What to do if a rabbit has diarrhea, how to treat it so that it doesn’t die. What to do if your rabbit has diarrhea? Causes of diarrhea in young rabbits

Many inexperienced rabbit breeders believe that diarrhea does not pose a great danger to the animal. After all, there are many more serious diseases that require attention. But don't underestimate this problem. In addition to the fact that diarrhea in rabbits is unpleasant in itself, it can be a concomitant sign of many diseases and requires immediate treatment. If measures are not taken in time, the animal may die.

It is important to remember that rabbits have a very sensitive and complex digestive tract. Therefore, there are many reasons for the occurrence of diarrhea.

Rabbits have a rather sensitive and complex digestive tract, so there are many causes of diarrhea.

Baby rabbits have diarrhea

If you take little rabbits away from their mother early and transfer them to a full-fledged adult diet, then serious problems with the stomach and intestines will inevitably arise. Mother's milk contains all the necessary nutrients and antibodies, helps babies cope with infections, and strengthens the immune system. Its deficiency or absence leads to severe inflammation of the intestines - enteritis. In this case, rabbits may experience diarrhea with mucus, loss of weight and appetite. Often, adding new foods to food can also be accompanied by dysbiosis and diarrhea, which is typical for young animals.

Diarrhea in adult rabbits

There can be many more causes of diarrhea in adult animals. These include, for example, poisoning caused by stale and low-quality feed: ingestion of dirty, wet or freshly cut grass, mold. Before giving greens to your rabbit, they must be thoroughly dried in the sun. Large amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits can also cause stomach upset. They must be included in the rabbit’s diet, but in small doses.

It must be remembered that food that is too heavy and high in calories can also cause intestinal dysfunction.

Excess protein, sugar and starch are very dangerous for delicate rabbit stomachs. As a result, animals begin to gain excess weight, suffer from obesity and joint diseases, and this can also cause diarrhea. Residues of feces often remain on the rabbit’s fur, because it is not able to clean itself, and this, in turn, is fraught with the occurrence and spread of all kinds of infections.

The cause of diarrhea may be a lack of fiber and coarse fibers in the diet. Too soft, light food leads to intestinal atony and dysbiosis of the cecum.

Also, the causes of gastrointestinal disturbances and diarrhea are:

• infection with worms;
• stress;
• antibiotic treatment;
• abnormal tooth growth and jaw deformation.

Hidden Reasons

Often, diarrhea in rabbits can be caused by hidden causes, i.e., be a consequence of various infectious diseases. Some rabbit breeders notice that the animal has a swollen belly and diarrhea. This is the first sign. The rabbit loses its appetite, its eyelids turn yellow, it becomes weak, its fur becomes matted and dull. Only the use of antibacterial drugs (Norsulfazole, Metronidazole or Sulfadimethoxine) can help.

Sometimes even ordinary stomatitis can cause diarrhea. The disease can be recognized by excessive salivation and the appearance of small ulcers on the rabbit’s tongue. The disease is treated by lubricating the mouth with a 2% solution of copper sulfate.

Paratyphoid fever is also a dangerous infection. The rabbit stops eating, becomes lethargic and apathetic, the fur loses its shine, rolls up and falls out, severe diarrhea and dehydration appear. To save the animal from suffering, it is given Furazolidone at the rate of 30 mg of the drug per kg of weight. The course of treatment will be no more than 7 days.

How and what to treat diarrhea in rabbits

As soon as your rabbit has loose stools, you need to find out what is causing it. If a visual examination reveals tumors, swellings or lumps in the anal area, you will have to urgently contact a veterinarian to prescribe treatment. Only he can tell you exactly what to do and how to help your long-eared pet. Before starting therapy, the animal is thoroughly washed with warm water and laundry soap to remove residual feces and wiped dry. The cage in which the rabbit was located is treated with disinfectants, the bedding is completely changed, and the feeders and drinking bowls are washed. Some experts recommend giving rabbits 0.25 tablets of activated carbon in the first 2-3 days, drinking chamomile infusion and fresh boiled water at room temperature. You should not feed sick animals vegetables or fruits. Only dry hay and mixed feed are left in the diet.

After examination, the veterinarian must make a diagnosis and prescribe medication for diarrhea. Often, for diarrhea, the effective drug Linex is used. It quickly normalizes the intestinal microflora and enriches the rabbit’s body with live lactic acid bacteria. Giving it to an animal is very simple: the contents of the capsule are poured out and divided into two equal parts. One part is added to the drink in the morning, and the second in the evening.

Use of antibiotics

In particularly severe cases, antibiotic injections may be used. It is considered one of the most effective medicines. It is injected into the rabbit's withers three times a day, at a dosage of 0.1 mg of the drug, diluted with half a ml of saline solution for each kg of weight. The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor, but even after stopping treatment you should not forget about the pet’s health. To prevent diarrhea in the future, it is necessary to carry out unscheduled deworming. For this purpose, 5 ml of which is dissolved in a liter of boiled chilled water. This drink is placed in the animal’s cage and changed every two days.

Traditional methods of treatment

It happens that it is not possible to invite a veterinarian to your place or diarrhea is not a consequence of an infectious disease. What to give to a rabbit and how to treat it? Here proven folk remedies will come to the rescue: decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs.

One of the most commonly used medicinal plants is cinquefoil. One spoon (tablespoon) of dry crushed herb is poured into a glass of boiling water for 15-20 minutes. After which the infusion is filtered, cooled and given to the rabbit with a syringe.

Chamomile infusion has proven itself well in the fight against diarrhea. The animal is given a tablespoon three times a day for 10-12 days. You can add a little decoction of oak bark to the drinking water. To strengthen the immune system and normalize intestinal function, rabbits are given medicinal tea made from wormwood, yarrow and burdock root. During treatment, it is important to maintain a drinking regime; the rabbit should drink as much liquid as possible during the day. This will remove all harmful substances from the body and stop diarrhea.

Diet for sick rabbits

First of all, if a rabbit has diarrhea, it is transferred to dry food. All succulent foods, greens, and fruits are excluded from the diet. Only hay, crushed oat grain and mixed feed containing . A special condition is the constant presence of water in the cell. You can additionally add anthelmintic drugs or herbal decoctions to the water. If a sick animal refuses to drink liquid, it will have to be force-fed.

Important. The cage must be thoroughly disinfected and the feeders and drinking bowls thoroughly washed. The air temperature should be slightly above normal, but with good ventilation and sufficient lighting. The cage must be completely dry and clean.

To prevent relapse of the disease, you will have to strictly adhere to certain feeding rules.

The rabbit must constantly receive a sufficient amount of fiber, which is found in roughage such as:

• hay;
• dry and fresh brooms;
• slightly withered grass.

Vegetables and fruits should be present in the diet, but minimally. Be sure to add dry feed and crushed oatmeal to the food.

Decorative domestic rabbits can be fed with a special granular food that contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins necessary for the health of the pet.

Prevention of diarrhea

To prevent diarrhea, it is very important to take care of the rabbit’s health: vaccinate in a timely manner, ensure that the food is of high quality and fresh, without signs of rotting and mold.

You should not overuse vegetables and fruits, and all products must be absolutely clean and dry. Animals should be periodically given anthelmintic drugs, and rabbit cages should be completely disinfected at least 2 times a year.

Important. You cannot create stressful situations for rabbits or suddenly change their usual diet and lifestyle.

If an animal gets sick, it is immediately quarantined, separated from healthy animals.

In this video you will learn how and how to treat rabbits with indigestion.

Diarrhea in rabbits is a serious disease. Many owners of these furry animals do not know what to do in case of diarrhea, which can cause their pets to die. But lethal cases can and should be avoided, because timely and correct treatment is the key to a complete and speedy recovery. Causes of diarrhea in rabbits Diarrhea in rabbits has several causes that cause it: feed errors; mechanical problems (obesity, arthritis); hidden causes (upper respiratory tract infections, “shaky head”). Let's look at why rabbits may develop diarrhea: Obesity. Because of this, the rabbit cannot reach its own anus to clean it. Joint disease also makes it difficult for a rabbit to keep its anus clean. The animal simply smears feces on its fur. Poor quality food - stale, moldy. In addition, an excess of vegetables and fruits in the diet of rabbits also leads to diarrhea. The cause of diarrhea can also be a stressful situation - an unexpected move, a new type of food, a change of owner. In a rabbit, diarrhea can also be caused by the presence of worms in its body. Intestinal dysfunction may be a consequence of the presence of problem teeth, disruption of the genitourinary and other systems. How and how to treat diarrhea in a rabbit If a rabbit shows signs of diarrhea, you should not hesitate, but take specific effective measures to treat the animal. How to treat and what to do for diarrhea? Here are some useful tips: From the cage where the pet is kept, you need to remove all unnecessary and superfluous contents, leaving only clean, high-quality hay and fresh water in it. If possible, you need to clean the rabbit's anus of feces and dry it. This is done to prevent the sick animal from licking the anus and infecting itself again. The rabbit cage must be thoroughly washed and disinfected. A clean cloth (cotton) is placed on the bottom; if possible, disposable napkins will need to be changed as they become dirty, so that the rabbit is protected from excrement. As a medicine, you can give your animal a cinquefoil decoction (brew 1 tablespoon of dry herb in a glass of boiling water, cool). The finished broth is poured into the pet’s mouth - one teaspoon. It is good to carry out this procedure with a disposable syringe without a needle. If bloating and diarrhea are observed, a decoction of chamomile herb helps a lot - brew it so that the solution is light yellow in color, and give the animal 1 tbsp. l. three times a day. The course of treatment is at least 10 days to completely treat the pet. In emergency cases, you need to use activated carbon - give the animal a quarter of a tablet crushed and diluted in boiled water. Then treat the rabbit with chamomile solution, as indicated above. A sick rabbit may freeze, so the cage must either be heated (with a lamp), or a regular rubber heating pad with hot water should be placed next to the sick animal. Any diarrhea, including in rabbits, threatens dehydration. To prevent your pet from becoming dehydrated and dying, you need to force-feed it by pouring water into its mouth with a disposable syringe without a needle. Adding a decoction of cinquefoil grass or oak bark to drinking water will be effective. In severe cases of the disease, it will be necessary to use more effective veterinary drugs, for example, Baytril. This medicine is sold in veterinary pharmacies. Baytril is injected subcutaneously into the rabbit's withers. The approximate dose (per 2 kg of weight) is 0.2 ml of the drug diluted in 1 ml of saline solution. It is better to administer the medicine with an insulin syringe: the animal’s skin is pulled back with your fingers and the drug is slowly injected. Baytril is administered three times a day. If everything is done quickly and correctly, and your beloved animal is saved from diarrhea, it is still too early to calm down. After suffering from an illness, the pet’s body, and especially its stomach and intestines, are still weakened and have poor resistance to various types of bacterial diseases. As a preventative measure, you need to treat the rabbit with Baycox (also sold in veterinary pharmacies). The drug is diluted at the rate of 1 teaspoon per liter of water, and given to the animal instead of regular drinking water; the solution is changed in the cage after 48 hours. Periodically it is necessary to carry out preventive therapy against worms. The drug Linex has proven itself well in the treatment of diarrhea in rabbits. It is given at the rate of 0.5 capsules twice a day (morning and evening). This will help restore damaged intestinal flora to normal working condition, saturating it with beneficial bacteria. It should be noted that an accurate diagnosis must be made by a veterinarian. He also prescribes a course of treatment, and the owner of the animal must correctly follow medical recommendations. Incorrect and delayed therapy often leads to dire consequences. The owner of a rabbit must remember that preventing a disease is better than treating it. Therefore, prevention is extremely important. In particular, rabbits need to either strictly limit the presence of grains and fruits in their diet, or prohibit them altogether. The pet must receive a sufficient amount of good hay, fresh greens, and its cage must be cleaned and there must always be fresh, clean water in it. Fulfilling all these simple requirements is the key to the health of rabbits.

Rabbits tolerate any disease quite hard. A caring owner will immediately notice that something is wrong with the pet. Rabbits often contract various infections, which are very difficult to get rid of. Any infection can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea in rabbits is considered a very serious problem. Most owners have no idea what to do in this case. If it is not treated in time, rabbits die from dehydration.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea in a rabbit can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common are:

• Poor nutrition.
• Mechanical problems.
• Infections.
• Hidden health problems.

The root causes need to be looked at in more detail.

Poor nutrition

Diarrhea in rabbits often occurs if their food was made from low quality ingredients containing mold, the toxins of which cause diarrhea. The same situation arises if you feed moldy hay to animals. They are strictly prohibited from hay that has even the slightest smell of mold.

The rabbit should receive unlimited amounts of fresh hay and grass every day. Their deficiency leads to flabbiness of the intestinal muscles, as a result, the movement of food through the intestines slows down. As a result, feces move very slowly in the cecum, which leads to an imbalance of beneficial bacteria. Thus, a large amount of hay and grass in a rabbit's diet provide healthy intestinal microflora.

Vegetables and fruits in large quantities are contraindicated for these animals. They are foods containing a large amount of calories. High concentrations of sugar and starch are very harmful to the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits, leading to diarrhea.

Rapid changes in food or regimen often cause diarrhea, so any changes are introduced gradually.

Mechanical problems

If a rabbit suffers from obesity, then as a result the animal simply cannot reach its anus to clean it. An imbalance of the intestines occurs, leading to diarrhea. High calorie foods should be reduced and more hay and grass fed. During this time, it is necessary to ensure that caecotrophs did not stick to the back of the body.

The rabbit may suffer from joint disease, which also prevents it from cleaning its anus. Arthritis is usually diagnosed by a veterinarian, who will prescribe appropriate treatment.

Infections

Diarrhea in rabbits is often caused by a viral infection, such as rotavirus, coronavirus, hemorrhagic fever. Diarrhea can also be caused by a bacterial infection (coccidiosis, E. coli). These infections disrupt balance between harmful and beneficial bacteria. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the rabbits’ nutrition is correct, avoiding dysbiosis, which is very difficult to cure.

Hidden health problems

A rabbit may develop diseases that slow down bowel movements, which leads to diarrhea.

The following reasons can slow down bowel function:

• Urinary tract diseases.
• Torticollis.
• Dental problems.
• Upper respiratory tract infections.

In addition, diarrhea in this animal may occur due to the presence of worms, which help soften the feces.

Treatment

If your rabbit has diarrhea, you need to examine the appearance of the stool. If it is very thin or watery, this is a sign that the animal is sick with something. The rabbit becomes lethargic and begins to move little. May refuse to eat and drink, sometimes losing weight. Diarrhea greatly contaminates the animal's anus. It must be cleaned so that the rabbit does not ingest harmful feces.

Some breeders do not consider diarrhea in a rabbit to be a cause for concern. Loose stools are explained by poor quality food, overeating, stress and other factors. In reality, the problem may be much more serious. Pets that do not receive proper treatment simply die. In the vast majority of cases, diarrhea in an eared cat is a symptom of a more serious disease. We’ll try to find out which one exactly in this article.

Main reasons

Most often, diarrhea in rabbits occurs for the following reasons:

Beginner rabbit breeders are reminded of the soft night stools in rabbits, which are called caecotrophs. This is an absolutely normal phenomenon and cannot be considered a sign of illness.

Animals vilify if they are fed food that is not fresh and contaminated with fungus. In this case, the excrement has a pronounced fetid odor. Rabbits can react with digestive disorders and to excess greens in the diet. Dry roughage should be on the menu every day, otherwise the body simply cannot cope with the load.

In rabbits, diarrhea may be due to infection entering the intestines. The source of infection is food, other animals, and bedding. In this case, it is important to isolate all sick individuals from the main stock as quickly as possible.

Joint diseases can also cause diarrhea in rabbits. In particular, we are talking about arthritis, as a result of which the animal cannot fully move. A decrease in physical activity immediately affects the functions of the digestive system.

Other hidden causes of diarrhea include obesity and stress. In the first case, you need to radically change the rabbit's diet. Stress can be triggered by a sudden change in living conditions, fights between males, and the separation of babies from female rabbits.

Features of the disease in adults and rabbits

Diarrhea occurs in rabbits at different ages. The causes and treatment of the disease depend on the degree of maturity of the animal.

Loose stools in rabbits may be the reason for too early weaning from the nursing mother. The fact is that breast milk contributes to the formation of the required pH level in the gastrointestinal tract. It is recommended that young animals be transferred to complete self-feeding no earlier than two months after birth.

Rabbits require complex therapy aimed at the formation of stable intestinal microflora. The digestive system of young animals can react strongly to the introduction of new foods into the diet.

Rabbit milk is an effective protection against coccidiosis and dysbacteriosis.

The cause of diarrhea in adult rabbits most often lies in poor nutrition. Excess starch-containing and protein products provokes dysbiosis. A large amount of fruit, baked goods or sweets are the main factors that upset the digestive system.

Rabbits can simply overeat, which is why their stomach cannot cope with the load. To avoid this, all feed must be given in limited quantities. But animals should not be allowed to starve. In this case, there is a decrease in the tone of the intestinal walls and, as a result, diarrhea may also occur.

Why do pets get sick?

Diarrhea in a decorative rabbit, like in other breeds, can be caused by several factors. And, first of all, we are talking about an incorrect diet. Owners often want to pamper their pets with forbidden delicacies - sweet pastries, exotic fruits, food from their table. The animal’s digestive system is not adapted to such a menu, which is why diarrhea develops.

It is necessary to carefully select feed for decorative rabbits. Not only the composition of the mixture plays a role, but also its quality. If the manufacturer neglects to properly process the ingredients or does not follow the grain storage rules, pathogenic microflora appears in it.

Early weaning from mother's milk is also one of the negative factors contributing to diarrhea. The rabbit's gastrointestinal tract is fully adapted to food at the age of 2 months. Until this moment, the babies should be close to the female. Therefore, it is not recommended to buy very tiny rabbits.

What and how to treat

Treatment of the animal should begin immediately after the first signs of the disease are identified. Features of therapy depend on why the diarrhea occurred.

Since it is almost impossible to immediately identify the causes, you should simply put the rabbit in a separate cage, lined with sawdust or napkins. The litter should absorb liquid stool well. The area under the tail should be washed well. If there are remains of feces on the fur, the animal will lick itself and become re-infected.

The cage should be constantly dry and warm. If the room is cool, you can turn on the heater or put a heating pad with warm water.

From food it is allowed to give only hay and water or chamomile decoction.

On the first day of illness, you can do without medications, using only traditional medicine recipes. A decoction of cinquefoil is very effective in combating diarrhea in rabbits.

It is prepared as follows - 1 tbsp. A spoonful of chopped herbs is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left warm until it cools completely. In order for the baby rabbit to swallow the medicinal tea, it must be poured into the stomach using a syringe without a needle. One teaspoon at a time is enough.

Oak bark has the same effect as cinquefoil. But you should understand that the decoctions are bitter, and the animal can spit them out.

Drug treatment

To quickly cleanse the intestines of pathogenic microflora, you can replace regular drinking water with a solution of activated carbon - 1 tablet per liter of boiled water.

To restore the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, the drug “Linex” is used - half a capsule in the morning and in the evening. The powder can be diluted with a small amount of boiled water and the solution can be poured into the rabbit’s stomach using a syringe.

For diarrhea caused by infection, the veterinary drug Baytril has a positive effect. The drug is injected subcutaneously into the withers area. The dosage depends on the weight of the animal. For 1 kg of rabbit body weight, you need to take 0.1 ml of the drug, after dissolving it in 0.5 ml of saline solution.

Therapeutic diet and prevention

We have already found out how to treat rabbits for diarrhea. Now let's talk about animal nutrition during therapy. Fresh greens, fruits and vegetables should be excluded from the diet as soon as the first symptoms of the disease become noticeable.

The basis of the menu is hay. It should be of high quality, not overdried, without diaper rash. You can diversify your diet with mixed feed or oats.

Only boiled water is allowed. You can add a little potassium permanganate to the liquid - the solution should turn out slightly pink.

It is necessary to give the animal anthelmintic drugs. Experts recommend Baycox.

Effective preventive measures against diarrhea in rabbits include regular sanitary cleaning of cages - replacement of bedding, disinsection of the common area, cleaning of feeders and drinkers. New foods are introduced into the diet gradually and in small quantities.

How to fight an infection

A sharp decrease or complete lack of appetite can also occur with dental diseases. For example, teeth that are too long or crooked make it impossible to absorb food.

Another infectious disease is paratyphoid fever. It is caused by E. coli. To destroy the causative agent of the disease, the veterinary drug Furazolidone is used. For one kilogram of animal weight, 30 mg of the substance is required.

It is possible that small rabbits may die due to diarrhea. Most often, the reason lies in the immaturity of their digestive system and early weaning from their mother. You can try to save the babies by giving them medications whose action is aimed at restoring the intestinal microflora. For example, "Linex".

Diarrhea in Eared Ears is a very worrying disease. Many livestock farmers do not realize the full danger of what is happening. Because of this, their beloved pets may die. There are a large number of deaths from diarrhea. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately prescribe the correct treatment.

Animals have two types of feces - solid and liquid.

This type of problem includes obesity and joint problems. In this case, the animal cannot reach its anus to remove feces. They are smeared all over the back of the eared skin. In this case, it is necessary to change the diet and urgently begin to treat the animal. High-calorie and starchy foods should be removed. For a rabbit to start moving actively, it needs to lose excess weight. Only in this case will he have access to a greater number of movements. Mechanical problems can cause arthritis.

Infection

The main cause of diarrhea may be infection. Bacteria can enter the animal's body along with saliva, dirty, low-quality food. The infection can be introduced along with dirty bedding on which animals sleep. Germs can spread from already sick ears. Therefore, when a sick animal is discovered, healthy ones must be isolated and quarantined.

Hidden Reasons

Hidden reasons include stress. It can arise due to a sudden move, a change in the environment, or fights between males. Diarrhea is often observed in nursing rabbits whose babies have been taken away. Rabbits also do not tolerate changing owners well.

Conditions of detention

After diarrhea appears, all unnecessary things must be removed from the animal’s home. The cage is disinfected and washed thoroughly. It is necessary to lay straw, sawdust or soft natural fabric on the bottom. Experienced livestock breeders recommend using disposable wipes. Thanks to them, the animal will be protected from excrement. Clean straw and drinking water are left in the cage for food. Animals often experience fever and chills. Sick ears may freeze. Therefore, in the cold season, the cage must be illuminated with a fluorescent lamp. Sometimes electric or rubber heating pads are placed next to the animals.

Differences between diarrhea in young animals and adults

Diarrhea can occur both at an early age and at a later age. Both adults and young individuals are susceptible to the disease.

What and how to treat

What drugs are used

1. The use of activated carbon is allowed. Dosage – a quarter of a tablet dissolved in boiled water.
2. Linex can be considered another anti-diarrhea drug. Eared animals should be given half a capsule 2 times a day. Thanks to this remedy, the intestinal flora will be saturated with the necessary microorganisms. This will lead to normalization of the body's functioning.
3. In severe situations, the use of veterinary drugs is necessary. Baytril is perfect. You can buy the medicine at pet stores or veterinary clinics. Thanks to the drug, treatment becomes easier and the disease progresses more calmly. The medicine is administered subcutaneously. The injection must be given in the withers area. For one kg of rabbit weight, 0.1 ml of medicine is used. The dosage should increase as the animal weighs more. The drug is first diluted in 0.5 ml of saline solution. 0.2 ml of Baytril is diluted in 1 ml of saline solution. Dosage:

• 1 kg of rabbit weight - 0.1 ml of medicine diluted in 0.5 ml of saline solution.
• 2 kg of rabbit weight - 0.2 ml of medicine diluted in 1 ml of saline solution.
• 3 kg of rabbit weight - 0.3 ml of medicine diluted in 1.5 ml of saline solution.
• 4 kg of rabbit weight - 0.4 ml of medicine diluted in 2 ml of saline solution.