I. Reasons for diarrhea in rabbits
What is diarrhea? The more common rabbit diseases are more common in young rabbits with weak resistance, but the etiology of diarrhea in small rabbits is very complex, mainly divided into infectious and non-infectious causes.
1. Infectious etiologies: intestinal bacteria, food molds, viral infections, and intestinal parasites.
2. Non-infectious causes: including rabbit stress, climate change, improper diet, poor breeding environment, etc. For example, the breeding environment of rabbits is too cold and humid, which causes the rabbit’s abdomen to get cold; the food fed to the rabbits is not clean and spoiled; the newly weaned rabbits are greedy and eat too much at once, causing indigestion; too much water in the rabbit feed, Intestinal discomfort caused by sudden feed change, etc.
Even adult rabbits may suffer from diarrhea due to the above reasons, but newly weaned rabbits lose the protection of maternal antibodies in breast milk, and their immunity will be particularly low, so they become ill. The rate is higher, and if left untreated, rabbits can quickly dehydrate and die.
2. Symptoms of diarrhea in rabbits
Infectious diarrhea: one day The frequency of defecation can be 10 or even more than a dozen times. The rabbit’s appetite is reduced, the spirit is lethargic, and the body temperature is raised. In the early stage, the excrement will have a small amount of soft stool, and it will gradually become watery in the later stage. In severe cases, the excrement may be mixed with white color. Mucosal or bloodshot, this is a symptom caused by intestinal damage. Rabbit excrement is accompanied by foul odor, and the symptoms of weight loss, emaciation, dehydration, shortness of breath, collapse and death gradually occur.
Non-infectious diarrhea: Rabbits have decreased appetite, lethargy, soft or watery feces, and hair around the anus and abdomen is contaminated with feces. Rabbits with a longer course of disease will gradually develop symptoms of weakness, unwillingness to move, slight abdominal distension, and death from exhaustion.
3. Treatment and preventive measures for diarrhea in rabbits
1. Treatment Methods:
The use of ciprofloxacin, difenac, norfloxacin and other antibacterial drugs can be considered for rabbits with diarrhea, 1 to 2 tablets each time, 2 to 3 times a day, and fed continuously for 2 to 2 3 days;
Gentamicin, anti-inflammatory and anti-infective, intramuscular injection of 0.5-1ml, once a day, for 3 consecutive days;
tannin protein, each time 1~3g, 1~2 times a day, for 2 days.
2. Preventive measures
(1) Pay attention to dietary safety, do not feed spoiled or unclean food to rabbits, clean the rabbit’s food bowls and cages regularly, and keep the rabbit cages Dry, hygienic and well-ventilated;
(2) If the ambient air is humid, pay attention to reducing the feeding of green feed or food with more moisture, and increase the feeding amount of hay.
(3) When changing feed types for rabbits, pay attention to gradual changes, do not change them suddenly, to avoid the intestinal discomfort of rabbits.
(4) Sick rabbits should be kept in isolation to avoid the spread of diarrhea in rabbits caused by infectious causes. Those with mild symptoms can be treated with berberine and garlic. Use antibiotics, sulfonamides, or furans.
(5) When the rabbit has diarrhea, it is necessary to clean the anus of the sick rabbit with warm water to reduce bacterial infection.
