Conjunctivitis in rabbits: causes and symptoms, how to treat at home

One of the main eye diseases of rabbits is inflammation of the conjunctiva or conjunctivitis. This is a dangerous condition that can lead to complications. Consider the causes of conjunctivitis in rabbits, the characteristic symptoms of infection, methods of treatment, both traditional and folk, what complications of infection can be. How to prevent eye infections in domestic rabbits.

Causes of occurrence

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and conjunctiva, which leads to various causes. The disease is dangerous because it can lead to complications, including blindness.

Mechanical

Rabbits often injure their eyes with blades of grass, stems, branches. Injuries also occur during fights, combing the eyes of the rabbit itself. Motes, dust, small particles of food, and fallen hair can get into the eyes. Damage to the conjunctiva and mucosa leads to inflammation.

Chemical

Damage to the eyes from drugs used to treat animals for parasites also causes inflammation. Any sufficiently aggressive substance, such as bathing products, that gets into the eyes of a rabbit can cause allergies and inflammation.

Bacteria and viruses

Infections in the eye of an animal, both specific and general, for example, pathogens of myxomatosis, rhinitis, stomatitis, otitis, can also cause inflammation.Viruses and bacteria can enter directly into the eyes, as well as from other organs located next to them - ears, throat, teeth.

Symptoms of disease

Signs of conjunctivitis in rabbits - eyelid redness, swelling, tears. Tears are a protective reaction of the body; with the help of a liquid, it tries to wash a foreign body out of the eyes. Pus may be released, which indicates the addition of an infection.

In an advanced case, when the inflammation lasts long enough, hair falls out on the eyelids, the eyelids stick together.

You can also notice a problem with the eyes by the changed behavior of the animal - the rabbit often scratches the eyes, becomes lethargic, and appetite decreases.

Methods of treating conjunctivitis in rabbits

You can treat conjunctivitis in rabbits at home. In the initial stages, the disease lends itself well to therapy with available means, both folk and special drugs.

To eliminate inflammation and related reactions of the body, it is necessary to quickly clear the eye of pus, foreign particles and begin treatment. The choice of method of treatment and means depends on the form of the disease. But, in any case, the sick animal is first placed separately from the rest, in a clean cage. The one where it was is completely cleaned and treated with a disinfectant.

In acute form

Acute conjunctivitis, or catarrhal, is manifested by characteristic symptoms, except for the discharge of pus. Antibiotics relieve inflammation well - gentamicin drops, furacilin solution, tetracycline ointment. Drops drip into the eye, the ointment is smeared on the eyelid. Furacilin solution is prepared by dissolving 1 tablet in 100 ml of warm water, and the affected area is washed, wiping it with a cotton swab dipped in liquid. Processing is carried out 5-7 days in a row, 3-4 times a day. It is important to complete the entire course of therapy so that the disease does not return.

Purulent conjunctivitis

Acute form, if the disease is not treated, often becomes purulent. The presence of pus indicates that an infection has been added to the inflammation. Therefore, purulent conjunctivitis should be treated with antibiotics. The treatment regimen and drugs are the same as for acute, but the duration of treatment is longer - at least a week. Sometimes injections of antibiotics may be needed if the disease is advanced.

Folk recipes

Conjunctivitis in the early stages can be successfully treated at home with infusions of calendula, chamomile, regular black strong tea brewed without sugar. Apply solutions of hydrogen peroxide, a pink solution of potassium permanganate, a 2% solution of boric acid. In the case of using chemicals, care must be taken not to exceed the concentration and that there are no undissolved crystals in the solution, which, once on the mucous membrane, will cause a burn.The duration of treatment is at least a week.

Folk remedies work well only if conjunctivitis is not running. In the middle and severe stage, there is no time to waste, veterinary drugs should be used immediately.

Possible Complications

Inflammation can lead to damage to the cornea, its clouding and the appearance of a walleye, which, in turn, will lead to poor vision and blindness. Especially often this happens with young animals and those whose immunity is weakened. In addition to affecting the eyes, conjunctivitis reduces the productivity of rabbits, because they lose their appetite, use up stored nutrients.

Prevention measures

Prevention consists of the following activities: daily cleaning from the cage of the remnants of branches eaten by rabbits, hard stalks of straw, hay. If possible, you need to feed the animals with soft grass and hay, make sure that they do not have sharp stems.Use soft straw for bedding.

Keep animals separate, especially males, to prevent fights and injury. Put the cages in a place where there are no drafts. Treat with disinfectants, after removing from rabbit cells. Timely treat other diseases, such as rhinitis, dental diseases, destroy ear mites.

Conjunctivitis in rabbits is easy to diagnose at home, as well as treat it. In any veterinary pharmacy, you can buy special preparations that contain antibiotics. When treating inflammation of the eyes, it is important to take it to the full course, do not skip treatments or shorten the course, despite the fact that after a couple of days of therapy, the condition of the rabbit's eyes may improve.

Recommended