Best Information About Rabbit Diseases & Treatment

Rabbit Disease Schmorl’s

 

Rabbit  Disease is caused by a bacteria (Fusiformis neeroplzorus) which can almost always be found on the skin of the rabbit. It only causes harm, however, when it enters the body through some wound. When this happens two forms of the disease may occur. The first is a skin infection, which starts on the head, particularly the lips.

 

The part becomes discolored and ulcerated, the skin of the affected area die. The second form of the disease consists of thick-walled abscesses containing yellow pus, which are extremely painful to the rabbit when touched. ‘These abscesses form in the skin or in the internal organs and may reach the size of a golf ball.

 

 

The abscesses scan is distinguished from cysts in that they are hot and cause pain when touched, as opposed to cysts that do not feel hot and whirls cause no pain.

 

A frequent complication with this rabbit disease is pneumonia. With both forms, the animal may have difficulty in eating and breathing and if the head is affected the animal usually dies within three weeks.

 

Prevention consists of ensuring that wounds are cleansed properly. Treatment is difficult in the skin type of infection but surgical removal of the abscess can be attempted by as killed person in the case of valuable animals.

 

A German pathologist C.G school invented the bacteria that cause school disease in rabbit named Bacterium streptothrix cuniculi. It has been later renamed as fusobacterium necrophorum. Schmorl’s disease affects animals as well as human beings.

 

Schmorl’s disease is caused due to poor hygiene and husbandry. It is a skin infection that leads to wounds if left untreated. It is independent of sex, age, and breed of rabbit. The sporadic causes of this disease are:

 

• Ptyalism occurs due to dental problems, like malocclusion or tooth root problems.

 

• Panting in rabbits, caused due to high temperatures or respiratory distress.

 

• Inappropriate drinking tools, leaking water bottles, or an oversized dewlap getting wet while drinking.

 

• Cages without rust and sharp edges.

 

Clinical signs and diagnosis

 

Acute inflammation of subcutaneous tissue is the first sign of Schmorl’s disease in the rabbit. As the disease progresses there is ulceration of superficial skin layer in the rabbit.

 

The rabbit disease is characterized by the formation of skin ulcers and subcutaneous abscesses on head, neck, and feet. In capsulation of abscesses by fibrous tissue is observed. If wounds remain untreated, the infection spread to the skin which leads to necrosis of tissue.

 

Wounds can spread into deeper tissue layers and may cause osteomyelitis or septicemia. This results in the infection of vital organs and general toxemia. The rabbit disease becomes feverish and its lesions spread foul smell. In some cases, rabbits suffer from chronic attacks, decreased appetite, and chronic weakness is observed.

 

Rabbit Disease Treatment

 

To confirm the diagnosis, a sample is collected from the affected area and cultured. The fur around the affected area is removed and wounds are cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Antibiotic treatment is further provided to rabbits suffering from school disease. Antibiotics like penicillin, cephalosporin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and metronidazole are given.

 

The necrotic tissue and abscesses are treated by surgery in advanced cases. If surgery is not possible, the abscess cavity is incised and drained and packed with an antibiotic-impregnated dressing. rabbit diseases There are various methods available for treating the rabbit with impregnated disease

 

• Permanent placement of antibiotic-impregnated PMMA beads

 

• Temporary filling the infected area with antibiotic-impregnated hemostatic and bactericidal sterile compressed sponge. The dressing must be changed daily or every second day to avoid necrosis of surrounding tissues.

 

 

• Temporary filling the wound with wet to dry hygroscopic and bactericidal sugar dressing is done for treating the wounds. For example, 45 to 50 percent of dextrose, manuka or clear sterilized honey is applied during the dressing of an infected rabbit.

 

Schmorl rabbit disease in the rabbit can be prevented by keeping the rabbit clean. Observing feeding habits help to diagnose if there is any health issue related to a rabbit.