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Rabbit meat is tasty and healthy; doctors classify it as a dietary product. Today, many Russians are breeding these furry pets. But like any living creature, a rabbit is susceptible to many diseases. The most common ear diseases in rabbits are:
- ear mites or psoroptosis;
- myxomatosis;
- purulent otitis.
There are many reasons for the occurrence of diseases: infections, parasites, inappropriate temperature conditions. To raise a healthy population of rabbits, you need to be attentive to your pets, monitor their condition, know the symptoms of diseases and how to provide assistance. Most often, users type the phrase: “rabbit diseases ear symptoms and how to treat them.” We will try to answer these questions in the article.
Ear mites - psoroptosis
Psoroptosis is scabies, a contagious disease that can infect the entire rabbit herd in a short period of time. The reason for its appearance is the yellow ear mite, which reduces the animal’s immunity.
Symptoms
The onset of the disease can be determined by the following symptoms:
- A sick animal becomes restless and stops eating.Constantly shakes his head and rubs his ears against the cage. In addition, the ears wither.
- Small bumps appear inside the ears, then bubbles with liquid. Liquid flows out of the burst bubbles, scabs form (tissue dies), and sulfur accumulates.
- Females refuse to mate.
If psoroptosis is not treated promptly, the rabbit's brain will be affected.
But sometimes the disease begins without typical symptoms. The rabbits just start scratching their ears intensely and constantly moving around in the cage. If the animals show the slightest concern, you should contact a veterinarian. After examining the rabbit, he will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Treatment
Experienced rabbit breeders understand the symptoms of ear diseases and begin treatment. They recommend treating pets' ears with a mixture of turpentine and vegetable oil for psoroptosis. The following medications can be used:
- Cyodrine;
- Acrodex
- Dicresyl;
- Psoroptol.
Prevention of the disease is a simple way:
Myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a serious disease accompanied by inflammatory processes and purulent conjunctivitis. Lumps and blisters appear on the body. Untimely recognition of the symptoms of the disease in one rabbit can cause the death of the entire livestock.
Symptoms of the disease
Obvious symptoms of the disease usually appear only 20 days after the onset of infection. But with daily examination of animals, the disease can be detected at an early stage: red spots appear on the skin, and small nodules appear on the ears and eyelids.
What symptoms accompany the disease:
- The temperature can rise to 41 degrees, then return to normal.
- The eyes become watery and purulent clots appear on them, as with conjunctivitis.
- Tumors appear on the body, growing to the size of a pigeon egg.
- Gelatinous swelling may occur on the genitals and head.
- Rabbits' ears droop and folds appear on the scalp.
- The oral cavity becomes inflamed. This symptom is accompanied by purulent discharge and wheezing.
Features of treatment
If you notice the symptoms of the disease in rabbits in a timely manner, the treatment has a positive effect. The veterinarian administers it with strong antibiotics and immunomodulators. For subcutaneous injections we recommend:
- Gamavit;
- Ringer;
- Baytril.
In addition, special drops are instilled into the nose, and iodine is used to treat wounds.
Sick and recovered animals are kept separately from the main herd. Rehabilitation after recovery takes two to three months. Keep rabbits in a warm room.
Many rabbit breeders make videos about treating their pets at home:
Traditional methods of treatment
Rabbit ear disease such as myxomatosis can be treated independently with folk remedies if it is detected at an early stage:
- Sunflower oil is overcooked and the affected areas are treated.
- Ear wounds are treated with urine after keeping it in the sun for at least 3 hours.
- Rabbits with ear infections are fed fresh horseradish leaves.
- The food should be nutritious; pumpkin pulp and freshly prepared pineapple juice can be added to it.
- If there is difficulty breathing, aromatherapy is performed using eucalyptus oil.
- For injection, a solution of camel thorn is injected into the lower leg.
Prevention
As a rule, myxomatosis begins in late spring, when insects that carry the virus appear. How to protect eared pets from illness:
- Protect insect access with protective nets.
- Inspect your rabbits' skin, ears and fur 2-3 times a week.
- Get vaccinated promptly at an early age.
- Keep the cells clean and treat them with special products.
Treatment of cells after illness
Cells from sick animals are treated:
- Glutex;
- Virkonom;
- Ecocide C;
- 5% alcohol solution of iodine.
You can cleanse cells using folk remedies:
- whiten with lime;
- treat with hot lye;
- wash with bleach solution.
Purulent otitis media
Otitis is an inflammatory process that affects the inner, outer or middle part of the rabbit's hearing aid.
External ear disease can be caused by:
- fungus;
- the presence of an insect;
- wound;
- accumulation of large amounts of sulfur.
Symptoms
- Constant itching in the ear makes the rabbit constantly shake its head, tilt it to the sides, and scratch its ears.
- Pus is leaking from the ear.
- The rabbit won't let you touch his ears.
- The animal becomes lethargic and eats practically nothing.
The symptoms of the disease are similar to ear mites (scabies). Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment. Most often, drops are prescribed to relieve inflammation, itching and pain. Ointments for lubricating the ears or intramuscular injections of oxytetracycline 10 mg/1 kg of body weight are also prescribed.
Other ear diseases
Ear diseases in rabbits are not necessarily caused by viruses or parasites. The ears can suffer from cold and heat.
Cold ears
Rabbits, especially small ones, have great difficulty surviving low temperatures. The ears are the first to suffer. With symptoms of frostbite, they become cold and swollen. Pets don't let you touch them.
There are three stages of frostbite:
- If frostbite occurs in the first stage, you should immediately rub the ears with snow and bring the rabbit into a warm place. When the pet is dry, both ears should be lubricated with Vaseline, camphor oil, and goose fat.
- Stage two frostbite is characterized by watery blisters on the ears. After a while they will open and painful ulcers will appear. If the animal has cold ears, there is no need to wait for the bubbles to burst. They should be opened and treated with zinc, iodide or camphor ointments.
- The third stage is characterized by wrinkling and drying of the skin. In a word, she becomes dead.
Hot ears symptom
In summer, when temperatures are high, rabbits' ears can become hot. With such symptoms, animals need to be given more water and the cages should be moved to a cool room. If lethargy and immobility do not go away, then the cause of hot ears is not due to increased air temperature. We need veterinarian help and proper treatment.
Let's sum it up
You can raise healthy rabbits with careful care.In addition, preventive measures are necessary. Rabbit cages should be kept clean and disinfected. All animals, starting from an early age, must be vaccinated in a timely manner. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, you should immediately begin self-treatment or seek advice from a veterinarian.
