Blob in rabbits: how to treat a wet face with infectious stomatitis

Wet face on rabbits - this is the name of one of the most insidious diseases of cute and fluffy animals, rabbits. What is a wet face in rabbits, the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and methods of treating this disease, we will describe in our article today.

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What is midge and what are its symptoms?

Blob in rabbits
Infectious stomatitis, or biting in rabbits, is a viral disease in which inflammation develops in the animal's mouth, accompanied by the appearance of ulcers and drooling.

The disease affects mainly young animals during the suckling period, from 23 days to 3 months; midge occurs rarely in adults. Cases of infection occur at any time of the year; the decline in incidence in winter is explained by the small number of young animals.

From the moment of infection to the onset of the disease, it takes from 48 hours to 4 days.

How the disease develops:

Initially, there is redness of the mucous membrane in the mouth, followed by the formation of small whitish elements in the form of spots and stripes. They gradually enlarge and merge, turning into a white coating. Sometimes inflamed areas appear on the lips.
After 4 days of illness, the plaque acquires a yellowish or brown tint, the process of film rejection begins, leaving eroded areas underneath.
The center of the tongue becomes dirty red, and the removal of dead epithelium leads to the formation of a large ulcer.
2-3 days after the lesion, severe salivation appears.

At first, drool accumulates only in the corners of the mouth, and the fur on the sides of the muzzle sticks together. As saliva increases, foamy liquid flows down the rabbit’s lips.

The hairs around the nose, mouth, and the area under the jaws become wet. Due to discomfort and itching, the animal rubs its muzzle with its paws, while the forelimbs and dewlap get wet, and the glued fur gives the rabbit an unkempt appearance.

The hairs around the nose, mouth, and the area under the jaws become wet.

With the onset of drooling, the condition of animals, rabbits worsens:

oppressed;
move little;
hide in dark corners;
make chewing movements, making slurping sounds:
Possible diarrhea.

The temperature is within normal limits, the nose is hot. When diarrhea develops, this indicates a severe course of the pathology. The baby rabbits are hungry, but the pain prevents them from eating properly or drinking water, and as a result, the babies are rapidly losing weight.

After 10-12 days from the onset of the first manifestations of the disease, recovery occurs.

Treatment

The first thing to do when signs of biting midge appear is to isolate the sick animal, since this disease is infectious and, if delayed, can affect healthy individuals.

After an accurate diagnosis, treatment should begin immediately. For this purpose, both external and internal means can be used. There is a large selection of drugs and preparations intended for this purpose on the veterinary drug market.

An aqueous solution of copper sulfate is used for douching and irrigation of the oral cavity. It can also be used to treat ulcers. You must use a two percent solution. Douching and irrigation should be done twice a day.

A sick rabbit can be douched daily using an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, known as potassium permanganate. In order not to burn the animal, the solution is made until a faint reddish tint is obtained. It is necessary to ensure that no grains of the drug remain in it, so it is advisable to strain it through two layers of gauze. This solution can be used to treat sores and scratching wounds on a rabbit’s body.

Lugol can also be used for irrigation and lubrication. It is convenient to do this if it is made in the form of a spray. Treatment with Lugol is done three times a day every eight hours.

Other means for external treatment are Baytril and Enromag. They are introduced into the rabbit's mouth using a syringe without a needle. A single dose is 0.5 milliliters.

An effective remedy is streptocide. One tablet, which contains 0.02 grams of the substance, should be crushed into powder and poured into the rabbit’s mouth for three days, once a day.

Drugs such as Biomycin and Sulfadimezin are used for instillation into the mouth of a sick rabbit. You can also treat the oral cavity with Vaseline and special ointments such as penicillin, streptocide and tetracycline.

Treatment is carried out twice a day. For safety, this must be done with protective gloves.

These methods are inexpensive and effective. It also makes sense to give drugs to enhance immunity and improve tissue regeneration.

Methods for treating biting midge include taking "Apidermin", intended for the treatment of ulcers, burns and abscesses. The drug is excellent in treating stomatitis in rabbits.

The composition of this drug, based on bee products, includes propolis, pollen and honey. "Apidermin" relieves inflammation and accelerates skin regeneration. There is also an analgesic effect and increased immunity.

Non-traditional methods of treatment include solutions of sage, chamomile, oak bark, and calendula. Such decoctions are poured into the rabbit's mouth using a syringe without a needle. You can prepare the ointment yourself. To do this, combine sulfamide, dry penicillin, lanolin and mix it with Vaseline. This ointment should be used to lubricate damaged areas of the skin. The rabbit must be securely restrained.

Drug treatment includes taking antibiotics. This must be done if the disease is severe. For this you can use the antibiotic Biomycin. It is usually used to treat diseases in cattle, but use for infectious stomatitis in rabbits also gives good results. For a rabbit, the veterinarian will select the required dose based on the weight of the animal. The drug is given for two days, once a day.

Good results can be obtained by injecting rabbits with penicillin. The injections are given subcutaneously. The dose is calculated from the proportion - 20-40 units per kilogram of rabbit weight. Antibiotics can also be used in the form of ointments. Intramuscular injections of the bacterial type are acceptable.

After treatment with antibiotics, dysbiosis may occur, resulting in diarrhea. In this case, it is recommended to take the probiotic “Vetom” or similar ones. The immunocorrective drugs are “Phosfprenil” and “Roncoleukin”.

Sources and causes of infection

The infectious agent of biting midge is a filterable virus - a microorganism capable of passing through bacterial filters.

The etiology of the pathogen has not been sufficiently studied. It is known that viral particles are present not only in the blood of sick animals, virions are found in large quantities in the saliva and urine of rabbits, and settle on the animals’ fur.

Rabbits become infected:

in direct contact with sick and recovered individuals;
through bedding, equipment, feed and water;
when inhaling dust containing the pathogen.

Microparticles are carried by blood-sucking insects and rodents.

A vertical route of infection is possible: from the female rabbit to the offspring through blood and milk.

The disease actively spreads under factors that negatively affect the immunity of animals.

These include:

adverse weather conditions;
high humidity and drafts in the room;
crowded content;
inadequate feeding;
failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic requirements.

Often the disease manifests itself in some nests in isolated cases in suckling rabbits, and during the laying period an outbreak of the disease is observed for 2 weeks.

Under favorable conditions for the spread of infection, 100% infection is possible, while the death rate of livestock can reach 30%. Due to the weak virulence of the pathogen and the resistance of the organism, biting midge occurs sporadically.

Important! Animals that have recovered from the disease remain carriers of infection for life, so rabbits that have suffered from the disease are not used for reproduction.

P.S.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again that attacks of viral stomatitis become more frequent when young rabbits appear on your farm; they are especially intensified during periods of stress, as the immune system noticeably weakens. For example, in extreme heat, a period of prolonged rains leading to increased air humidity, or, conversely, prolonged drought and stuffiness. And temperature changes have a negative impact on the general condition of rabbits. If we add to this periods of stress from possible transportation, moving from cage to cage, changing feeding from mother's milk to regular food, drinking, deworming and banal fights, then it would not be superfluous to once again check the rabbit's tongue, take a closer look to see if he is salivating , is your face wet? That's all. I hope that thanks to this article, you have learned something useful for yourself and will not let viral infectious stomatitis run rampant in your household.

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Forms of the disease, danger to animals and humans

Animals that have recovered from the disease remain carriers of the infection
. Midge in rabbits can occur in the following forms:

Heavy . The disease progresses quickly, takes over the digestive system, diarrhea develops, dehydration and exhaustion of the animal occurs, and the baby rabbit dies after 4-5 days.
Typical . It has a favorable prognosis, although it is accompanied by a specific clinical picture. With timely treatment, recovery occurs within 8-10 days after the onset of drooling. In the absence of treatment and weakened immunity, a transition to a severe form is possible.
Abortive (suspending development) . The pathology is characterized by a benign course, often the disease goes unnoticed. Damage to the mucosa is present, but the ulcers are shallow. Drooling occurs in the corners of the mouth and lasts 1 or 2 days. Sick rabbits retain mobility, eat with appetite, and deaths of young animals are usually not observed.

Infectious stomatitis can occur latently, when lesions appear in the oral cavity, but there are no signs of salivation.

Attention! The virus that causes infectious stomatitis has been little studied, therefore, when caring for a sick animal, people should not forget about personal hygiene. All procedures should be carried out with gloves. After rearing, rabbits that have suffered biting midge are used for meat and skin production.

Beneficial properties of herbs

In spring and summer, green food is the main food for rabbits. It is juicy, contains a lot of water, but also contains all the nutrients rabbits need: complete proteins, simple carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, some fats, chlorophyll. Plus, grass is always available and free.

proteins – 20-25%;
nitrogen-free substances – 30-60%;
fat – 4-5%;
fiber – 10-15%;
minerals – 9-11%.

Many plants suitable for rabbits' food are found everywhere. For example, the most common dandelions increase appetite, contain a lot of protein, but at the same time little fiber. It is best to give them not separately, but together with other herbs in a volume of 30% of the total amount.

Siberian hogweed (leaves only) is useful to feed to lactating females to increase milk production. Nettle will provide the body of rabbits with protein and vitamins; it can be used for stomach disorders and hemorrhages, as an antimicrobial agent (in this case, leaves are used, which are collected at the end of the first or at the beginning of the second summer month) and as a milk extractor. Nettle is fed 2-3 times a week, given fresh (scalded with boiling water, dried, crushed and sprinkled with dry food). Stems with leaves (without flowers) are prepared for the winter: dried in the shade and stored along with the rest of the hay in an unlit and dry place.

Coltsfoot can also be fed either fresh or dried. It is especially useful for diseases of the stomach, lungs and bronchi, and normalizes digestive processes.

Common wheatgrass, which grows everywhere, has high nutritional value and has a diuretic effect. Plantain contains a lot of vitamins and protein and has a wound-healing effect. Wormwood not only increases appetite, prevents gastric disorders, but also helps rabbits get rid of worms. However, its share in the total diet of green food for animals should not exceed 40% (due to the likelihood of nervous excitement).

Many plants, such as yarrow, burdock, plantain, and onion, contain phytoncides that help fight infections.

A rabbit has a wet face - a sign of stomatitis

Regardless of the etiology, stomatitis in rabbits is always accompanied by hypersalivation , this is due to the peculiarities of salivation of lagomorphs. In the mouth of these animals, saliva is constantly secreted; it is swallowed only with food.

Due to the inflammatory process in the oral cavity, the salivary glands are irritated, which increases the secretion of biological fluid, the animal’s muzzle and fur become wet. Therefore, excessive salivation is the main symptom of stomatitis in rabbits.

Preventive actions.

First, protect the source of infection from healthy offspring.
Secondly, vaccination of the entire livestock.
Thirdly, daily inspection and monitoring of the condition of pets.
Fourth, treat the cells with calcium hydroxide or caustic soda every week to prevent the spread of microbes.
Fifthly, when feeding, drip iodine or potassium permanganate ½ mg per liter of liquid into the water.

After two weeks, with the right systematic approach, the disease should recede. The rodents will be absolutely healthy, their meat and skins are suitable for use.

Educational information about measures to combat the contagious virus can be emphasized from the video. In the video, based on personal experience, recommendations and recipes for the treatment of stomatitis are given.

Regardless of where the source of infection originated, it is necessary to immediately take all possible treatment and preventive measures. Timely and clear actions will allow you to minimize losses, and perhaps do without them altogether.

Safety measures when an infection is detected

If rabbits with signs of stomatitis are found on the farm, the following measures are taken to stop the spread of infection:

Sick animals are isolated in a separate room and treated;
cages, equipment, feeders are disinfected, the walls of the rabbitry are treated with quicklime;
improve nutrition and maintenance conditions.

For preventive purposes, healthy rabbits that were kept in cages with sick individuals are given 0.1 g of streptocide, and an iodine solution (5 ml/10 l) is added to the water.

Prevention

To prevent wet faces in baby rabbits, you need to regularly carry out preventive measures:

disinfection, disinfestation, deratization of the premises where the animals live;
vaccination according to the vaccination schedule;
feeding pets with vitamin supplements;
add 1 teaspoon of iodine per 10 liters of water to the rabbits’ drink;
animals that have recovered or are suspicious are kept in quarantine for two weeks, the same applies to newly arrived rabbits.

A wet muzzle in rabbits is one of the main signs of stomatitis, which is accompanied by profuse salivation. If you notice matted fur and a wet face, you should consult a veterinarian. In most cases, timely treatment significantly increases the chances of a favorable outcome for sick pets.

What needs to be done to cure stomatitis in rabbits

There are no drugs to combat the virus; treatment is aimed at relieving inflammation in the animals’ mouths and preventing complications.

There are no drugs to combat the virus; treatment is aimed at relieving inflammation in the animals’ mouths and preventing complications

Therapy should be started at the first symptoms of the disease. It is necessary to treat the mucous membranes with medications, and also to feed the animals with easily digestible, soft food, and drink milk (20-30 ml per individual per day is enough).

Treatment of ulcers with infectious stomatitis

If the disease is not accompanied by a severe course, it is enough to treat the ulcers on the animal’s oral mucosa and skin using the following drugs:

Copper sulfate . A 2% solution is used, the mucous membrane is treated with a swab or irrigated with a syringe or syringe, inserting the tip from the side where there are no teeth. The composition is prepared at the rate of 200 g of crystalline powder per 10 liters of warm water. The procedure is carried out in the morning and evening for 3 days.
Streptocide . Powder (0.2 g) is poured into the mouth for 3 days at intervals of 12 hours. If improvement occurs, a single treatment is sufficient.
Penicillin . An ointment based on an antibiotic and petroleum jelly is applied to the oral mucosa twice a day.
Baytril . The veterinary drug also copes well with inflammation; the solution is injected into the oral cavity with a syringe or syringe.

To prevent ulcers from appearing on the skin, potassium permanganate is used. The solution (1%) is used to irrigate the dewlap, muzzle, and submandibular area.

Medication for infectious stomatitis

The complicated form requires the use of antibacterial drugs in the form of injections; the following is prescribed:

Penicillin. The medicine is injected under the skin or into the muscle, the dosage depends on the weight of the animal. Baytril, Ribaflox, Bicillin are sometimes used.
Probiotics: Olin, Lactoferon. They are indicated for restoring the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.

To activate the immune system at the onset of the disease, injections of immunomodulators are recommended: Roncoleukin, Fosprenil. Viferon ointment is suitable for rectal administration.

Traditional methods of treatment

Traditional recipes in the treatment of infectious stomatitis can be used in combination with the main therapy. To treat the oral mucosa of animals, infusions based on chamomile, sage, marigold, and oak bark decoction are used.

The compositions will help reduce inflammation, discomfort and pain.

Treatment methods

To reduce pain and eliminate ulcers in the oral cavity, irrigation is performed. To do this, use a weak solution of manganese, which is injected into the mouth of a sick pet. You can wipe the affected areas with a swab dipped in the solution.
A 2% aqueous solution of copper sulfate quickly eliminates the problem. This mixture is used to irrigate or wipe the mouth of a sick pet. It is recommended to carry out treatment 2 times a day. Lubricate the mouth until complete recovery, but not less than 3 days in a row.
Penicillin helps fight infection. Its solution is dropped into the mouth or injected into the muscle.
A crushed tablet of streptocide is sprayed onto mouth ulcers.
A 0.5-1% solution of burnt alum also promotes rapid healing of wounds. A swab is moistened in the solution and the rabbit’s oral cavity is thoroughly wiped.
Ulcers can be lubricated with honey mixed with propolis. Among folk remedies, it is recommended to use decoctions of disinfectant herbs: chamomile, calendula.

Prevention Tips

To avoid massive death of young animals, you need to follow simple recommendations.

Cleanliness in cells prevents the development of most infectious diseases, so disinfection should be carried out regularly.
Stomatitis is transmitted through dirty drinking bowls; it is necessary to keep them clean and change the water daily.
Infectious diseases can be introduced into the rabbitry from outside. To avoid this, install a disinfectant barrier. To do this, dig a hole in front of the entrance to the room and fill it with lime. This will help disinfect the shoes of farm employees.
It is necessary to monitor the quality of feed. High-quality feed strengthens the immunity of animals.
If a sick pet is identified, it is isolated from others, and the room is sanitized.

Rehabilitation of recovered rabbits

In rabbits who have had infectious stomatitis, the fur around the muzzle and in the submandibular region remains stuck together for a long time, often falls out, and small pustules appear on the skin.

Until the animal has recovered from the illness, a gentle feeding regimen is recommended:

In the first days, food is given in crushed form, in a mushy state;
after a few days you can feed vegetables cut into small pieces;
later greens and soft hay are allowed.

When the animal’s appearance returns to normal, health is fully restored, and the ability to eat concentrated feed returns, the rabbits can be returned to the herd.

Preparing plant materials for the winter

In spring and summer, birds get a lot of vitamins from greens and vegetables from the garden. In winter, poultry's immunity weakens. To support it, you need to harvest forbs for future use. Plants are harvested in the spring, when they contain the most useful substances.

The collected stems and leaves are laid out in a thin layer in the shade under a canopy, covered with a layer of gauze and dried for several days. The blanks are placed in canvas or paper bags and stored in a dry, well-ventilated place. In winter, dried greens, including dandelions, are added to wet mash.

Dried dandelions for chickens

How to protect rabbits from biting midges

Measures to prevent the disease consist of preventing infection of livestock.

What do we have to do:

regularly clean the rabbitry;
disinfect equipment, cages and paddocks;
avoid drafts and dampness in the impeller;
comply with space standards for keeping animals;
provide young animals and adults with varied and fresh food;
carry out deworming of animals;
conduct an inspection of the herd with a mandatory examination of the oral cavity;
do not allow animals that have had the infection to reproduce.

As a preventive measure when weaning young animals from a female, it is recommended to feed the rabbits with an iodine solution, the composition is prepared in a proportion of 5 ml/10 l.

Is it possible to give apples to rabbits and in what quantities, video and photos

Almost every novice breeder asks the question of whether it is possible to give apples to rabbits. Is this fruit useful for an eared friend, and in what quantity can it be added to the animal’s diet? And also what kind of apples are allowed?

What types of apples can you give?

In our country, these fruits ripen closer to August. Therefore, it is recommended to give this fruit to rabbits starting from this time of year. At the same time, keep in mind that July unripe fruits should not be given to the animal. The fact is that if a rabbit eats an unripe apple, there is a high probability that the animal will get an intestinal disorder.

For rabbit food, it is best to give fruits that ripen in your region of residence or in the south of Russia. As for fruits that can be purchased at any time of the year in the store, you should refuse to buy such apples.

The fact is that they contain a lot of different chemicals that increase the shelf life of the fruit and its external qualities. It is best to exchange imported fruits for homemade vegetables or special food that contains iron. Do not forget that foreign apples are dangerous not only for animals; it is better not to eat such fruits yourself.

Before giving a homemade apple to your rabbit, make sure there are no signs of rot or other defects. They can taste either sour or sweet, and in this case there is no difference, the main thing is that the animal eats them. At the same time, do not forget that before giving a treat to your long-eared pet, thoroughly rinse the apple tree fruit and dry it.

Another point that you need to pay attention to is that if you treated the wood with chemicals, then before giving the fruit to the animal, pour boiling water over it. And, of course, do not forget to cut the fruit and remove all the seeds from it for the convenience of the eared

Well, if you like to prepare apple juice for the winter, then feel free to send the squeezed pulp to the animal’s feeder

And, of course, do not forget to cut the fruit and remove all the seeds from it for the convenience of the eared one. Well, if you like to prepare apple juice for the winter, then feel free to send the squeezed pulp to the animal’s feeder.

How many apples can an eared one

So, above we considered the following question: can you feed rabbits apples?

Another point that is very important to consider is how much this fruit can be given to rabbits. First of all, it is worth emphasizing that it is necessary to feed rabbits in moderation.

This applies to absolutely all products.

If you feed food in large quantities, the animal may experience an upset stomach. Well, as for apples, they are gradually being introduced into the daily diet. Rabbits are fed these fruits according to the following scheme:

on the first day they give 1/4 of the fruit;
then, a break is taken for several days to track the reaction of the big-eared one to the eaten fruit; if everything is fine, then for the first week they give a slice of apple every day;
starting next week, the animal will be given half a piece of fruit per day; They feed this way for another week, while monitoring the animal’s well-being;
and starting from the third week, the eared pet is given a whole fruit as food, but every other day.

At the same time, do not forget that if you gave the rabbit an apple during the day, then it is better to give green grass in the evening. You should not feed green matter and fruits at the same time, so as not to provoke intestinal upset in the animal. Do not forget that such a defect is very dangerous for the eared one.

Another question that novice rabbit breeders ask is whether rabbits can be given pears.

Features of feeding

In any case, it is necessary to follow a well-constructed scheme for caring for animals, provide them with proper living conditions and be prepared to feed the livestock.

Under natural conditions, rabbits obtain their food by grazing in meadows. The gastrointestinal tract of these animals is adapted for the constant process of digestion. In the absence of nutritious food and fresh grass, individuals begin to lose weight and become ill. In this regard, when keeping rabbits, the basis of their diet should be a variety of fresh, juicy herbs. It is best to use wild herbs instead of store-bought mixes.

The optimal diet consists of the following herbs: burdock, clover and dandelion. However, you should be careful with some types of plants. For example, you can safely give only young shoots of quinoa and in small quantities. Increasing the percentage of quinoa in the diet can lead to hyperdevelopment of intestinal microflora, which will lead to bloating and disruption of digestive processes.

Currently, there is conflicting evidence about the possibility of including some wild herbs in the diet. One of them is milkweed.

Feeding milkweed to rabbits

Euphorbia, or Euphorbia, belongs to one of the most numerous genera of the plant world. It has over 2000 plant species. Among them there are both herbaceous forms, shrubs and trees. Approximately 160 species are distributed on the territory of the Russian Federation.

What should not be in the diet: prohibited foods

Due to their undeveloped stomach muscles and very long intestines, rabbits must always be provided with sufficient food. Each new portion of food pushes what was previously eaten through the intestines. To avoid stagnation, the rabbit must constantly eat something. However, it is also impossible to overfeed animals, and if there is often food left in the feeders, then the amount of food consumed should be reduced.

Not all grass is good for rabbits.

Rabbits have a very fast metabolism, so they eat a lot. But not every food is healthy. There are some foods that can be extremely dangerous for them. So what should you not feed rabbits? Let's try to figure it out.

Vegetables and fruits

Rabbits love succulent food, which includes vegetables and fruits. But they should not make up more than a third of the total daily diet. An excess of such feed can lead to bloating, disruption of the stomach and intestines, and in some cases, the death of the animal.

Be careful when feeding rabbits dried vegetables in winter. They swell in the stomach, which can lead to intestinal blockage.

Do not give boiled, fried or stewed vegetables to rabbits.

As for fruits, the choice is small. Rabbits can only be offered dried apples and pears, in small quantities and not often. Moreover, it is better to dry them yourself, after removing the core. Under no circumstances should rabbits be fed any exotic fruits.

You should not give fresh berries to rabbits, they cause fermentation in the intestines.

Plants

The rabbit's diet should contain three types of green food: medicinal herbs, meadow herbs and garden herbs. Freshly cut, wet grass should not be given. Eating wet grass can cause bloating and diarrhea. To avoid unpleasant consequences, it must be well dried and slightly wilted. To do this, fresh grass is left for several hours in a shady, well-ventilated place. If you cut the grass in dry weather, without dew or rain, then you can do without drying

It is important to know what grass you should not feed rabbits

Branches that are so necessary for healthy teeth and stomach must also be chosen with care. Animals should not be given branches of wild rosemary, apricot, bird cherry, wolf's bast and elderberry.

Limit the consumption of cherry and cherry branches.

Poisonous and dangerous plants:

horse sorrel;
aconite;
quinoa;
spurge;
Melissa;
wild radish;
digitalis;
lily of the valley;
marsh horsetail;
buttercup;
sleep-grass;
celandine;
henbane;
nightshade;
hellebore;
hemlock;
lumbago;
dope.

Milk products

Contrary to popular belief that milk protein is good for animals, this is not the case with rabbits. Only suckling babies need milk before and after vaccination. And for adult rabbits, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese and cheese are prohibited. Protein deficiency can be easily compensated with barley and dry yellow peas (in small quantities).