15/09/2018
š° *CAUSES OF SUDDEN DEATH IN RABBITS*
- Rabbit are sometimes attacked by flies, actually when they excrete sometimes their bottom(anus) remains dirty which may be the cause of the attack
- Highly Contagious Diseases in rabbits caused by *calcivirus*, the commonest symptoms are loss of appetite, high fever & sudden death
-Sometimes deaths are as a result of wrong medication. Be careful about the dosage. *If you feel unsure, check out the Internet*.
*Let me talk on another main factor*
š° As far as digestive upsets are concerned, the commonest killer of rabbits under 12 weeks of age is *mucoid enteritis or associated digestive conditions like bloat, and gut stasis*
- There is no guarantee of success with the treatment of mucoid enteritis and related conditions, and often by the time the rabbit is seen to be affected, *it is too late to save it, although a small percentage survive with supportive veterinary care*.
ā”A sudden change of diet or a diet low in fibre may be a contributing factor, but there are other possible factors too.
ā”If the diet is changed it must be done gradually over a week or two, and it is often best not to feed fresh vegetables or grass to rabbits under 12 weeks *unless they have been fed on it previously as their digestive systems are very delicate at this age and it takes very little to initiate a chain of events leading to death within hours*
ā”Although it is more common in young rabbits, mucoid enteritis can also occur in adult rabbits, *especially in late pregnancy or during lactation, thought to be caused by hypocalcaemia.*
ā”Severe diarrhoea in rabbits can also be caused by bacterial infections and coccidiosis (a parasite), *poor hygiene and/or overcrowding being contributing factors*
š° ā” *Prevention is the only line of defense when dealing with digestive problems in rabbits.*
Other causes of premature death in rabbits appear to be many and varied. *Some are unavoidable, but most can be attributed to owner ignorance*
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*However, here are some tips to try to avoid your rabbit from becoming a premature death statistic* āŗ
ā” Buy from a reputable source that is knowledgeable about issues such as teeth and temperament.
ā”Find out what the rabbit has previously been fed on so you can change the diet gradually. *Remember that rabbits only need a tiny amount of dried food,* typically one cup of small tin tomato rabbit per day,
ā”Once you have found a food that suits your rabbit, stick to it. *_Do not feed treats or coloured vegetables, as they are high in sugar._*
ā”Be very cautious about introducing fresh vegetables and grass, *especially to rabbits under 12 weeks of age.*
Lastly *treat your stock at least monthly with inorganic drugs to aid disease-free farm*