Symptoms and diagnosis of lichen in rabbits, treatment and prevention
Lichen is a disease that is most often caused by pathogenic fungi. A wide variety of animals and people can suffer from it. Although it most commonly affects stray cats and dogs, it also affects rabbits. So that it does not spread to all livestock, it is important to identify sick animals in time, immediately show them to a veterinarian and start treatment.
Information about the disease
The causative agents of lichen are various microorganisms, most often they are fungi. In domestic rabbits, skin diseases of the following types are found:
- lichen pink, it is of a viral nature, most often passes without treatment;
- pityriasis versicolor is caused by yeast-like fungi;
- shingles occurs when infected with herpes viruses, does not require special treatment;
- weeping lichen, or eczema, is a non-contagious disease associated with the influence of external or internal factors.
Rabbits also get sick with trichophytosis, microsporia, or ringworm. The disease belongs to one of the most dangerous types of fungal skin lesions. It quickly infects not only other animals, but also humans. Lichen is accompanied by hair loss and requires immediate treatment. Success in the treatment of trichophytosis in domestic rabbits begins with a diagnosis.
Symptoms and diagnostic methods
With shingles, the latent period lasts from two to four weeks. During this time, quite a few animals can become infected on the farm. Lichen is especially dangerous for young individuals no older than 6-7 months. In order to identify the disease in time, animals are regularly examined. The alarm should be beaten when the following signs appear:
- areas with broken hair of different lengths became noticeable;
- pink spots with a diameter of up to 20 mm appeared on the skin;
- the skin in the affected area began to peel off;
- crumbling scales are grayish;
- rounded hairless areas with a diameter of 10 to 30 mm appear;
- an unpleasant odor emanates from the fur of sick animals.
Foci of inflammation can appear on the eyelids, neck, ears, face, and limbs of the rabbit. After a few days, the skin in the lesions swells, bubbles with purulent contents appear. The animal suffers from severe itching, its behavior becomes aggressive.
Ringworms are caused by trichophyton and microsporum fungi. They can be detected only by laboratory methods:
- Irradiation of wool with a special ultraviolet lamp, if there are colonies of pathogenic fungi, they do not reflect an even blue, but an emerald green or yellow-green color.
- Examination of skin scrapings under a microscope.
- Sowing on nutrient media.
Important! In some cases, the organisms that cause ringworm do not glow under UV light. This diagnostic method is preliminary and requires confirmation.
How to properly treat ringworm in rabbits?
At the first stage of treatment, all sick individuals are placed in a separate aviary. Treatment is carried out both with the help of external drugs and with the help of drugs that are administered by injection or given with food or water.
Vaccines
The use of vaccines is primarily of prophylactic importance. Most of them confer immunity within 12 months after vaccination. A popular vaccine is Vakderm. This is a domestic drug for the prevention and treatment of lichen. One dose consists of two components, packaged in separate vials or ampoules.
Contains inactivated (killed) pathogens of several types. A sterile needle and syringe are used for injection.
First, a liquid component is drawn into a syringe and transferred to a bottle with a dry mixture. Shake and, after complete dissolution, draw the solution into a syringe and inject into the thigh area. For prophylactic purposes, it is administered twice with an interval of two weeks. The second injection is given to the other thigh. Immunity occurs 14 days after the second injection. It is recommended to vaccinate rabbits at the age of 50 days. They are injected with the drug in the amount of 1/2 dose, and the full dose is injected to animals older than three months.
If vaccinated during the incubation period, it hastens the onset of symptoms. For therapeutic purposes, such an animal is injected with "Vakderm" twice more. This is done every 15-20 days. The vaccine "Microderm" is used in a similar way, but it should be borne in mind that it is much more expensive than "Vakderm".
Ointments
For the treatment of lichen in rabbits, you can use a special ointment "Yam". This is a domestic fungicidal preparation containing salicylic acid, tar, sulfur, turpentine and petroleum jelly. It is an effective means of combating pathogens of lichen, scabies. The affected areas are cleaned of crusts, the hair around them is cut and the ointment is applied in a thin layer. The procedure is carried out twice a day. After 10 days, laboratory tests are carried out, if the pathogen is detected, then the treatment is continued for several more days.
Lesions can also be treated:
- salicylic ointment;
- iodine-vasogen;
- "Unisan".
The imported drug for external use "Imaveron" has proven itself well, but it is quite expensive and is not always available in pharmacies. It is necessary to apply ointments strictly according to the instructions for them.
Antibiotics
Veterinarians may prescribe antibiotics to treat shingles in rabbits. The most popular is the drug "Griseofulvin". It is given to sick animals twice a day. The medicine is added directly to the rabbit food for 3 to 5 weeks. Antibiotics are not used to treat pregnant females and lactating rabbits.
Shampoos
The use of shampoos is an additional, not the main, method of treating rabbits for ringworm. Pet shampoos containing antifungal drugs such as Nizoral are suitable for this.
Is there a danger to humans?
Ringworm is also dangerous for humans. If sanitary standards are not followed, the pathogen easily gets on the skin or hair of people. The person may suffer from head, face, neck and nail plates.
Children and people with weak immunity are especially susceptible to infection.If lichen was diagnosed in domestic rabbits, then when working with them, you must strictly observe safety precautions and keep children away from the animals.
Preventive actions
The basis of preventive measures is the observance of sanitary standards when keeping and breeding rabbits. They are as follows:
- regular cleaning of cells with a frequency of 1 every two days, you need to add a chlorine-containing agent, for example, "Whiteness" to the water for cleaning, use 1 liter of the agent for 10 liters of water;
- do not expose animals to hypothermia;
- keep in dry rooms, without drafts, but with good ventilation;
- vaccinate rabbits in a timely manner;
- avoid excessive crowding of animals;
- do not breed your pets with unvaccinated rabbits from other households.
To improve immunity, animals need high-quality and balanced feed. New rabbits should not be placed in common cages immediately. They are kept in strict quarantine for 10-14 days. Sadly, but in severe and intractable cases, the animal will have to be euthanized.
