The etiologic agent is pasteurella multocida, a gramnegative, nonmotile coccobacillus. Rabbits and the field of rabbit health are becoming increasingly popular due to the popularity of this mammal as a household pet. Select from our a to z list to read all about a disease or condition in one comprehensive overview. Furthermore, the recommended treatments are based on proven field experiences. Request pdf viral skin diseases of the rabbit this article describes the viral skin diseases affecting the domestic rabbit, the most important being myxomatosis. Rabbit owners expect and deserve the same standard of veterinary care for their rabbits as they receive for their cats and dogs.
Over the past several decades, rabbit husbandry and care has evolved quite dramatically. Rotaviral enteritis also has been diagnosed in the usa and seems to contribute to the overall problem of intestinal disease in rabbits. If we see dry skin in our rabbit, it might not be a sign of serious illness. Myxomatosis is a disease caused by myxoma virus, a poxvirus in the genus leporipoxvirus.
Causes of diseases disease causes body functions to disfunction or function improperly. If we try to have our rabbit vaccinated daily, while avoiding possible contact with. Some viral strains also affect hares and cottontail rabbits. Go pets america pasteurellosis is the designation for all the diseases associated with pasteurella multocida. Some are contagious to other species, including humans.
Manual removal results in healing in wild rabbits, but in domestic rabbits experi. A shortage of elementary skills in the management of skin diseases is a further confounding problem. The skin of rabbits is a window to their general state of health. This viral disease is widespread throughout the world, but in some countries it is already eradicated, since effective vaccination is in fact mandatory in many parts of the world. Viral skin disease rabbit myxomatosis myxoma virus shope papilloma virus. However, if a rabbits mouth is sore because of dental issues, it avoids eating including the soft droppings which means its bottom can become soiled, brian explains. Knowing how to skin small game is an indispensable skill. Rabbits are wonderful domesticated pets, but it should be remembered that they are. Rabbit calicivirus disease was first reported in 1984 in the peoples republic of china, from whence it spread through the domestic and wild rabbit populations in continental europe.
If the rabbit is found to have the disease it should not be bred. Most mild infections will clear up without further treatment. Common rabbit diseases prevention treatment youtube. If you decide to kill an animal, give it the dignity of skinning and eating it properly, instead of letting it go to waste. I would recommend you visit your veterinarian as rabbit may get various diseases with their skin, most notably myiasis. In conventional colonies, 30%90% of apparently healthy rabbits may be asymptomatic carriers. The first report of the virus in the western hemisphere was in mexico city in 1988. Typical rabbit housing has gone from outdoor wire rabbit hutches to spacious indoor habitats. Feed h straw, 3 to 18 cc fresh inea le uice thice dai oral fresh n le contains and d skin i to other of the rabbit scratches often flakes of skin andor scabs ar in affected area. The collaboration with a veterinarian and a rabbit owner has contributed to the clarity and the quality of the provided information. Viral skin diseases of the rabbit veterinary clinics. Myxomatosis is spread by bites from mosquitoes, flies, fur mites, and fleas and can also be acquired from injuries caused by contaminated thorns or thistles. The disease is caused by strains of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus rhdv, a lagovirus in the family.
The myxoma virus causes only a mild disease in these species, but causes a severe and usually fatal disease in european rabbits oryctolagus cuniculus. Feb 07, 2020 knowing how to skin small game is an indispensable skill. Sep 22, 2010 the collaboration with a veterinarian and a rabbit owner has contributed to the clarity and the quality of the provided information. Consequently, only those common diseases observed will be mentioned in this factsheet. At times, however, this can become compromised, allowing for harmful. Infectious diseases in rabbits vca animal hospital. Pasteurellosis, ear mange, and coccidiosis are diseases commonly experienced by some growers. Myiasis also known as flystrike occurs more commonly during the summer months when flies are out in good form.
Rotaviral enteritis also has been diagnosed in the usa and seems to contribute. The natural hosts are tapeti sylvilagus brasiliensis in south and central america, and brush rabbits sylvilagus bachmani in north america. Rabbitpox virus is proposed as an animal model for human smallpox. If youre a new rabbit owner, as pet or meat source, first you need to know all the common rabbit diseases and how to treat them. Viruses of the wild and domestic rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus, presentation by esther van praag, ph. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease rhd, also known as viral hemorrhagic disease vhd, is a highly infectious and lethal form of viral hepatitis that affects european rabbits.
Three principal reasons most often cited for the spread of diseases are poor sanitation, improper management, and introduction of new animals into a herd. Clean and disinfect the sore areas as well as the hutch immediately. Give ra id breathi inactive da usual te rature above 85 petra malt. Regular grooming will allow you to check your rabbits skin and identify potential problems early. Eliminate sharp objects that can injure the rabbit. Normally, healthy bacteria exist in the rabbit s skin and moist mucous membranes. It will scratch, bite skin or limbs, or rub the affected area excessively until bleeding. The general approach to skin disease in rabbits is similar to that in dogs and cats, and includes obtaining a full history and conducting a clinical examination, followed by a variety of diagnostic tests, depending on the clinical signs. The use of rabbits for meat, fur, as a pet animal and as laboratory animal.
Rabbits are the most common small mammal kept as pets in the us other than dogs and cats. Subcutaneous swelling extends around the eyes, ears, and genital region and can progress to skin hemorrhages, breathing difficulties, decreased to no appetite, fever. Bacterial skin infection in rabbits symptoms, causes. Sep 22, 2008 pyoderma is a medical term for bacterial skin infections occurring in rabbits. Request pdf skin diseases of rabbits this book results from requests from rabbit owners and veterinarians who were seeking reliable, up to date information. Should there by any doubt as to the effectiveness of a treatment it is recommended that you consult. Viruses are not important causes of clinical disease of rabbits in the usa but include the infectious fibromas, papillomatosis, rabbitpox, myxomatosis, and a herpesvirus infection virus 3.
Here, a comprehensive approach aims at describing a skin disorder and its rabbitspecific clinical signs, diagnosis, and rabbitsafe treatment options. Pdf nowadays rabbit farming is among one of the fastest growing industry. Bacterial and mycotic diseases of rabbits exotic and. This disease is one of the most common illnesses in rabbits. Can occur on other parts of body where there are wounds or scratches. Although, this type of rabbit skin diseases is called ringworm because it appears as a circular lesion like a red welt with a center, in most cases ringworm has a different appearance. The book chapters deal with rabbit skin anatomy, examination of rabbits, and viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, mechanical, genetic, hormonal, immune and neoplastic diseases. Common bacterial and skin diseases of the rabbit, including pasteurellosis, pyometra, orchitis, molt, mites, ringworm, abscesses, myxomatosis, and flystrike.
Mortality rates generally range from 70 to 100 percent. A trichobezoar is a technical reference for a mat of hair that has been ingested, and that is often combined with thick or undigested food. It is transmitted easily by direct contact with fun gal spores on haircoats, bedding and soil. Common diseases and conditions of pet rabbits cinque ports vets. Clip the fur around abscess, then lance and remove the pus. Owners may be quite ignorant of the basic needs of their pet, and adults presenting the rabbit may have little or no involvement in the day.
Here, a comprehensive approach aims at describing a skin disorder and its rabbit specific clinical signs, diagnosis, and rabbit safe treatment options. There are four major infectious diseases seen in pet rabbits. Other issues like bacterial infection would be too severe to. Skin i to other of the rabbit scratches often flakes of skin andor scabs ar in affected area. Rabbit diseases az the full list of rabbit diseases petmd. Pdf dermatologic problems of rabbits anna meredith academia. Transmission and pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and control are described and the article will be of interest to veterinary practitioners who treat rabbits. A uk survey showed that 25 per cent of rabbit cases treated by veterinarians were related to skin problems, second only to dental diseases 30 per cent nielsen and others 2014. Many mammals, including oryctolagus cuniculus, are affected by this disease. Skin ailments range from irritating to lifethreatening. There are some common diseases and problems seen in rabbits that can be prevented by ensuring you have an understanding of what a healthy rabbit requires and the subtle signs that can tell you your rabbit is unwell. This attracts flies that lay eggs on the rabbit, which hatch into maggots that burrow into the skin. The following tutorial will teach you how to skin a rabbit both with and without a knife. Nov 22, 2018 if we see that our rabbit has dry skin, then we need to work out the cause.
If we see that our rabbit has dry skin, then we need to work out the cause. More common symptoms that most people will notice are. Skin disorders are among the most common presentations of rabbits to veterinary practices. There are some common diseases and problems seen in rabbits that can be prevented by ensuring you have an understanding of what a healthy rabbit. It is highly contagious and transmitted primarily by direct contact, although aerosol transmission may also occur. Rabbit diseases disease cause symptoms prevention treatment abscesses bacterial infection. They then will live under your rabbit s skin and release poison. A number of studies assessing success in the management of skin diseases in primary care settings in the developing world find that treatment failure rates of more than 80 percent are common figueroa and others 1998. While we can look at the different symptoms, it will take a veterinarian to determine the problem. Disease causes body functions to disfunction or function improperly.
Rabbits need a balanced diet of unlimited grass hay timothy, orchard, oat. If a rabbit s skin is chronically exposed to moisture, then baldness, redness, and crusting may develop, and bacterial infection may follow. From the animals point of view 4 anr 8377 rabbit disease. Rabbit health common rabbit skin conditions petplan. Pathologic causes some diseases or the presence of skin parasites or foreign bodies lead to pruritus and excessive grooming of the affected region by the rabbit. It is caused by an agent similar to the one that causes athletes foot in people. This article describes the viral skin diseases affecting the domestic rabbit, the most important being myxomatosis. When antibiotics are a part of the treatment program, a withdrawal period of 10 days must be allowed before the animal is. Devoted entirely to the pet rabbit, this book is a practical and concise guide to health, husbandry and diseases. However, as it equally could be the early sign of a life threatening illness, we should take our rabbit to the vet. The book begins with an overview of rabbit husbandry. When antibiotics are a part of the treatment program, a withdrawal period of 10 days must be allowed before the animal is slaughtered for food.
A hiding spot should also be provided for outdoor rabbits so they have a place to retreat when they feel threatened. One or more of the following defects cause diseases. What you need to know 5 a hiding spot should also be provided for outdoor rabbits so they have a place to retreat when they feel threatened. These infections usually occur when the rabbit s skin tears or breaks, or when the skin is exposed to moist conditions, therefore altering the flora found within. Rabbits are the third most commonly owned pet in the uk and skin disease represents a significant problem in this species. Many of these problems are caused by parasites, such as mites, that will require medication from your veterinarian. Rabbit herpesviruses leporid herpesvirus 3 herpesvirus sylvilagus is a gamma herpesvirus found in wild cottontail rabbits. In a similar study, skin diseases were reported to make up 29 per cent of all cases treated in california, usa, with. For pet owners there are approximately 50 species of rabbits and hares in the family leporidae order lagomorpha, but the european rabbit oryctolagus cuniculus. Diseases and parasites prevention, eradication, and control of transmissible diseases if disease prevention has failed and transmissible diseases are established in the rabbitry, heavy mortality may lead to business fail ure. Common diseases and conditions of pet rabbits this booklet is designed to assist veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in describing common disease conditions to rabbit owners and others involved in rabbit husbandry, by presenting clear images, diagrams and brief descriptions. Skin diseases are also very common in laboratory rabbits. More common symptoms that most people will notice are bald spots, scaling and crusting. Skin disorders in rabbits often lead to patches of hair loss alopecia.
If a rabbits skin is chronically exposed to moisture, then baldness, redness, and crusting may develop, and bacterial. Fungal disease, or ringworm, is a relatively uncommon fungal disease in rabbits. Hopefully skin diseases of rabbits will appeal to the small animal and exotic practitioner, veterinary students, veterinary nurses, and owners, and become a helpful addition to their handling and treating rabbits. Proper treatment is immensely rewarding, as it returns our rabbits to their normal state of inquisitive cheerfulness.
562 870 981 1428 1565 853 1371 212 471 1245 1234 572 313 950 433 37 847 1460 1369 1463 1631 929 850 958 297 752 1293 249 1015 229 1166 1498