ANOREXIA in Rabbits




ANOREXIA in Rabbits


Anorexic rabbit poses a huge diagnostic challenge to the veterinary clinician and an economical threat to a farmer.
Anorexia in rabbits may be associated with pain of any sort or stress. A full clinical examination is required to determine the cause. The following treatment protocol can be instigated whilst investigations are underway.

The aim of treatment is to provide enough calories to prevent hepatic
lipidosis, to rehydrate the gastrointestinal contents, and to provide indigestible fibre to help promote peristalsis.

Treatment:
  • ·         Do all you can to prevent Anorexia and gut hypomotility. A source of indigestible fibre in the form of hay is essential. Always ensure good quality hay is available at all times.
  • ·         Keep the rabbit in an environmental temperature of less than 24oC.
  • ·         Fluid replacement. Ringer’s solution can be given by subcutaneous injection at 100 ml/kg per day or Oral administration of electrolytes and vitamin supplement.
  • ·         Analgesics or pain relievers
  • ·         ‘Bribe’ them with a few leafy greens like carrot leaves
  • ·         Ensure quality hay is always available
  • ·         Syringe feed with baby cereal three times a day (force feeding is important to prevent hepatic lipidosis which occurs immediately when a rabbit stops eating).
  • ·         Metoclopramide can be given at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg up to four times daily to stimulate normal gut motility.
  • ·         Antibitic therapy
  • ·         A probiotic such will help prevent caecal dysbiosis


Risk factors
  • ·         Obese rabbits
  • ·         Rabbits with fatty liver or with high energy demands such as pregnant or lactating does
  • ·         Physiological or psychological factors such as losing a companion
  • ·         Poor handling
  • ·         Stress
  • ·         Dehydration






.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to make hay for your rabbits

Image
How to make hay for your rabbits B. Tembani (Senior Animal Scientist) R. Kofi (Agribusiness Consultant)   Many farmers make hay for their livestock or for income and this has been happening for years. The process of making good quality hay is far from just cutting and baling. Efficiently processing hay results in good quality feed available for livestock-rabbits in this case. This module was developed to specifically for rabbit farmers, on how to make or purchase good quality hay for feeding their rabbits to achieve good selling weights. The objective when making hay is to capture and preserve nutrients in a storable form with minimum expenditure. This is mainly so because hay is the main feed in rabbitries, pellets being a supplement. Rabbits are fed nutritious hay to reduce; feed costs and incidence of enteritis/ diarrhoea.    What is hay?    In this module, we define hay as grass, legumes or other nutritious plants that have been cut
Read more

Bio-security in Livestock Production

Image
Bio-security in Livestock Production Bio-security is defined as procedures or measures designed to protect livestock against harmful biological or biochemical substances. Many livestock producers are concerned about diseases in confinement livestock operations. Under these systems, many animals are raised in close contact which increases the spread of diseases. Movement of humans from farm to farm with modernised equipment has also increased the likelihood of diseases transmission. As a result some commercial livestock producers have restricted access to visitors.  There are no vaccines for diseases like foot and mouth diseases (FMD) and avian flu, which leaves bio-security as the first line of defence. The recent outbreaks of the two diseases in the country, indicate a breach in bio-security. More than 200 000 chickens had to be destroyed last year during the outbreak with high economic losses.  Bio-security is everybody's responsibility on farm or factory.
Read more

POULTRY FARMING: BEGINNERS GUIDE TO KEEPING GUINEA FOWL

Image
Guinea fowl often generate mixed emotions, but apart from die-hard enthusiasts, anyone who has lived in close proximity to a bunch of guineas may well go with the second opinion. There’s no denying that guinea fowl are relatively easy to keep, providing you have plenty of space and no near neighbours. They are independent birds, self-sufficient foragers who will find much of their own food. Throughout the spring and summer they are productive layers – if you can find their eggs. Guinea fowl will lay anywhere and everywhere, particularly favouring large clumps of nettles. The eggs are deeply flavoured, with large golden yolks and surprisingly tough shells. They are smaller than standard chicken eggs – more like bantam size – but their richness makes up for this. Guinea fowl on fence Guinea fowl are often kept for their meat, which is regarded as a delicacy. They taste slightly gamey, although milder than pheasant, and a full-grown guinea fowl should just about feed four people. Th
Read more