Rabbits are no longer simple farm animals to become, more and more often, endearing pets that have the most suitable characteristics for many people.
A rabbit is obviously very different from a dog or a cat, and the attention it requires is also different, however, this does not mean that it does not need specific care, since like all animals, You need optimal he alth conditions to be able to experience a state of complete well-being.
Gastrointestinal disorders in rabbits can be as frequent as they are serious, since they can lead to dehydration and starvation, for this reason, in this article on our site we show you the causes of diarrhea in rabbits and its treatment.
What to do if my rabbit has diarrhea
When a rabbit suffers from diarrhoea, regardless of the cause that is causing it, it is suffering from enteritis, that is, an inflammation of the enterocytes or intestinal cellsthat are essential for proper assimilation of nutrients.
As we will see later, enteritis can be caused by various factors, but it can also be idiopathic, that is, without any known cause, in any case, the most important thing is that this sign has a rate of mortality that oscillates between 10 and 20% of the affected animals.
Diarrhea can lead to serious dehydration and malnutrition, so if we notice that our pet suffers from it, we should go to the vet as soon as possible.
Symptoms of diarrhea in rabbits
How to identify diarrhea in rabbits? How to know if a rabbit has diarrhea? Although the most obvious clinical sign is the observation of stools that are softer than normal, there are different degrees or types of diarrhea in rabbits:
- Soft stool
- Profuse stools
- Liquid stool
In addition, another of the most obvious ways to detect diarrhea in rabbits is to see that the legs, theanal area and perianal are stained . Other symptoms that we can find in rabbits with diarrhea:
- Hypovolemia
- Anorexy
- Dehydration
Causes of diarrhea in rabbits
Why does my rabbit have diarrhea? The causes of diarrhea in rabbits are diverse, being able to be infectious or not, and acquiring varying degrees of severity depending on the underlying pathology.
Let's see what are the most common problems that cause this symptom:
- Coccidiosis: this is an infectious disease caused by parasites that mainly affects those rabbits subjected to the stress caused by the weaning phase. These parasites can specifically affect the intestine or the liver, but in both cases we are dealing with a serious disease that manifests itself with diarrhea, among other symptoms.
- Excess protein diets: The rabbit intestine is normally colonized by Clostridium Spiriforme and Escherichia Coli bacteria, however, when the rabbit ingests too much protein through its diet, these bacteria have the ability to proliferate and produce a toxin that will cause diarrhea.
- Diets low in fiber and high in carbohydrates: on the one hand, given the low intake of fiber, intestinal motility becomes slower and the feces remain in contact with the intestinal mucosa for a longer time. This fact, together with a high amount of carbohydrates, favors the proliferation of the bacteria that we have mentioned previously.
- Intake of antibiotics: lincomycin, penicillin, ampicillin and erythromycin cause diarrhea in rabbits because they very specifically attack Certain bacteria and germs that are not sensitive to this type of antibiotic have the possibility of proliferating massively, since they also no longer have bacterial competition, since the other bacteria that controlled their colonies have been eliminated by the antibiotics.
- Sudden changes in the diet: any abrupt change in the diet will cause changes in the rabbit's intestinal flora, which will cause an acute episode of diarrhea.
- Idiopathic: As mentioned above, diarrhea in rabbits may have an unknown cause.
In the mildest case, diarrhea can be caused by a change in diet, but in the most serious case, we could be facing coccidiosis, which is highly lethal for the rabbit, so we want to remind you again of the importance of urgently go to the vet.
Diagnosis of diarrhea in rabbits
To know for sure if we are dealing with a case of a rabbit with diarrhea, we must go to our trusted veterinarian. There you will be given a diagnosis based on:
- Clinic history.
- Physical exam.
Treatment for diarrhea in rabbits
What to do if my rabbit has diarrhoea? What can be given to a rabbit with diarrhea? The treatment of diarrhea in rabbits will depend on the factor that is causing it, although it is generally advisable to start fluid therapy that may include semi-solid feeding via a syringe, since the priority objective will be to avoid dehydration and starvation.
Depending on the underlying cause, the following treatments may be used:
- In the event of an inadequate diet, such as a diet high in protein and carbohydrates and low in fiber: they should be progressively introduce changes in feeding until we achieve a suitable and balanced diet for our rabbit.
- In case of antibiotics that cause diarrhoea, by veterinary prescription: we must prevent this side effect with a feed based on forage and supplements vitamins.
- In the event of a sudden change in diet: we must provide fluid therapy, try to stabilize the diet and a supplement may be necessary nutritional to restore the intestinal flora.
- In case of coccidiosis: the veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic from the group of sulphonamides, and it will also be necessary to start a semi-solid diet administered by syringe.
If you are wondering what I can give my rabbit if it has diarrhea or perhaps if there are home treatments for diarrhea in rabbits, the best option is to go to the vet and decide not to apply any treatment to your rabbit. rabbit without supervision.
Prevention of diarrhea in rabbits
Now that you know what to do and what to give to a rabbit with diarrhea, let's talk about prevention. Prevent diarrhea in rabbitsIt will not always be possible but using some simple hygienic-dietary measures we will protect our rabbit as much as possible:
- The rabbit should always have hay and fresh water at
- It is important to supplement their diet with snacks rich in fiber, always specifically for rabbits.
- We must keep the cage in optimal hygiene conditions.
- We must provide our rabbit with a calm environment to prevent stressful situations.
- If it is necessary to make a change in the diet, it must be done progressively.
- It is important to observe the rabbit daily to detect any pathological signs as early as possible.
