Rabbit diseases
There are a lot of rabbit diseases that can affect your pet rabbit and it will be too much
to cover all of them. I will run through the most common rabbit diseases that would be
encountered by vets in general. That's not to say that these are the only diseases that
your pet rabbit will suffer from. If your rabbit is visibly sick, please take it into your vet to
have it looked at, he/she will be the best person to help your rabbit. I will go through the
diseases based on the different body systems that are affected.
Rabbit diseases - skin problems
- Subcutaneous abscesses - usually what happens is your rabbit develops a painful swelling on its back. It can grow to the size of a hen's egg. These are more often than not caused by a bacteria called Pasteurella. See your vet for treatment as the abscess inevitably requires lancing.
- Bumblefoot (Ulcerative Pododermatitis) - ulcers develop on the hocks of rabbits. This disease is usually caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus. It is the result of trauma to the footpads of the rabbit generally due to them being raised on wire mesh floors.
- Hairballs - more common in long haired rabbit breeds like Angoras. However, rabbits who are kept in cages all the time with no outlet for entertainment will often overgroom and pluck their own fur out in huge tufts. Supplying your pet rabbit with hay and straw will prevent this problem as would giving them adequate avenues to relieve their boredom - a free run in the yard on a daily basis or taking it for a walk is a great idea.
- Ear mites - this is very common. It is caused by the mite Psoroptes cuniculi. Sometimes another mite is involved - Sarcoptes scabiei, however this mite tends to prefer the whole head area and feet and not just the ears (note that this is a mite that isn't particular about who it infects, if you handle your infected bunny, you will also start to get itchy lesions too). What you commonly find is that your rabbit starts to shake its head a lot and scratch their ears. You would also notice greyish crusty material on the ear lobe and the ears stink.
- Myxomatosis - a viral disease of rabbits transmitted by mosquitoes. It isn't around in some parts of the world but are endemic in others. The disease starts off as a swelling of the head and eyelids and then you get conjunctivitis eye discharge. Some rabbits get a nodular form of myxomatosis and get lumps everywhere on their body. There is a vaccine available.
- Ringworm - round scaly lesions usually around the head area.
Rabbit diseases - respiratory problems
Snuffles - caused by a bacteria called Pasteurella. It can result in a more chronic respiratory condition with pneumonia and other abscesses, but by and large, most rabbits get snuffly cold like symptoms and a yellow nasal discharge. Affected rabbits invariably sneeze and cough.
Rabbit diseases - gastrointestinal problems
- Diarrhea - it is usually very hard to find out exactly what caused the diarrhea in the first place. Common causes can be bacterial eg E. Coli in newly weaned rabbits, Tyzzer's disease, parasitic eg Eimeria/coccidiosis, or viral. You need to take your rabbit into the vet as soon as possible to get supportive treatment started straight away.
- Overgrown incisor teeth - this occurs when the front incisors do not meet up properly. Your rabbit's teeth grow throughout life so without the constant grinding to wear them down, they just keep growing longer. These rabbits go off their food and start to salivate alot. It is a heriditary disorder so it is recommended that you not breed from these individuals.
Rabbit diseases - musculoskeletal problems
- Spinal fracture - what often happens is that you are holding your rabbit and it gets startled by a loud noise and jumps out of your arms or wriggles out and falls. The result is that they fracture their spine and their hindlimbs are paralyzed as a result. Unfortunately, these rabbits are usually put to sleep.
- Wryneck - this is when your rabbit develops a head tilt. Usually as a result of a middle ear infection caused by Pasteurella.
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Read on about rabbit care, rabbit cages
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Female cat with bloody discharge from vagina
Our (1yo female DSH) neutered cat (neutered prior to our ownership) has had intermittent small volume bloody discharge from her vagina for the last 3 months. On exam her vulva had an ulcerated area and our veternarian is planning an exam under anesthesia later this week. She has no weight loss, a healthy appetite, and has had no change in activity. She is the only animal in our home. What do you believe this could be?
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