Why do rabbits die: reasons and what to do at home

Raising rabbits is a complex and responsible process that requires compliance with a number of conditions. Sometimes animals face serious pathologies that can lead to their death. The provoking factors are infectious and non-infectious diseases. Therefore, many farmers are interested in the question: why exactly do rabbits die?

Main causes of death

When breeding rabbits, farmers may face mass mortality or death of one animal. There can be many reasons for such problems.The main factors include lack of care, the use of poor-quality feed, unsanitary conditions, and water pollution. Violation of the conditions for keeping animals increases the likelihood of infection with infectious and non-infectious pathologies.

To avoid mortality and reduce the number of sick animals, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the main rules and conditions for keeping rabbits. It is important to study the symptoms of diseases. This will help to provide timely assistance to animals.

HFCD (fever)

This is one of the most common pathologies. The disease is spread by airborne droplets, through feces, contaminated products. Pathology can be acute or asymptomatic. Most often, animals become infected in the summer. A day after infection, they die. There are no effective methods of treatment. In order for the rabbit not to die from VHD, it must be vaccinated. The first time the vaccine is given at 1.5 years, then repeated at intervals of 6 months.

If the animal suddenly died, an autopsy must be done. Otherwise, there is a risk of losing the entire livestock.

Myxomatosis (distemper)

This is a dangerous pathology that is transmitted by airborne droplets. It can also be spread through insect bites. A lactating female rabbit can infect young rabbits through milk.

At the initial stage, the disease is asymptomatic, after which bumps form on the head and ears. The duration of the disease is 1-2 weeks. Then the rabbits die one by one. There are no effective treatments. Vaccination helps to avoid illness.

Pasteurellosis

This is a viral infection that is transmitted through the air, through food or water. In this case, there is a cough, respiratory failure, sneezing. The rabbit's appetite worsens, the temperature rises, pus is released from the mouth.

If nothing is done, there is a risk of death of the animal. Antibacterial agents and sulfonamides will help to cope with the problem. If you help the rabbit in time, he will survive. For prevention, vaccination is carried out from the age of one month. Adult animals need to be vaccinated 2 times a year.

Coccidiosis

The causative agent of the disease is coccidia, which provokes damage to the liver and intestines. Infection is carried out through low-quality feed, contaminated water and feces. Distributors are humans and animals.

A sick rabbit has a loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, diarrhea. In order for the animal not to die, it needs to be given antibiotics. For prevention, it is worth adhering to the rules of hygiene, disinfecting cells. Dead animals are recommended to be burned.

Meteorism

The animal can die from intestinal distension. Rabbits are characterized by high sensitivity of this organ. The cause of the pathology is considered a sharp change in the digestive microflora. This is due to high humidity and juiciness of the products.

The main signs of flatulence are apathy and loss of appetite. With the development of fermentation in the intestine, its walls swell. As a result, bacteria accumulate in the esophagus, its walls are destroyed, which leads to the death of the animal.

Stomatitis

With this viral infection, there is a strong production of saliva, the tongue swells, the mucous membranes of the oral cavity redden. Also, the rabbit has general weakness and a sharp decrease in weight. Treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian. If you do not help the rabbit in time, this will provoke his death.

Cysticercosis

The provoking factor of the pathology is the infection of the rabbit with cestode larvae. They affect the liver and cause the development of peritonitis. It is impossible to cure pathology. It provokes the death of the animal. It is possible to identify the disease only after death. Dead rabbits have to be burned.

Tularemia and listeriosis

Rats, bedbugs, ticks are considered carriers of diseases. Pathologies are not treated. It is possible to diagnose them only after opening. In this case, the carcasses of dead rabbits must be burned.

Listeriosis is a danger to humans, because all individuals that have come into contact with a dead rabbit are destroyed.

Other possible causes of rabbit death

Sometimes rabbits die for no apparent reason. Common causes of problems include the following:

1. Wrong diet. Even the he althiest animal can die as a result of eating poisonous plants. Also, an excess of certain vegetables leads to this - cabbage, carrots, beets, cucumbers.
2. Ear mites. At the same time, the animals hit themselves with their paws on the ears. Then they weaken and die.
3. Lack of vitamins. Avitaminosis provokes depletion of the body and causes the death of the animal. Most often, the problem occurs in autumn or winter. Domestic rabbits are also susceptible to it.
4. Miazy. In this case, the flies lay their larvae on damaged areas on the body of animals. This is especially dangerous when the skin is affected by urine or feces.

Little rabbits up to 1 month old do not face pathologies. They are distinguished by strong immunity, which they receive from their mother. Hypothermia is believed to be a common cause of death for cubs.

Hunger is another factor. Deficiency of mother's milk in the early days can lead to the death of rabbits. With its deficiency, it is necessary to improve the nutrition of the female or remove some of the cubs to another rabbit.

How to keep rabbits from dying

To create a comfortable environment for animals, it is recommended to provide the right conditions for keeping:

1. Make a slatted floor so that waste does not accumulate. It is important to ensure proper air circulation in the room.
2. Systematically remove the straw around the cage. This is required to prevent the reproduction of worms.
3. Timely remove water and leftover food. This helps to prevent the growth of bacteria. It is important to keep water and food fresh at all times.
4. Examine animals systematically. For young animals, this should be done daily. Adults are examined at intervals of 2 weeks.
5. Regularly disinfect the room.

Timely vaccination is important. After weaning the rabbits from the mother, there is a high risk of infection of the animals. Therefore, it is recommended to make such vaccinations:

• from VGBK - done in 1.5 months;
• from myxomatosis.

Today there are complex vaccines that protect animals from dangerous infections. In this case, you must follow these rules:

• stick to the vaccination schedule;
• buy drugs in veterinary pharmacies;
• control the expiration date;
• vaccinate only he althy animals.

The death of rabbits may be associated with dangerous pathologies. To avoid such problems, it is important to ensure that animals are properly cared for and vaccinated in a timely manner.

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