Why rabbits die, the main reasons and what to do at home
Raising rabbits is a complex and demanding process that requires compliance with a number of conditions. Sometimes animals are faced with serious pathologies that can lead to their death. The provoking factors are infectious and non-infectious diseases. Therefore, many farmers are interested in the question: why exactly do rabbits die?
The main causes of death
When breeding rabbits, farmers can face mass deaths or the death of one animal. There can be many reasons for such problems. The main factors include lack of care, use of poor quality feed, unsanitary conditions, and water pollution. Violation of the conditions for keeping animals increases the likelihood of being affected by infectious and non-infectious pathologies.
To avoid mortality and reduce the number of sick animals, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the main rules and conditions for keeping rabbits. Studying the symptoms of diseases is of no small importance. This will help to provide assistance to animals in time.
VGBK (fever)
This is one of the most common pathologies. The disease spreads by airborne droplets, through feces, contaminated products. Pathology can be acute or asymptomatic. Most often, animals become infected in the summer. They die a day after infection. There are no effective treatments. To prevent the rabbit from dying from HBV, it needs to be vaccinated. For the first time, the vaccine is given at 1.5 years, then repeated at intervals of 6 months.
Myxomatosis (distemper)
This is a dangerous pathology that is transmitted by airborne droplets. It can also be spread through insect bites. A nursing female rabbit can infect babies through milk.
At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic, after which bumps form on the head and ears. The duration of the disease is 1-2 weeks. Then the rabbits die one by one. There are no effective treatments. Vaccination helps to avoid illness.
Pasteurellosis
It is a viral infection that is spread by air, food or water. At the same time, there is a cough, breathing disorders, sneezing. The rabbit's appetite worsens, the temperature rises, and pus is released from the mouth.
If you do nothing, there is a risk of death of the animal. Antibacterial agents and sulfonamides will help to cope with the problem. If you help the rabbit in time, he will survive. For prevention, vaccination is carried out from one month of age. Adult animals need to be vaccinated 2 times a year.
Coccidiosis
The causative agent of the disease is coccidia, which provokes damage to the liver and intestines. Infection is carried out through poor quality feed, contaminated water and feces. People and animals are the distributors.
A sick rabbit has a deterioration in appetite, weight loss, bloating, diarrhea. To prevent the animal from dying, it needs to be given antibiotics. For prevention, it is worth adhering to the rules of hygiene, disinfecting the cells. It is recommended to burn the dead animals.
Flatulence
The animal can die from intestinal distention. Rabbits are characterized by a high sensitivity of this organ. The cause of the pathology is a sharp change in the digestive microflora. This is due to the high humidity and juiciness of the food.
The main signs of flatulence are apathy and loss of appetite. With the development of fermentation in the intestine, its walls swell. As a result, bacteria accumulate in the esophagus, its walls are destroyed, which leads to the death of the animal.
Stomatitis
With this viral infection, there is a strong production of saliva, the tongue swells, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity turn red. Also, the rabbit has general weakness and a sharp decrease in weight. Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian. If you do not help the rabbit in time, this will provoke its death.
Cysticercosis
Infection of a rabbit with cestode larvae becomes a provoking factor of pathology. They affect the liver and cause peritonitis. It is impossible to cure the pathology. It provokes the death of the animal. It is possible to identify the disease only after death. Dead rabbits have to be burned.
Tularemia and listeriosis
Rats, bugs, ticks are considered carriers of diseases. Pathologies are not cured. It is possible to diagnose them only after opening. In this case, the carcasses of dead rabbits must be burned.
Listeriosis poses a danger to humans, because all individuals that have come into contact with a dead rabbit are destroyed.
Other Possible Causes of Rabbit Death
Sometimes rabbits die for no apparent reason. Common causes of problems include the following:
- Improper nutrition. Even the healthiest animal can die due to the consumption of poisonous plants. Also, an excessive amount of some vegetables - cabbage, carrots, beets, cucumbers - leads to this.
- Ear mites. At the same time, the animals beat themselves on the ears with their paws. Then they grow weak and die.
- Lack of vitamins. Avitaminosis provokes depletion of the body and causes the death of the animal. Most often, the problem occurs in autumn or winter. Ornamental rabbits that are grown at home are also susceptible to it.
- Miases. In this case, flies lay the larvae on damaged areas on the body of animals. This is especially dangerous when the skin is affected by urine or feces.
Little rabbits up to 1 month old do not encounter pathologies. They are distinguished by strong immunity, which they receive from their mother. Hypothermia is considered a common cause of death of cubs.
Hunger is another factor. Deficiency of mother's milk in the early days can lead to the death of rabbits. With its lack, it is necessary to improve the nutrition of the female or remove some of the cubs for another rabbit.
How to keep rabbits from dying
To create a comfortable environment for animals, it is recommended to provide the correct conditions for keeping:
- Make a slatted floor so that waste does not accumulate. It is important to ensure adequate air circulation in the room.
- Systematically remove straw around the cage.This is required to prevent the multiplication of worms.
- Remove water and feed residues in a timely manner. This helps to avoid the growth of bacteria. It is important to keep water and feed fresh at all times.
- Examine animals systematically. For young animals, this should be done daily. Adults are examined at 2-week intervals.
- Disinfect the premises regularly.
Timely vaccination is of no small importance. After weaning rabbits from their mother, there is a high threat of infection of animals. Therefore, it is recommended to do the following vaccinations:
- from VGBK - done at 1.5 months;
- from myxomatosis.
Today there are complex vaccines that protect animals from dangerous infections. In this case, it is required to observe the following rules:
- adhere to the vaccination schedule;
- buy drugs from veterinary pharmacies;
- control the expiration date;
- vaccinate only healthy animals.
The death of rabbits can be associated with dangerous pathologies. To avoid such problems, it is important to provide the animals with proper care and vaccinate them in a timely manner.
