Quick ways to tell if your rabbit is unwell

How can you tell if your rabbit is sick? There are various telltale signs and today I will help you to identify them.

Are they active?

One quick way to tell if your rabbits are OK is assessing how mobile they are.

As a matter of routine, in the mornings, healthy rabbits will always come to the hutch doors to “say hi” or check what food or treat you have brought them. If they fail to do this, something is amiss.

Either the rabbit is sick or pregnant, for the mature ones.

Check body parts

To see if the animal is unwell, check whether the rabbit has a twisted or stiff neck. Mostly, a rabbit with such signs has a nervous ailment and should be secluded and treated or culled.

Check the coat

Check the coat of each rabbit to find out whether any of them is suffering from worms or any signs of fighting.

In case there is a problem, the coat will be ruffled and not lined as normally. This condition could be as a result of fleas in its fur and the rabbit will keep scratching itself endlessly.

It could also be an infestation by worms. The worms that attack rabbit are mostly tapeworms which emanate from the feeds.

Deworming

For those with uneven coat ensure you deworm immediately together with all the rest in the farm. The reason for deworming all of them is to rid all of them of worms as they feed on the same feed every day.

For bruises on the skin, use the appropriate drugs to apply or inject.

If the wounds have pus, seek your vet’s help.

Some injuries are as a result of safari ants invading the rabbits, pricking their skin and letting in germs and bacteria.

Vermin dust

This is a dangerous invasion as the rabbits could die in large numbers. Always ensure you have vermin dust in your farm for such controls.

Sprinkle the dust on the rabbits’ fur and ruffle it in with yourfigures. Pour used engine oil around your farm to keep away such pests. For mites that cause diseases, use drugs for injection or application.

The stool

Another way to know if the rabbits are unwell is the stool.

Always check the stool from your rabbits every so often. Watery stool is a sign of infection and action should be taken immediately.

Urine

The urine is also an important indicator if things are not right. If it is not white or slightly brown, chances are high that the rabbit is unwell.

If that is the case, see a vet as soon as possible.

If the animal is oozing substances from any outlet, that is a clear sign that is something is wrong.

What about the eyes?

It is normally said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, so by looking at the rabbits eyes you can tell a lot.

The eyes are very sensitive to environmental or hutch conditions.

If the eyes are red, greenish and watery, trouble is brewing. One common eye problem is the weepy eye disease or conjunctivitis.

A rabbit suffering from this condition may experience irritation, redness and discharge in the eye. To avoid worse vision problems, ensure the affected animal gets proper medication in good time.

The gait

Abnormal gait is also a sign that all is not well. Paralysis of the hind legs and injuries from accidents lead to the rabbithopping abnormally. Such a rabbit should be secluded and put in an airy cage with adequate space.

Finally the pulse. Although, it is not easy to detect a rabbit that has an abnormal pulse rate without a stethoscope, it is important to check the animals breathing and take action if you notice any unusual patterns.

Behavioural change will help you detect problems like ear canker. The animal will display some uneasiness shaking one side of the head to try and “shed off the problem”. The rabbitwill also keep on hopping from place to another due to discomfort. The inside of the ear will have a brownish substance and pus. Take action immediately as this condition could lead to death.
[George Kibanya
Rabbit Breeder
Alcare Kenya Ltd

0725893963
[email protected]]