pigs. Fortunately E.cuniculi can be controlled
by using Panacur just twice a year, please ask our advice.
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