Caring for working dogs
Your Rabbits are Under Attack! Rabbit Illnesses All First-timers Must Know
Jose Reid
Rabbits are very cute pets. Their sly and shy nature helps them to appeal very easily to your emotions, besides the fact that they are the less noisy compared to many other pets. Keeping rabbits in your home has a host of benefits. They are an elemental source of fur, food, farm manure and companionship. Just like any other pets, rabbits can be victims of diseases that affect their health adversely or kill them. Here are some diseases that you need to know as a first-time rabbit farmer:
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny insects that cause a scabby and crusty substance to be deposited on the inner sections of your rabbit's ears. It causes discomfort for your rabbit, leading to high levels of stress that hinder its ability to feed, play and drink as required. For this reason, you must always look out for signs of an attack by ear mites so that you can address it as soon as possible. If your rabbit shakes its head vigorously several times a day or scratches its ears intensely, then there is a high chance that it has been attacked by ear mites. In such a case, you should consult your veterinarian for the right frequency and dosage of the recommended medicine.
Administering a drop of mineral oil once or twice a month in each ear will help you prevent ear mite infestation in future.
Dental Problems
Rabbit teeth grow very fast. The rate is as high as one centimetre every month, and it can be too much considering that these animals are not particularly famous for a large snout. However, rabbits need their teeth to grow this fast because of the fibrous nature of their food and the fact that they use their teeth for tough work like burrowing. Excessive drinking, regular change of diet preferences, swollen jaws and dribbling are all signs of dental complications in rabbits. Talk to a veterinary officer in good time so that corrective procedures are carried out promptly. Furthermore, feed such rabbits with quality hay to strengthen their teeth.
Heat Stroke
Just as the name suggests, this is a heat-induced illness in rabbits. It results from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or accumulated heat in a confined area. When building a shelter for your rabbits, make sure that it provides good shade and ventilation at the same time. This might call for the installation of air conditioning fans or frozen bottles of water where the rabbits can lie next to and avoid the detrimental effects of the heat.
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We've always had a large property and our dogs are working dogs. They like to have freedom to run around and play with each other as well as helping us round up the sheep at the end of the day. We don't coddle the dogs by any means, but we do care for them deeply and want them to stay healthy. Sometimes our dogs do get into scrapes and do some silly things, like last year when my older dog ate some baited meat from a fox trap, and do need vet care. This blog has some tips on getting veterinary care for your beloved animals.