Non-infectious problems with your rabbit

Broken Back
Fracture of the back bone is very common in rabbits.

Symptoms: Paralysis, and no control over ability to urinate or defecate.

Diagnosis: Based on clinical signs and symptoms.

Treatment: Anti-inflammatory steroid drugs may help. If the treatment does not help after two weeks, then the rabbit cannot be helped.

Sometimes young rabbits kill and eat their babies for different reasons, such as nervousness with new things or people.

Dental Malocclusion (i.e. over or under-bite):
Rabbits teeth grow throughout their lifetime. The normal length of teeth is maintained by grinding with the opposite teeth. Malocclusion will be the most common cause of over growth of the incisors; which in turn can cause difficulty in eating and drinking. In some case the cheek teeth grow longer and can irritate the tongue or bucca – the inside of the cheek. This problem should be checked by your vet.

Hair chewing and hairballs:
Rabbits who groom themselves continuously swallow their hair, which as a result, comes out with the feces. If they swallow an excessive amount of hair, it will block the pylorus.

Symptom: Rabbit stop eating, losing weight, and die within 3-4days.

Diagnosis: X-ray and clinical symptoms.

Treatment: Removing the hair ball surgically.

Prevention: Combing the rabbit regularly, feeding the rabbit a plentiful amount of hay, and pineapple juice as needed.

Heat Exhaustion
Rabbits are sensitive to heat and humidity.

Symptoms: Exhausted rabbit will stretch out and will be breathing fast.

Diagnosis: High temperature.

Treatment: Soak the rabbit in cold water.

Hutch Burn
Caused by a wet and dirty hutch floor. It can be confused with Treponema cuniculi.

Symptom: Genital region and anus became inflamed and chapped.

Diagnosis: Based on clinical symptom, environment, and urinary problem.

Treatment: Remove the cause and treat with antibiotics.

Wet Dewlap (Moist dermatitis):
Cause by wetting the skin fold of the female rabbit’s neck due to from open water cricks, damp bedding, dental malocclusion.

Symptom: Inflammation of the skin fold.

Diagnosis: Clinical symptom.

Treatment: Automatic watering, shaving the infected skin, keep drying the skin, and antibiotics.

Sore Hocks (Ulcerative pododermatities)
Cause by pressure on the skin from bearing of weight on wire floor or any other possible skin damage.

Symptom: Lesion on the skin of paws.

Diagnosis: History, observing lesion on lower surface of the paws.

Treatment: Remove the causative agent; clean the cage, and antibiotics.

Urinary bladder stone
Many factors are involved the most important on is Ca and Phosphorus imbalance in diet.

Symptom: Blood in urine.

Diagnosis: X-ray of abdomen.

Treatment: Surgically removal of stone from bladder.