Content
- Is scabies a common disease in rabbits?
- How is scabies infected?
- Symptoms of mange in rabbits
- 1. Sarcoptic mange
- 2. Psoroptic or ear mange
- 3. Notohedral mange
- 4. Demodectic mange
- 5. Chorioptic mange
- Diagnosis and treatment of mange in rabbits
Rabbits are disease-resistant animals most of the time, especially if they live in houses or apartments, although this does not mean they are immune to getting sick. This can happen if the care you provide to your rabbit is not the most adequate.
The rabbit is a silent and discreet animal, so detecting any disease is usually difficult. By nature, these small mammals usually hide the discomfort they feel so as not to show themselves weak to possible predators and, therefore, this behavior is maintained despite being in the safety of their home.
Scabies is an infection that can turn into an epidemic if it is not detected in time, so in this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about Symptoms and Treatment of Scabies in Rabbits, to learn to recognize this disease quickly and the best way to fight it.
Is scabies a common disease in rabbits?
if they meet in cold climates, it is unusual for rabbits to suffer from it. However, it can appear on farms or in wild animals, originating in burrows and in poor hygiene conditions. On the other hand, in more climates temperate and moist, is a very common disease, which can sometimes have consequences, not only for rabbits, but also for dogs and cats that are found around the sick animal.
Scabies can affect rabbits of any age, and often the animal is very skilled at hiding the symptoms of its discomfort, so it is necessary to be aware of changes in behavior, as scabies can lead a rabbit to death in just a few weeks.
How is scabies infected?
Usually contagion occurs from one infected rabbit to another. Initially, the rabbit contracts the disease due to a mite, and the contact with others of its same species favors the propagation of the parasites.
The mite's nymphs and larvae lodge in the skin, where they jump from one rabbit to another. Male mites live on the surface, while females open holes in the skin, where they lay their eggs and where larvae will grow. Each mite can live for a maximum of three weeks.
Direct contact with an infected rabbit is not the only form of contagion, it can also occur with parasites that are transported by the wind, by a mite-infected environment (The different types of this parasite are hardly visible to the human eye), and even by contact with a human who was in a rabbit farm where there is scabies.
Symptoms of mange in rabbits
Although rabbits are discreet animals, a behavior change can easily reveal that something is wrong with the animal's health. A lack of appetite, a negative change in the appearance of the fur, or a desire to be isolated, all indicate the appearance of some possible illness in your rabbit.
Now when it comes to scabies, the specific symptoms will depend on the type of scabies your pet has contracted, which are determined by the different parasites that trigger the disease:
1. Sarcoptic mange
is caused by the mite scabei sarcopts. The symptoms are:
- White scabs on eyes, ears, fingers, mouth and ears.
- Bad smell in affected areas.
- Itching, which makes the rabbit itch.
- Hair loss.
- Cracks in the skin, which cause bleeding.
2. Psoroptic or ear mange
It affects the pavilion of the ears, where the crusts are concentrated. You can see the mite on the animal's skin, called a psoropts. It presents symptoms such as:
- restlessness
- Itch
- crusts
- Wax accumulates in the ears
- Bad smell
- It can result in otitis
It can extend to the outside of the ear, causing hair loss and more itching.
3. Notohedral mange
is caused by cali notoheders and affects the head. The same symptoms can be seen as in the case of sarcoptic mange:
- crusts
- Bad smell
- hair loss
- Itch
4. Demodectic mange
is caused by Demodex cuniculi, attacking the deeper layers of the skin, which results in:
- dermis thickening
- Ear, neck and face injuries
- hair loss
5. Chorioptic mange
caused by the mite Chorioptes cuniculi, which also affects the ears but with a lighter intensity.
The itching that these different types of mange generate causes the rabbit to constantly scratch the areas where it has scabs, which triggers the appearance of other infections.
If ignored, the wounds can open up and get worse, getting pus and blood, which, together with the rabbit's malaise, can cause anemia and then death.
Diagnosis and treatment of mange in rabbits
The way to diagnose what type of mange your rabbit has is to take it to the veterinarian, who will perform a skin scraping to be able to determine the type of mite with observation through the microscope. If the parasitic infection is detected in time, treatment for scabies in rabbits is rapid, within a few weeks.
The treatment usually has as main drug ivermectin, which is given as subcutaneous injections according to the animal's weight. The improvement starts to be noticed after a week of starting the scabies treatment. Monosulfiram and fipronil are also used, the veterinarian will recommend the most ideal according to the type of scab and the extent of the disease.
Avoid "traditional" treatments or those recommended by inexperienced people at all costs. An example can be spraying kerosene on the rabbit to kill the mites, but in this case you will be poisoning the animal, putting its life in danger. As for possible home remedies, it is best to trust the expert's recommendations.
The pharmacological treatment must be accompanied by other care, for which it is necessary to maintain as usual forms of hygiene to avoid reinfection and preserve the animal's health:
- Provide the rabbit with good nutrition that allows it to be strong, as well as ventilated and clean spaces.
- Disinfect carpets, pillows, furniture and other places where mites can lodge.
- Bathe the rabbit with mite shampoo to kill the parasite on the skin.
- Correctly and periodically dispose of feces from cages and other spaces where the rabbit is.
- Disinfect and thoroughly clean your rabbit's cage and various objects.
- Eliminate hair debris, also from your brush.
- Keep affected rabbits away from healthy ones while undergoing treatment.
With these tips you will be able to identify and treat your rabbit's mange, in addition to preventing it.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.