There are many issues that might cause a problem when you’re dealing with rabbits. In fact, there are diseases that you could get from a bunny. You can prevent these conditions by knowing the signs of an unwell animal. With a good guide, you’d be able to tell that the rabbit you’re dealing with is problematic. Of course, it’s nice to deal with domesticated rabbits as pets but never forget the issues.
Is Your Bunny Healthy?
You should not forget that these domesticated pets are close relatives to those rodents you see in the wild. That means they can be prone to various diseases. In this article, we will list down some of the ways and tips that you can do to check if your pet is healthy to play with. Let’s start.
The first thing to do to make sure that your pet bunny is healthy is to get it vaccinated. There are free vaccinations you can get today from your state’s pet centers. Volunteer groups are also everywhere that can help you in this. Just look around. Getting the bunny vaccinated could also help you avoid future problems. Diseases may complicate. When you vaccinate, you get the preventable ones out of the way.
Some of the common issues that can be seen in rabbits include uterine infections, snuffles, abnormal teeth structure and hairballs. If you’re worried about overgrown teeth, you should know that they’re not a cause of worry as people would like you to believe. They’re just aesthetics. They’re not harmful to you, but could be painful to the rodents. The best way to prevent this is to improve their diet. Make sure you let your bunny eat a lot of fiber. Also, add a lot of leafy greens into their diet. Limiting the pellet food they eat and other hard treats may also improve the condition. If your pet is already suffering from overgrown teeth, don’t fret. There is a general anesthesia that could fix it. In fact, it’s the only available treatment right now that can help remedy the rabbit’s issue.
Snuffles or what is technically called Pasteurellosis is characterized by a bacteria that affects the eyes and nose, which gets the rabbit to emit a specific abnormal discharge. You should get this issue addressed immediately because it can transfer to other rabbits quickly. Uterine infections could also worsen with this issue at hand.You should also remember that even after treatment, there remains a strain of the disease in the rodent’s nasal tract. This usually happens when there are sudden changes in the diet of the bunny, or it is under severe stress. One good way to prevent your pet rom experiencing this is to make sure that they’re not overcrowded in a cage. Doing so adds a level of stress to them that worsens the condition. You may also like to consider putting the rabbit into quarantine. Letting them rest and recover in a quiet environment is a great booster. The pet recovers faster.
Hairballs are another common rabbit disease that is usually occurring in the rabbit’s stomach. This usually happens after the bunnies self-groom. Because they cannot do a vomiting reflex to get rid of the hair, all the balls are accumulated in their stomach. What happens is that there will be an obstruction in the stomach and causes various complications. These hairballs are so ubiquitous among rabbits that every owner should concern themselves with it. When a pet is not eating well and is not moving about, the condition is even worse.To prevent hairballs, it’s good to address the issue of the gastrointestinal condition. That’s where it all starts. You can’t be simpler than that. When a rabbit is not getting enough fiber-rich food in their system, they won’t be able to get rid of the hairballs smoothly. If the hairballs are too much, the only way to get rid of it would only be through surgery. The hairballs could affect the natural mechanism of the rabbit’s stomach and create blocks in the gut. Another alternative is to use a medication to get the gut normally working again.
Take a look at our guide: how to take care of your pet rabbit throughout their life.
Though bunnies are pretty easy to care of, you will still need to visit a veterinarian from time to time. Consider consulting our exotic animals vet in United Veterinay Center. Call to schedule a visit – 203 957-3375.
