HEALTH MANAGEMENT OF RABBITS

Vinodh Kumar,O.RDivision of Epidemiology

ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research InstituteIzatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Introduction

• Rabbits are very shy animals• High prolificacy• High feed conversion efficiency• Shorter generation interval• Suited for rural and urban conditions• Can bred round the year

Healthy and Sick Rabbits

Snuffles It is an upper respiratory tract infection if snuffles is not treated properly

leads to pneumonia (lower respiratory tract infection)Symptoms• Sneezing is the initial clinical sign in rabbits with respiratory problem.

Animals show clear mucous discharge from the nose, later it may become creamy in appearance and in severe cases cause crusting on the nose.

• Wet or matted fur on the inside of front legs caused by continual nose wiping is of better diagnostic importance.

• Snuffles can develop into pneumonia if the infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract and lungs.

Causes• Most often bacteria called Pasteurella multocida but can also be caused

by Staphylococcus spp. These bacteria spread in the air and by contact with contaminated hands, cages, equipment or other rabbits. These bacteria are present in the environment and stressed rabbits are more likely to be affected.

SnufflesTreatment • Use of antibiotics ( eg. Cefotaxime, Enrofloxacin,

Cefadroxil,Azithromycin, Sulpha drugs etc.,). • Recovery is rapid in treating early cases but failure occur in delayed

casesPrevention and control• Sheds and cages should be kept as clean as possible. • Good ventilation is required to maintain air quality and reduce

ammonia.• Regular removal fecal material and urine from the sheds.• Temperature range should be kept at a minimum (between 18-24oC) as

changes in temperature can trigger stress and out breaks of snuffles.

Pneumonia

Advanced cases of snuffles may lead to pnemoniaSymptoms:• Laboured breathing, often with mouth open and head thrown back

at late stages. • Skin eyes and mouth appears blue from lack of oxygen. Pneumonia

is most easily diagnosed after death by checking the lung tissue – the normally bright pink tissue is purplish and less spongy. There may be fluid in the chest cavity.

Causes• Most often Pasteurella multocida but can also be caused by

Staphylococcus spp. These bacteria spread in the air and by contact with contaminated hands, cages, equipment or other rabbits.

Pneumonia

Treatment • Follow the antibiotic therapy for 5 to 7 days• Use of anti histamines and anti inflammatory drugsPrevention and control• Avoid stress in the rabbits by ensuring good air quality• Sheds and cages should be kept as clean as possible. • Good nutrition and fresh clean water is essential. • Removal of affected animals may control the spread to other

rabbits• Pneumonia is difficult to treat with antibiotics as by the time

symptoms are observed the infection is likely to be well advanced.

Pasteurellosis Most common bacteria affecting rabbits, Pasteurella multocida can be spread

through the air, on objects, or by direct contact with an infected rabbit. Most rabbits have the bacteria in their system, and normally their immune systems keep it in check, but if a rabbit is physically or emotionally stressed, these opportunistic bacteria may multiply out of control and serious infections could develop.

Symptoms• The affected rabbits show nasal discharge, difficult in respiration (jerky

respiration). Severe condition leads to pneumoina.Treatment• Nebulized antibiotics may be helpful with rhinitis and pneumonia• Systemic antibiotic therapy for at least 10 daysPrevention and control• Avoid ammonia odour in rabbit sheds by removal of faecal and urine materials• Good ventilation• Avoid mixing up of adult and young rabbits

Coccidiosis

• The problem less likely to occur in caged rabbits, mainly seen in intensively managed farms in deep litter system.

• Coccidiosis is caused by different species of protozoan parasites; Eimeria is one of the important diseases of rabbits and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

• In commercially reared broiler rabbits coccidiosis occurs in subclinical form leading to growth retardation and altered feed conversions.

• In India, coccidiosis is a major impediment in rabbit production and the most common parasitic affecting all age groups. The disease occurs especially in young rabbits.

Coccidiosis

Symptoms:• Diarrhoea or scouring , sometimes bloody faecal material with

matted dirty fur around the anus. In the early stages the rabbit may show signs of ill thrift. Rabbits appear lethargic, go off their feed, scour, become dehydrated and can die within 48 hours if left untreated. On post mortem the liver may show signs of damage in the form of white spots. Diagnosis is usually made by oocyst identification on microscopic examination.

Cause• A protozoan parasite ( Eimeria) that invades the bile duct or

intestine. The most common form is intestinal coccidiosis which causes scouring. The less common liver form damages the bile duct which causes the liver to develop characteristic white spots.

Coccidiosis

Treatment• Coccidiostats or coccidiocidal drugs Prevention and control• Coccidiostats can be added to feed at the pelleting

stage at low levels to suppressive coccidia infection.• Good cage hygiene can interrupt Eimeria life cycle. • Faecal material should be removed daily. • Regular removal and disposal of faecal material

Intestinal Coccidiosis

Intestinal coccidiosis mainly affects young weaned rabbits six weeks to five months of age. This is attributed to stress, noise, transportation or immunosupression.

Symptoms• Rough coat, dullness, decreased appetite, dehydration and

weight loss. • Rabbits may also develop intussusception, a blockage of

the intestine caused by a telescoping of the bowel on itself. When weight loss is greater than 20%, convulsions or paralysis is seen, followed by death within 24 hours.

• The majority of deaths are a result of dehydration and secondary bacterial infections.

Hepatic Coccidiosis

Rabbits infected with E. steidae , the protozoan responsible for hepatic (liver) coccidiosis, may have mild to severe infections. Mild infections show no symptoms while moderately infected rabbits will have growth retardation. Severe infections result in loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhea and possibly constipation in the later stages of the disease. E steidae inhabits cells of the bile ducts and liver, causing blockage and severe liver damage.

Clinical Symptoms• Diarrhea (may be blood-tinged), Weight loss, Jaundice , Rough coat, LethargyDiagnosis and Treatment• The diagnosis of coccidiosis in live rabbits is very difficult to do. Examination of feces

for the presence of oocysts is one method. • Anti-coccidial treatment is usually only successful for rabbits that have been infected

for less than five or six days. • If treatment is successful, diarrhea and mortality may still be seen for a few days after

the initiation of treatment. Relapse is regularly observed after one or two weeks.

Hepatic CoccidiosisPrevention

Prevention is the best method in the control of rabbit coccidiosis. Sanitation and husbandry are the most important aspects in controlling infection.

• Overcrowding causes unnecessary stress and difficulty in maintaining hygiene in the rabbitry.

• Avoid mixing litters at weaning • Wean youngsters as late as possible, unless overcrowding becomes an issue. • Anticoccidial medicated feed to weaned and non-lactating/pregnant does

to prevent the development of coccidiosis. Young rabbits (1-3 months) have a low immunity to coccidiosis and thus are more susceptible to the disease.

• Routine cleaning two or three times a week will decrease coccidial loads and is recommended for rabbitries experiencing coccidiosis problems

• Feeder and waterer should be disinfected regularly and remain free of rabbit feces.

Tyzzer's disease

Symptoms• Loss of appetite, dehydration, loss of energy, staining of the

hindquartersCauses• This disease is caused by Clostridium piliforme bacteriaTreatment• Antibiotic therapy• Fluid therapy (ORS)Prevention and Control• Regular removal of fecal materials• Good sanitation (1% peracetic acid or 3% bleach )

ColibacillosisTwo types of colibacillosis are seen in rabbits, depending on their age. Rabbits

of 1 to 2 weeks old develop a severe yellowish diarrhea that is often fatal. Symptoms• Diarrhoea• Weight loss• Poor growthCauses• Caused by Escherichiacoli bacteria Treatment• Antibiotic therapy• Fluid therapy (ORS)Prevention and control• Providing high-fiber food• Rabbit cages and other areas of rabbit shed should be thoroughly sanitized

Gastric UlcersUsually associated with stress. Sever gastric ulcer causes sudden death.Symptoms• There are no specific signs of gastric ulcers in rabbits other than abdominal• pain. Haunched back, hurdling is also seen as an indication of pain.Causes• Usually result of excessive use of NSAIDs (anti inflammatory drugs) . Svere

stress predispose to gastric ulcers. Some bacteria are also associated with this condition.

Treatment• Histamine receptor blocker- H2 blocker ( Ranitidine, Cimitidine, Famotidine)• Proton pump inhibitor to control the gastric acid secretion( Omeprazole)Prevention and control• Have good grass hay to increase the intestinal motility• Slowly introduce new feeds

Hair chewing and Hair ballsRabbits groom themselves almost constantly, so their stomachs often contain hair. If the hairballs

build up in the stomach and causes a blockage (commonly called a hairball).Symptoms• Loss of appetite• Weight lose• Death within 3 to 4 weeks if not diagnosed and treatedCauses• Low-fiber diet, Stress, Obesity, BoredomnessTreatment• Intra venous fluid treatment, • Anti inflammatory drugs• Anti-ulcer drugs• Pineapple juice contains the digestive enzyme bromelain and has been used to treat early cases

of hairballs; an adult rabbit is given fresh or frozen juice directly into the stomach once or twice a day for 3 days.

Prevention and control• Providing a high fiber diet,• Avoiding stress and obesity• Avoiding Boredomness

Acute Bloat and BlockageBloat occurs as gas accumulates in large amounts in the gastrointestinal tract. Acute bloat,

however, occurs as a result of a physical obstruction or severe ileus.Symptoms• A rabbit with acute bloat from a complete gastrointestinal obstruction can go from

perfectly well to critically ill within an extremely short period of time, and die within 12 to 24 hours of onset of symptoms if there is no successful Intervention

Causes• True obstructions are usually high in the gut, near the pyloric opening (at the• bottom of the stomach) or within the first six inches of the small bowel. Blockage may

occur from ingested material such as bedding material; carpet fibers and mats of hair (hair ball).Tumors, adhesions, abscesses, and a twisted intestine.

Treatment• 1. Emergency doses of IV fluids, analgesics, and antibiotics.• 2. Anti bloat agents• 3. Oral administration of 10 to 20 ml of vegetable oilPrevention and control• Have good grass hay to increase the intestinal motility• Slowly introduce new feeds• Avoid too much of readily available carbohydrates in feed

Enterotoxemia

• Species of Clostridium causes the enteritis complex in domestic rabbits. The

• “carbohydrate overload” is associated with this disease.

Symptoms• Production of enterotoxins leads to diarrhoea

and death

Mucoid enteropathySymptoms• Soft jelly like faeces or diarrhoea that soils the fur around the anus. Rabbits can die very

quickly, often before symptoms of scouring are observed. It is usually grower rabbits from 6-8 weeks of age that are affected.

Causes• These two diseases are associated with a disruption of gut function that may be caused

by bacteria such as Escherichia coli or by a lack of fibre in the diet of the rabbit. Stress, overcrowding and poor sanitation can increase susceptibility of rabbits to these diseases.

Treatment• Antibiotics may be of useful• Oral rehydration therapy (ORS )• The most effective treatment is to increase the level of fibre being fed to the animals.

This can be given in the form of lucerne or grass. Prevention and control• Feed grower rabbits a diet with adequate fibre levels (>12% - 14%).• Monitor rabbit health and adjust stocking rate if necessary. • Good sanitation in the grower shed with cages and equipment regularly cleaned• Free access to fresh clean drinking water.

Ketosis (Pregnancy Toxemia)

Ketosis is a rare disorder that may result in death of does 1 to 2 days before giving birth. The disease is more common in first-litter does. Hairballs in the stomach often predispose a rabbit to developing ketosis.

Symptoms• Loss of appetite, Dullness of eyes, Sluggishness• Difficulty in breathing and lying down. • The most significant physical change is fatty deposits in the liver and kidneys (noted

after death has occurred).Causes• Obesity and lack of exercise.Treatment • Intravenous injection of dextrose (10% or 20 %). • Oral administration of glycerol• Oral administration of jaggaryPrevention and control• Breed does before they become obese• Provide adequate nutrition during pregnancy

Mastitis

It is inflammation of the mammary glands and nipples of rabbits. Usually problem in nursing does.Symptoms:• Infected mammary gland usually swells up and there is a hard lump generally around the nipple. The

region can become reddish inflamed and painful, sometimes in more severe cases the affected area turns blue. Does with mastitis often have increased temperature. If untreated the infection will become abscessed and hard.

Cause• Mastitis is an infection of the mammary gland often caused by Staphylococcus aureus but can also be

caused from Pasteurella multocida plus other bacteria. Bacteria can enter the mammary gland via the teat canal, through injury to the teats or via the blood stream (septicaemia).

Treatment• Treatment with an effective antibiotic at the early stage of infection can assist the doe to overcome the

infection. Prevention and control• Good hygiene is essential for the control of mastitis. • Cages and equipment should be cleaned prior to kindling. Particular attention should be paid to keeping

cages and nest boxes clean during lactation. • Topical antibiotic treatment of nipple injuries can reduce the chance of infection through this route. • Infection is readily spread though human contact and hands should be disinfected before handling each

lactating doe. • Kits from infected does are also a source of infection and should not be fostered onto healthy does. • Mastitis often reoccurs with subsequent lactations and affected rabbits should be culled.

Ringworm

• Ringworm is a fungal infection that is common in rabbits. Ringworm is generally associated with poor sanitation, poor nutrition, and other environmental stressors.

Symptoms• Affected rabbits develop raised, reddened, circular

sores that are capped with white, bran-like, flaky material. The sores generally appear first on the head and then spread to other areas of the skin.

Ringworm

Causes• The cause is most commonly the fungus Trichophyton

mentagrophytes and occasionally Microsporum canis. Treatment• Oral and topical antifungal drugsPrevention and control• Because infected rabbits can spread the disease to humans and

other animals, they should be isolated and treated.• Good sanitary practices (use disposable gloves, followed by

thorough hand and arm washing when handling infected rabbits, cleaning cages and equipment, or disposing of waste materials)

Hock soreUsually seen in over weight rabbits or rabbits in poorly maintained cages, it is mainly a

management problem.Symptoms• Hair loss on the foot pad and hock area is followed by ulcerated sores that often become

infected. Affected rabbits look like they are “walking on eggs” and gingerly shift their weight from foot to foot. Rabbits may lose body condition and can die from septicaemia (blood poisoning). Most often the rear hocks become sore but all feet can be affected in severe cases.

Cause• This condition is common with rabbits on wire floors. Type of wire, cleanliness and the

condition of the cage floor are important factors associated with hock sore. Treatment • Soaking off surface crust and irrigating with a topical solution but the healing process is slow

and the condition often reoccurs.• Use of antibiotics, anti inflammatory drugs• Affected rabbits should be provided with a mat to allow them to get off the wire floor. Prevention• Mats on wire floors assist in prevention.• Mats which allow the passage of faeces and urine are the best but care should be taken to

ensure they are kept clean.• Nail trimming is also advisable • Rabbits with reoccurring hocksore should be culled.

AbscessesAbscesses, localized collections of pus, are common in rabbits and difficult to

treat successfully. Symptoms• Rabbit abscesses are most often found on the head and limbs, but may

also occur elsewhere, including on internal organs. They frequently extend to underlying tissues and bone, and if this happens the prognosis is more guarded. Signs of abscesses are variable. Visible swelling in external body surfaces.

Causes• Bacterial, viral agents may cause the condition.Treatment• Apply iodine ointments to ripen the abscess• Opening and draining of abscesses (after maturation)• Minimum of two weeks of antibiotic therapy• Local application of antibiotic cream

Ear Mites

Rabbit ears may become infested with ear mites, Psoroptes cuniculi. Symptoms• Excessive head shaking/scratching and crusted exudates in the ears are usually the

first sign. Crusting may extend to the face, dewlap, neck and other body parts.• Sometimes bad infestations extend to the ear canal and lead to secondary bacterial

infections that cause otitis media, head tilt, and other signs of neurological disease. Causes• The mite Psoroptes cuniculi causes the condition, sometime with mixed bacterial

infection. Infestations will be worse where the environmental conditions include low temperature and high humidity.

Treatment• Antiparasitical drugs such as ivermectin or Doramectin.• Cleaning of ear by hydrogen peroxide• Antibiotic treatment• Anti inflammatory and anti histamines

EncephalitozoonosisEncephalitozoon cuniculi is an intracellular protozoan parasite spread primarily through spores

in the urine of affected animals. It is of zoonotic importance. Symptoms• The symptoms are not clear in this condition. Head tilt may be a routine disease clinical

sign. Granulomas are localized areas of inflammation where the infection is being fought, and are most common in the brain, kidneys, heart, and spinal cord. Digestive and urinary tract disturbances may also be noticed.

• Symptoms that may occur include:• Head tilt, Rolling, Head nodding, Stargazing (head slightly twisted up, eyes staring upwards),

Nystagmus (uncontrolled movement of eyes), Cataracts,Paralysis/paresis, especially of the hind legs, Incontinence, Ataxia (incoordination, weakness), Behavioural changes, especially mental impairment

Causes• The poor hygiene in rabbit shed predisposes this condition. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an

intracellular protozoan parasite is the causative agent.Treatment• Antiparasitical drugs to eradicate the parasite• Sulpha drugs may also be given• Using deworming drugs like albendazole, fenbendazole, oxibendazole, thiabendazole etc

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

The presence of sludgy urine and uroliths will predispose the rabbits. Infectious agents also cause the condition.

Symptoms• Pain in the abdomen is noticed, difficult in urination, blood in urine, change of

colour of urine and abnormal-smelling of urineCauses• Many infectious agents cause this condition. The presence of urinary stones, poor

water intake may also lead to urinary tract infections.But these infections are often asymptomatic, and therefore very dangerous.

Treatment• Use of antibiotics for 5 to 10 days• Anti inflammatory drugsPrevention and control• Good rabbit shed hygiene• Providing palatable drinking water containing less dissolved salts

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia, loss of heat, is a sign of a very serious condition needing prompt attention to avoid the rabbit’s death. If the rabbit is hypothermic, the rectal temperature will be below 100˚F (37.7˚C). This may be encountered in rabbits recovering from anesthesia, rabbits suffering any pain, rabbits that have acute bloat, Gastro intestinal hypomotility, mycotoxicosis, or are in shock.

Symptoms• Initially shivering will be there in severe conditions loss of consciousness, finally

coma and death.Treatment• Administration of intra venous fluids with body temperature.• Covering the rabbits with blanketsPrevention and control• In winter using rabbit shed heaters.• Avoiding winter winds in to rabbit shed.• By providing proper thermal bedding material

HyperthermiaHyperthermia, or heat stress, is as deadly as hypothermia. Rabbits do not sweat and cannot pant.Symptoms• Rabbits will be lethargic initially followed by convulsions and death, Laboured breathing

(dyspnoea), Disorientation, Weakness, Seizures, Prostration, Anorexia, Fluid in lungs, Rectal temperature over 105˚F (40.5˚C), Cyanosis, Unconsciousness

Causes• Heat stroke can occur to a rabbit if the weather becomes unexpectedly hot or if a rabbit is

confined in a cage near a window or heat source he cannot move away from.Treatment• Immediately remove the rabbits from the high environmental temperature and cool the body by

pouring cold water.• Intravenous fluid therapyPrevention and control• Provide cool and ventilated cages• If the ambient temperature rises this high, rabbits must be to cooled• In hot weather provide the rabbit lots of cool water—try placing ice cubes in a dish of water.

Frozen water-filled juice cartons can be wrapped in towels and placed next to the rabbit. • Fans with damp towels hung in front of rabbits can help cool the air and relieve the rabbit’s

stress.

ShockSometimes hypothermia and hyperthermia may lead to shock.Symptoms• Greyish or bright pink mucous membranes (easiest to observe in gums and

eyes)• Low body temperature• Weak pulse• Loss of consciousnessCauses• There are three kinds of shock: hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and distributive.

Unless the progression of shock is stopped, the rabbit will die.Treatment• Intravenous fluid therapy• Antibiotic therapyPrevention and control• The prevention and control measure in hypothermia and hyperthermia has to

be followed.

Cancer (Neoplastic Disease)The growth of tumors (neoplasms) is not uncommon in rabbits, although

abscesses are a more likely cause of unidentified masses in a companion rabbit. uterine cancer is extremely common in adult female breeding rabbits

Symptoms• Unusual feeding behaviour , lose of appetite; and eventually become

emaciated (Loss of body weight)• Rabbit will be lethargic, have diarrhea, respiratory difficulties, and limb paresis

(weakness);Causes• Neoplasms may be benign or malignant and may occur in rabbits of any age,• although older rabbits have a higher incidence. Exposure of rabbits to cancer

causing agents.Treatment• In general, cancer is very difficult to treat in rabbits, both because it is often

multifocal and because the rabbit may show no sign of the disease until it is well-developed. Anti cancer drug may be tried.

Hair ball ( trichobezzaors)

Presence of hair/fur of rabbits in their gastro intestinal tract.Symptoms• Reduced appetite or complete loss of appetite• Diarrhoea or constipation• Pain in abdomenCauses• Boredom of rabbits, deficiency of minerals and vitamins causes the rabbits

to eat or chew their own hair.Treatment• Oral administration of digestive enzymes to digest the hair ballPrevention and control• Feeding adequate vitamins and miners in the feed.• Avoiding boredom in rabbits

Ulcerative Pododermatitis ( Sore Hock)

Sore hocks are highly likely to occur in over weight rabbit (obese) because of changes in how the weight is distributed on their feet and also because of urine dribble and burn.

Treatment• Use topical and systemic antibioticsPrevention and control• Managing proper weight in breeding rabbits• Good cage floor and bedding material

Quarantine

• The sick animals should be separated from health rabbits and kept in isolation. During the isolation the rabbits should be examined thoroughly and treatment should be given. Quarantine of newly purchased rabbits is possibly the most important procedure that every rabbitries should follow. Usually a period of 2 months of quarantine has to be followed before introducing/mixing with other rabbits in an existing rabbit stock.

• The workers or personnel who handle, treat, or clean quarantine animals should not go into non-quarantine areas until they have taken bath and changed clothes. Healthiest animals in quarantine should be handled, fed, and cleaned before less healthy animals (“clean to dirty” procedure).

• Animals with similar conditions/symptoms should be housed adjacent or together and away from other animals to prevent transmission of disease.

• As fecal parasites are among the most transmissible. Fecal samples should be analyzed at least one time while rabbits are in quarantine.

• Any rabbits which appear to be in worsening condition should be kept separate to be examined

• Any rabbit who dies while in quarantine should be given a full post mortem examination (necropsy)

• No rabbit should leave quarantine and be admitted to a known healthy population until he is disease-free for at least 30 days, or 60 days post purchase, whichever is greater.

Thank you