Blob, or stomatitis, in rabbits is treatable. This is a viral disease in which the mucous membranes of the mouth become inflamed and saliva flows profusely. The virus mainly affects young animals. Small rabbits separated from their mothers need to carefully select their food. It is important to ensure that the food is complete and that rabbits eat clean grass, vegetables and grains. Animals should be kept in dry cages, then they will not get sick.
Causes of the disease
Woodlice, woodlice or wet muzzle is the popular name for viral stomatitis, that is, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue of rabbits. The disease is characterized by excessive salivation. A sick rabbit has constantly wet fur around its mouth. The virus actively develops in the animal’s saliva, as well as in its blood and urine. One sick rabbit can infect the entire population. Infected animals must be immediately isolated, that is, transplanted into a separate cage.
Stomatitis most often occurs in young rabbits, 1-3 months old. Young animals get sick with woodlice when the animals are transferred from the female rabbit and transferred to independent feeding. In all likelihood, stomatitis is the body’s reaction to new green food. During this period, rabbits should be given dried hay, crushed dry grain, clean root vegetables and vegetables.
Nutritional errors lead to stomatitis. At first, the virus is picked up by weakened rabbits that are poorly fed, but after 1-2 weeks the infection affects the entire population.
The cause of the disease is infection. The virus can be found in dirty food and water, in cages and on equipment, and carried by rodents. Stomatitis develops in a humid, hot, stuffy environment. Rabbits get sick if their cages are rarely cleaned. The virus also affects adult rabbits weakened by frequent births. The disease occurs at any time of the year, but in spring and autumn there are more cases of death.
Symptoms of a wet face
The incubation period of the viral disease lasts only 2-4 days. Sick rabbits have decreased appetite. The mucous membrane of the mouth and tongue turns red. Then the oral cavity becomes covered with white spots. Soon the affected areas change color and become yellow, then brown. Erosion and ulcers occur on the mucous membranes of the tongue, gums, and lips.
Infected animals have increased salivation. Saliva flows from the corners of the mouth. Around the muzzle and on the chest there is constantly wet and stuck together hair. Hair falls out on the lower jaw and pustules form. A sick animal diarrhea, refuses food, sits motionless, and quickly loses weight. The disease lasts about 10-14 days. Most often, rabbits suffer from a mild form of stomatitis, and then recover.
In animals with weak immunity, severe disease occurs and they die within 3-5 days. The mortality rate of young animals is 20-70 percent. It is recommended to treat sick rabbits.
Forms of the disease, danger to animals and humans
Stomatitis, if left untreated and without any sanitary measures, can lead to the death of young rabbits. If animals are not treated, the strongest ones may survive, but then they will lag behind in development.
More often, small rabbits die from stomatitis. In adults, the mortality rate is low. The virus is not dangerous to humans, but meat rabbits that died from stomatitis consumption is not recommended. If an animal has been ill and recovered, it can be fattened and then (after a few months) sent for slaughter. The meat of recovered rabbits can be eaten after heat treatment.
Forms of the disease:
- initial (mild) - the appearance of redness on the oral mucosa, then a white coating, brownish spots, slight drooling;
- acute (severe) - formation of erosions and ulcers, increased salivation, diarrhea, lack of appetite;
- atypical - slight salivation, warm nose.
The initial stage lasts about 10 days, and then it gradually turns into an acute stage (another 5-7 days).The symptoms are getting worse every day: the animal is inactive, diarrhea, does not eat anything, and without treatment may die.
Safety measures when an infection is detected
The behavior of rabbits must be constantly monitored. If an animal refuses food, is inactive, or has excessive drooling, it should be placed in an isolation ward. This is a special cage that is located in another room. The infected animal must live for some time (30-40 days) away from other rabbits.
It is recommended to feed patients with soft food during quarantine. The animals are given alfalfa hay, sprouted grains of wheat and barley, pumpkin, carrots, and water. Only a veterinarian can diagnose sick rabbits. Viral stomatitis lasts at least 10 days. Previously, this disease does not go away, even if treatment is started.
How to treat stomatitis in rabbits
If excessive salivation is detected, rabbits can be given pure streptocide. Dose: pour 0.2 grams of powder into the mouth once a day, repeat the procedure every other day. The medicine can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. It should be a powder, not tablets. Streptocide does not cure the virus, but it alleviates the animal’s condition. To increase immunity, rabbits can be injected with immunocorrectors (Gamavit, Katazol).
Antibiotics
It is advisable to treat infectious stomatitis with an antibiotic. Rabbits react poorly to the penicillin group. Veterinarians usually prescribe Baytril or Biomycin. Injections are given in the back thigh (middle part). "Baytril" 2.5 percent is prescribed to babies from 30 days of age.Dose: 0.2 ml per 1 kg of weight, once a day. The course of treatment is 5 days. You can dilute 1 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water and irrigate the oral cavity with this solution using a syringe once a day. Tetracycline can be used to syring the mucous membrane. Dissolve 1-2 tablets in 1 liter of water. The oral cavity is irrigated once a day until the symptoms disappear completely.
Important! After antibiotic use, it is recommended to give rabbits probiotics to improve intestinal microflora (Olin).
You can buy Tetracycline ointment and use it to treat the surface around the nose and mouth. For the treatment of stomatitis, “Travmatin”, “Traumel”, “Liarsin” are used. These are not antibiotics, but anti-inflammatory drugs. Before using them, you should consult your veterinarian.
Important! Animals should not be given all available medications for stomatitis. Rabbits are treated with one remedy. The injection and irrigation of the oral cavity are done once a day, not more often. The illness will last at least 10 days. The speed of recovery is not affected by any medications.
Folk remedies
When stomatitis is detected, it is customary to rinse the oral cavity. Most often, a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate is used. Mouth ulcers can be lubricated with Lugol with glycerin. The procedure is carried out no more than once a day, for 5-10 days in a row, until the inflammation completely disappears. Sick animals, instead of water, can be given a decoction of chamomile, calendula, sage, and oak bark. A propolis solution is used to irrigate the oral cavity. It is recommended to keep sick animals clean.
Rehabilitation of sick animals
Recovered animals can be kept in quarantine for about 30-40 days, and then transferred to a common cage or to the same room with other rabbits.Such animals will no longer become infected with stomatitis. They can be fed with regular food, and when they reach a certain age, they can be sent to slaughter. It is better not to use such animals for breeding. There is a possibility that the offspring may also develop stomatitis.
How to protect rabbits from biting midges
Animals will not get sick if they are provided with adequate nutrition from the moment they are separated from their mother and their cages are constantly cleaned and disinfected. The food must be dried. During this period, it is better for rabbits to be given sun-dried hay, clean carrots, pumpkin, and crushed dry grain.
The bedding in the cage needs to be changed daily. It is recommended to clean and ventilate the premises every day, and whitewash them with slaked lime once a month.
The cage should always be dry, but not cramped, stuffy or hot. Rabbits will not get sick if they are dewormed, vaccinated, removed fleas, and boosted immunity with the help of vitamin preparations and immunocorrectors in a timely manner. You can add iodine to drinking water once a week (1 drop per 1 liter). The daily diet should include root vegetables, juicy greens, sun-dried grass, vegetables, grain, mixed feed, and branches.
