Breeding rabbits at home is one of the most difficult areas in animal husbandry, as they require special care, and are also much more susceptible to various diseases. If you do not start the fight against the disease in time, then even the most common cold or runny nose can lead to the death of the animal. One of the most common diseases is rhinitis. It can develop not only due to infection, but also as a result of malnutrition, hypothermia, poor conditions and many other factors. Therefore, if you decide to breed these very eared animals, you should have a detailed idea of how to cure rhinitis in rabbits.
general information
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nasal ducts, which can be of various etiologies. If the disease is caused by an infection, then it can lead to the death of the entire livestock. It is important to understand that a runny nose can be a consequence of other dangerous ailments, so its symptoms should not be ignored. It is best to call a qualified veterinarian who will perform a general examination, prescribe the necessary tests, and also select the most effective treatment for rhinitis in rabbits.
As practice shows, self-treatment very often leads to disastrous consequences. However, in mild cases, you can overcome a runny nose yourself. There are also some preventive measures that will significantly reduce the likelihood of a disease. This and much more will be discussed later.
Main reasons
This question is worth dwelling in more detail. Before we talk about how to treat rhinitis in rabbits, let's first look at the etiology of the common cold. As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are a huge number of reasons behind this ailment. According to experienced farmers, most often a runny nose develops due to poor animal welfare conditions and inadequate sanitation.
In addition, the disease can occur as a result of the following factors:
- lack of ventilation of the rabbit house;
- irregular litter replacement;
- drafts;
- excessive dampness;
- lack of heating in the winter;
- the use of potent chemicals for disinfection;
- various infections and viruses;
- allergy;
- cold;
- low immunity;
- poor nutrition;
- parasites.
In fact, the causes of runny nose in rabbits are much more, but the above are the most common.
Classification
Treatment of rhinitis in rabbits is carried out using drugs that are selected based on the variety of the common cold. In veterinary medicine, the following types of ailment are distinguished:
- allergic;
- catarrhal;
- infectious.
Each species has certain features, however, regardless of this, the clinical manifestations are the same in each case.
How does a runny nose develop?
What you need to know about this? The disease in different individuals proceeds differently, and the clinical picture may depend on many factors. The first symptoms can be felt only a few days after infection. If treatment of rhinitis in rabbits is not started in a timely manner, the condition of the animal will gradually deteriorate, to the point that it can die. In addition, the disease can acquire a chronic form, as a result of which it will worsen during the changing seasons of the year, especially in spring and autumn. Also, a runny nose can give complications in the form of pneumonia and a complete failure of their functioning, as a result of which the meat of the animal will be unsuitable for consumption.
Clinical manifestations
What should you pay attention to first of all? Symptoms of rhinitis in rabbits, regardless of the etiology of the disease, are almost always identical, so even a novice farmer can diagnose a runny nose without any difficulty.
Among the main clinical manifestations, the following can be distinguished:
- sneezing
- copious discharge from the nose;
- redness of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract;
- accumulation of pus on the cheeks;
- labored breathing;
- wheezing
- fever;
- poor appetite or complete refusal of food;
- significant weight loss.
In addition, a runny nose leads to a change in the behavioral factors of the animal. He often begins to scratch his nose with his paws, since a large amount of mucus accumulates in it, which can congeal and completely block the ducts, interfering with breathing.
Treatment features
Even having an idea of the symptoms of a runny nose, it is quite difficult to make an accurate diagnosis on your own, because rhinitis has much in common with a common cold. Therefore, if even the slightest suspicion of this ailment arises, it is necessary to immediately quarantine the sick animal in order to prevent infection of the entire livestock and call a veterinarian. In addition, the place of keeping rabbits should be disinfected.
Drug therapy
Infectious rhinitis in rabbits, like any other of its varieties, requires an integrated approach to treatment. First of all, a qualified veterinarian examines a sick animal, and then selects the most suitable medications. The main component is antibiotics, along with which they give the rabbits concomitant medications aimed at maintaining the intestinal microflora and strengthening the immune system.
In most cases, therapy is carried out according to the following scheme:
- a course of antibiotics is prescribed, the duration of which is determined by the veterinarian;
- along the way, animals are given immunomodulators that support the intestinal microflora;
- nasal cavities are treated with special drugs that have a depressing effect on harmful microorganisms;
- inhalations are performed that increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
As for medicines, Ceftriaxone for rhinitis is considered the best for rabbits. Its main advantage is the integrated effect. It not only stops the growth of prokaryotic cells, but also destroys them. The duration of administration is 5 days, and the dosage is calculated individually depending on the body weight of the animal. Another effective antibiotic is Baytril 10%. It is given to sick animals along with a drink for a week.
Infectious rhinitis in rabbits is treated with Furacilin, which is a good antiseptic. The drug is used for instillation into the nose. To make a solution, you will need to dilute 1 gram of the drug in 100 mg of water. The duration of treatment is two weeks. In each of the nostrils you need to drip 8 drops in the morning and evening every day.
To minimize the negative effect of antibiotics on the intestinal microflora, veterinarians recommend giving Ribotan rabbits. In addition to increasing biological activity, the drug has a general strengthening effect on the body, increasing its resistance to viruses and infections. The medicine is injected under the skin of the animal once for three days. After which a short break is made, and the course of treatment is repeated again.
Allergic rhinitis in a rabbit is much more common than infectious. Moreover, he is treated a little differently. Since the disease is caused by the individual characteristics of the animal’s body, and not by pathogenic pathogens, antibiotics are not needed. Most often, veterinarians prescribe antihistamines to their patients. In addition, it is necessary to choose a suitable diet for the rabbit and inhalation with medicinal decoctions, for example, sea buckthorn or sage. To obtain the desired result, the duration of each procedure should be at least 20 minutes.
Experienced farmers also recommend that the treatment of the nasal canals with special medicines and healing broths. This makes it easier for the animal to breathe and remove the accumulated mucus. How can I wash my nose for a rabbit with rhinitis? For these purposes, chamomile broth or ordinary saline is excellent.
A few words about the diet
Proper nutrition is a key to the success of the fight against any ailment, not only in humans, but also in animals. First of all, you need to monitor the water balance of rabbits, but instead of ordinary water, it is better to give a decoction of mint or chamomile. Throughout the treatment, an increased amount of green food should be included in the diet. Also, dill and basil should be added to the diet, as well as any products of plant origin, which contain a large amount of vitamins A, B, C, D and E, and all vital minerals and nutrients.
Surgical intervention
With rhinitis in rabbits, antibiotic treatment is not always effective. If a runny nose after a course of therapy does not pass, and pus begins to accumulate in the sinuses, then the veterinarians can prescribe an operation. It is carried out under general anesthesia, therefore it passes completely painlessly for the animal. In order for rehabilitation after surgery to be quick, the animal needs proper care and good nutrition.
Helper Methods
To accelerate the recovery of rabbits with a runny nose, drug therapy is best combined with some additional procedures.
These include:
- flushing the nose with herbal decoctions;
- keeping a sick animal in a clean warm place;
- regular airing of the room;
- maintaining air humidity at 60 percent.
Also, if there are drafts in the rabbit house, then you should definitely eliminate them, because otherwise the treatment of rhinitis in rabbits may not bring any results.
Is it possible to eat meat of sick rabbits?
This aspect should be given special attention. Despite the fact that people also suffer from rhinitis, nevertheless, a person can not get infected from animals. Therefore, if the animal was provided with timely help, then after the treatment, the meat of rabbits who have had a runny nose can be safely eaten. However, the animal must be slaughtered for food at least 20 days after the end of the course of therapy. During this time, antibiotics and other medications will completely leave the body of the animals, and their meat will become completely clean and safe.
Paws and internal organs are unsuitable for eating, they are disposed of. The place for cutting carcasses and tools must be treated with disinfectants, and then dried in the sun for half an hour.
Veterinarian Tips
This article examined in detail how to treat rhinitis in rabbits. However, profiled experts argue that it is much easier not to overcome the disease, but to prevent its development.
To do this, do the following:
- Insulate the room in which animals are bred to eliminate drafts and dampness.
- Periodically inspect the rabbits and, if any symptoms of a runny nose are detected, leave the sick individual in a separate room to prevent infection of the entire livestock.
- Regularly change the grass litter and perform cell processing.
- To provide rabbits with a complete diet rich in all necessary vitamins and minerals.
- Inoculate animals in a timely manner.
- In winter, establish sources of artificial heating in the rabbit house.
- Add “Biomycin” to food, which reduces the likelihood of developing many diseases.
If nevertheless rabbits develop rhinitis, then it is very important to begin the correct treatment as soon as possible. This will facilitate the transfer of the disease to the animal, as well as speed up the healing process.