Domestic rabbits, like any pet, tend to get sick. If the maintenance rules are not followed, these furry animals experience a variety of pathological conditions. Many of them are accompanied by a runny nose. A seemingly harmless symptom can cause serious consequences. If rhinitis begins in rabbits, then you should not delay treatment.
Causes of rhinitis in rabbits
Even the most experienced and responsible rabbit owners can allow their pets to develop a disease such as rhinitis.Before choosing treatment, you need to know that the causes of a runny nose can be:
- drafts and temperature changes;
- feed;
- infection;
- injuries to the nasal mucosa.
A poor diet causes a decrease in immunity and causes a runny nose. Each form of rhinitis may have similar symptoms, but requires specific treatment.
Main symptoms
The first signs of rhinitis may be subtle and seem quite harmless. At the beginning of the disease, you may notice wet fur near the animal’s nose. As it develops, the following symptoms appear:
- redness of the eyes and enlargement of the nose;
- white snot at the onset of the disease;
- nasal discharge becomes viscous and changes color to green;
- the animal is worried and scratches its nose until it bleeds;
- Dried crusts appear near the nose and on the cheeks.
As the disease progresses, it becomes difficult for the pet to breathe and wheezing can be heard. The animal refuses food and loses a lot of weight.
Stages and types of disease
Rabbits suffer from the following types of rhinitis:
- Allergic – causes may be food, dust, dust, or the presence of allergenic plants.
- Colds - it occurs from drafts, excessive humidity, low temperatures;
- Infectious is a very dangerous form of rhinitis that can affect all rabbits. It is caused by conditionally pathogenic microorganisms staphylococci, streptococci, pasteurella, and E. coli.
- Traumatic - appears as a result of fights or accidental damage to the nasal mucosa.
The most dangerous is infectious rhinitis. Its first stage goes unnoticed. The incubation period lasts up to 5-7 days. As a rule, a runny nose is not acute. If treatment is not taken, it progresses to the chronic stage.In some cases, rhinitis is complicated by bronchitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and leads to the death of the rabbit.
Diagnosis of the disease
An accurate diagnosis is made based on the medical history after examining the animal. It is confirmed by the results of laboratory tests of nasal mucus. This allows you to identify the pathogen and exclude a runny nose of non-infectious origin.
Correct diagnosis will help you choose a treatment regimen for your rabbit for a runny nose.
Rules for the treatment of rhinitis in rabbits
Treatment of a runny nose is based on the diagnosis. Allergic rhinitis goes away after eliminating the allergen. It is enough to select food and replace the bedding so that it passes. If the cause of a runny nose is injury, then the use of means to accelerate healing will be required. The most difficult treatment is for colds and infectious rhinitis.
Drug treatment
If a rabbit's runny nose is of a cold nature, then drug treatment can be limited to rinsing the nose with a solution of furatsilin. It is enough to crush two tablets and dissolve them in 100 ml of warm water. Treatment is continued for 14-20 days, carrying out the procedure of instillation or rinsing the nose 3-4 times a day.
When treating an infectious rhinitis you will need to use:
- antibiotics for injection, the drug “Nitox Forte” is suitable;
- antibiotics for nasal rinsing, Penicillin, Azithromycin;
- immunostimulants, for example, "Aminosol", "Fosprinil", "Ribotan".
In some cases, recovery can be accelerated by the use of homeopathic remedies.
Homeopathy
Rhinitis can be treated with remedies that are used in tiny, homeopathic quantities. To do this, you can add lactic acid to the drinking bowls at the rate of 1 ml per liter of water.
In homeopathic doses, you can give rabbits the drug “Brovafom new”. One gram of the substance is added to a liter of drinking water.
Homeopathic treatment includes giving animals a decoction of sage and mint, with the addition of a drop of tea tree oil. The same solution can be used to wipe the faces of animals contaminated with nasal discharge. To treat a runny nose in rabbits, you can give an infusion of chamomile or calendula.
Inhalations
Inhalations are used to treat decorative rabbits. To do this, prepare a decoction of eucalyptus leaves, pour the hot liquid into a convenient and stable container, and place it in the animal’s cage. Cover the top with a towel. The procedure lasts 10-15 minutes and is carried out three times a day. The course of treatment is 7-10 days.
Diet
A varied diet is provided for sick animals. The following herbs are added to it:
- chamomile;
- onion greens;
- dill;
- mint.
Fresh greens are dried before feeding. If animals are fed hay, then the diet should also include juicy root vegetables, vegetables, and fruits. Instead of water, you can add herbal infusions to the shelves. To strengthen the immune system, pets can be given special vitamin supplements “Chiktonik” and “Prodevit”.
Basic methods of prevention
Prevention consists of observing the conditions of keeping, feeding and caring for rabbits. The room where the cages are located must be clean, dry, and well ventilated. There should be no drafts, the desired humidity is 50-70%.
At least once a week you need to examine the animals’ faces and paws.If the fur near the nose is wet, and on the paws it is stuck together, then it is better to isolate the rabbit. When the listed signs of a runny nose appear, all suspicious individuals are removed and the cells are disinfected. The new animal is kept separately from the rest for 14 days.