Rabbit sneezes: possible causes and methods of treatment, methods of prevention

When a rabbit often sneezes, this is how an unconditioned reflex to the impact of an irritating factor manifests itself. Many owners immediately suspect a cold or a respiratory infection, but sneezing can also be the result of a reaction to allergens, stress, inappropriate food, dry air, dirt and dust. They say about a catarrhal or infectious origin of sneezing, when the animal's he alth worsens, mucous discharge comes from the nose.

Why does a rabbit sneeze many times in a row and what should I do?

To properly treat a rabbit, you need to find out why he is sneezing.To do this, it is necessary to analyze the symptoms, assess the well-being of the animal and the environment. A sick rabbit should be immediately removed from relatives, consult a veterinarian. If the disease turns out to be infectious, then an unisolated rabbit can infect neighbors. The sick pet is fed with high quality, they give a large percentage of vitamin fresh greens.

Stress

It's not uncommon for rabbits to sneeze because of a stressful situation. Moreover, in this case, the symptoms are supplemented by nasal secretions and lacrimation. The danger is that the pet can smear the discharge on the muzzle, and they will become a substrate for the reproduction of pathogens, provoke an infectious disease.

To successfully treat a rabbit, you do not need to call a veterinarian, give any medication.

You just need to watch the animal, find out why it sneezes. This may be, for example, relocation to another cage or neighborhood with aggressive animals.It is enough to eliminate the stress factor, and if this is not possible, then wait until the pet gets used to the new conditions. And then the he alth of the animal gradually returns to normal.

Bad containment conditions

Rabbits are quite sensitive to environmental conditions, constantly sneezing with improper care and maintenance. Factors that cause sneezing:

• increase in air humidity;
• dusty rabbitry;
• dirt, sewage, rotting food particles in a cage;
• irritating odors;
• irregular change of water, food and bedding;
• The light in the rabbitry is too intense.

In order for the rabbit to stop sneezing, the provocative factor must be eliminated. Improper care can lead to the development of serious infectious pathologies in rabbits, so cage cleaning should be done regularly, and keeping conditions should be maintained.

Dry air

Rabbits sneeze not only because of too humid, but also because of dry air, which irritates the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. An inflammatory process begins in the mucous tissues, accompanied by sneezing, but without snot.

Rabbits usually sneeze in the heat of summer or during the winter months when the heater is running in the rabbitry. We have to increase the humidity of the air by placing bowls of water, hanging wet rags, regularly airing the room.

Wrong diet

Rabbits don't often sneeze from unsuitable food, but if such a problem occurs, then a runny nose and symptoms of poisoning are observed. The food is not toxic to the pet, it's just the body reacts to it that way. To fix the problem, you just need to return to the old diet.

Allergy

Anything can be an allergen that causes a pet to sneeze:

• bedding;
• feed;
• Means for cleaning and disinfecting the cage;
• aerosols to eliminate unpleasant odors in the rabbitry.

Find out what negatively affects the animal, it is necessary experimentally. To do this, gradually add new food, partially replacing the used one. They monitor whether the allergic reaction in the rabbit persists or disappears. A similar manipulation is done with other potential allergens.

Medicines against allergies are prescribed by a veterinarian. And the owner must carry out a thorough cleaning in the rabbitry, remove all sources of unpleasant odor, put aerosol and cleaning products away from the cages.

Nose injury

When a rabbit breathes heavily, sneezes, snorts, then there is a possibility that he has injured his nose, or a foreign object is stuck in his nasal cavity. In this case, you should immediately contact the veterinary clinic. Self-treatment is unacceptable, this can lead to a deterioration in the condition of the animal.

Infectious diseases

When a rabbit sneezes due to an infectious disease, the owner observes many specific symptoms:

• loss of appetite;
• lethargy, weakness;
• tarnishing and disheveled coat;
• temperature increase;
• excessive lacrimation;
• runny nose, secretion of clear or purulent mucus;
• heavy and hoarse breathing, coughing.

Viral and bacterial diseases are treated with medicines prescribed by a veterinarian.

Self-selection of treatment is unacceptable. The wrong medicines can be useless and even harmful to the animal.

When a pet sneezes from infectious rhinitis, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed that will work on any possible pathogen. Common medicines:

• "Baytril" (0.3 ml per 1 kg of weight);
• "Marbocil" 2% (0.1 ml per 1 kg);
• "Veracin" (0.1 ml per 1 kg);
• "Chloramphenicol" (2-5 mg per 1 kg).

The duration of the course is set by the veterinarian. Drugs are administered intramuscularly, sometimes they are additionally instilled into the nasal passages.

To make the rabbit stop sneezing and coughing as soon as possible, it is recommended to do inhalations using essential oils of fennel, eucalyptus, sage, mint.To do this, pour 2 liters of hot water into the container, drip 5-6 drops of oil. The liquid is taken to the rabbitry when the intense ethereal smell dissipates. The container is placed next to the animal. She and the rabbit are covered with a large towel so that the healing vapors do not dissipate, leaving a gap for air to enter.

Inhalations are carried out no longer than a week, otherwise the mucous tissues of the rabbit respiratory tract will dry out. The procedure is carried out 3 times a day. In the first days of treatment, the pet usually sneezes more often, his snot flows even more abundantly. No need to worry: by the end of the week, the rhinitis should disappear.

How to prevent the problem from occurring

To prevent diseases that cause rabbits to sneeze, the following rules must be followed:

• timely clean the cage from uneaten food, dust and dirt;
• change the water in the drinker daily;
• regularly change bedding in cages;
• avoid drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations in the rabbitry;
• monitor the degree of humidity;
• buy quality food free of questionable ingredients and impurities;
• introduce new food gradually, observing the reaction of animals;
• eliminate all possible allergens;
• vaccinate pets every six months;
• periodically give animals herbal decoctions to strengthen immunity.

Decorative rabbit sneezes for the same reasons as its meat counterparts. Therefore, treatment measures should be similar.

If a rabbit sneezes frequently, it cannot be ignored. Sneezing can be a sign of both frivolous and dangerous changes in the body. Therefore, a pet that sneezes should be taken to the veterinarian immediately. Proper treatment prescribed by a specialist will help to avoid complications.

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