What are the most common diseases in domestic rabbits

Domestic rabbits with a good education can be excellent companions, but they are also very delicate animals. You can have a robust rabbit that does not get sick and another that, on the other hand, gets sick very easily. That is why it is so important to maximize the hygiene and care of your rabbit . For that reason from .com we want to orient you so that you know which are the most common diseases in domestic rabbits . If you see any alert in your rabbit, do not hesitate to go immediately to the veterinarian to assess it.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is dangerous in rabbits because they can dehydrate very quickly. Diarrhea can appear for different reasons such as food in poor condition, dirty or fermented. They can also be due to some intestinal parasites, bacteria or viruses.

Diarrhea may be caused by a swelling in the belly, loss of appetite, loss of vivacity, increased thirst. The severity varies depending on the house that causes the diarrhea. If your rabbit suffers from diarrhea, give plenty of fresh water so you do not get dehydrated, keep it somewhere that does not go cold and go immediately to the vet.

Cold

That a rabbit colds is uncommon, but it can happen that it takes the commonly called, distemper . It can appear at any time of the year. You will notice it quickly because you will see that it has nasal and ocular secretions in addition to numerous sneezes.

You can catch a cold due to poor hygiene or, as happens to people, sudden changes in temperature, drafts ... etc. You have to avoid getting a cold because it can lead to something more serious, such as pneumonia. If you see that your rabbit in two or three days does not improve, go to your veterinarian, since mucous accumulated in the nose can cause suffocation. To prevent it from happening, be very demanding with hygiene and do not expose your rabbit to sudden changes in temperature or drafts. That his cage be in a dry and sheltered place.

Auricular scabies

This disease is caused by mites within the external auditory canal of the rabbit. It is a very contagious disease among rabbits and if you have more than one you should separate them. You will notice it immediately because it would irritate your ears and become inflamed, and there would be a discharge with yellow crusts. If you notice the first symptoms you should go immediately to the veterinarian because if you do not act quickly your rabbit could die.

Scabies on the body

Like auricular scabies, this disease is also very contagious and the rabbit should be separated immediately. The difference with auricular scabies is that the body can spread throughout the body of the animal, when in the first, is located only in the ear. The parasite that causes this disease nests under the skin of the rabbit and feeds on its blood. The bite of this parasite causes strong irritations, appearing secretions that when dry will cause hard crusts, turning the skin rough and swollen, losing even large amounts of hair. If this happens to your rabbit, immediately go to the veterinarian at the first symptoms.

Conjunctivitis and eye infections

Conjunctivitis is an infection in the eyelids . Your rabbit would have watery eyes and snot. It can even sprout pus. If you notice that your rabbit can have conjunctivitis, take it to the veterinarian to prescribe eye drops and guide you in the process of improving your rabbit.