Discuss the prevention

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• Discuss the prevention treatment of the major
  diseases of rabbits, ferrets, and pocket pets

p. 230
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RABBITS
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• Enteritis
• Intestinal tract inflammation that is probably
  the most common cause of death in rabbits.
  Stress, unsanitary conditions, and high energy
  feeds all contribute to the disease.
• Symptoms Sick animals will have diarrhea stained
  with blood. Animals will stop eating, but drink
  lots of water and grind their teeth.
• There is almost 100 mortality rate

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• Prevention is best accomplished through proper
  environment, sanitary conditions, feeding rations
  that are high in fiber and lower in energy, and
  control of rodents and birds that may carry the
  disease.
• Treatment when applicable is through broad
  spectrum antibiotics.

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• Snuffles
• The disease is aggravated by stressful conditions
  such as poor sanitation, poor ventilation,
  changing temperatures, shipping, or show
  conditions.
• Symptoms persistent sneezing with a white
  colored nasal discharge.
• Prevention and treatment Reduce stress through
  proper environment.

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• Mastitis
• Inflammation of mammary tissue
• Mastitis may cause nursing problems. Nursing baby
  rabbits may bite the nipples when they are unable
  to nurse, and nursing mothers may refuse to nurse
  the young.
• Prevention and treatment Treat by removing
  concentrates from the diet for 72 hours. When
  widespread cases in the rabbitry exist, clean and
  disinfect all nesting boxes.

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• Weepy eye
• Inflammation of conjunctiva mucus
• membrane lining of the eyelid and eyeball.
• Prevention and treatment Treat with ophthalmic
  ointment containing sulfonamides or antibiotics
  two to three times a day for three to four days.

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Conjunctivitis in Rabbits

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• Syphilis
• A disease resulting from infection with the
  spirochete (a bacterium) Treponema pallidum
• If syphilis is not properly treated, it can cause
  brain, nerve, and tissue damage
• Prevention is the best and accomplished by not
  mating affected animals

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• Wry Neck
• Condition caused by inflammation of the inner.
  Head tilted to the side is the most common
  symptom. Often found where snuffles is also
  present.
• Prevention and treatment Best accomplished by
  controlling upper respiratory diseases in the
  rabbitry.

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• Infectious Myxomatosis
• Disease which infects rabbits. It is caused by
  the myxoma virus.
• Control wild population and burn and bury dead
  animals
• At first, normally the disease is visible by
  lumps and puffiness around the head and genitals.
  It then may progress to acute conjunctivitis and
  possibly blindness. rabbits become listless, lose
  appetite, and develop a fever. Death occurs in 13
  days

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• Papillomatosis
• Skin tumors that develop after an infection from
  the Shope Papilloma virus. warts
• Tumors develop mainly on nose, ears, eyelids, and
  anus.
• Isolate infected animals and cull them from the
  herd

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• Ringworm
• Isolate infected animals and apply daily
  applications of anti-fungal ointment to the
  ringworm. For widespread problems, disinfect and
  apply powdered sulfide to nest boxes.

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• Ear mites
• Symptoms shaking of the head, flapping the ears,
  and scratching at the ears with the hind feet.
• Prevention and treatment Treat by applying
  mineral oil to the ears for three
• days and repeating at 10 day intervals or use
  medicated ear drops. Clean and disinfect all
  equipment and nest boxes.

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Severe case of mites
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• Pinworms (Parasites)
• Pinworms reside in the cecum and large
• intestine
• Loss of weight, failure to gain weight
• Prevention keeping dogs and cats out of the
  rabbitry as well as practicing good sanitation
  and management.

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• Wet dewlaps
• The dewlap usually gets wet in the water bowl,
  the fur gets matted, and then infection sets in.
• Prevent the problem by using Automatic waterers
  or water bottles.
• Clip the infected fur and treat with antibiotic
  ointment.

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• Fur chewing
• Pulling of fur from itself or other rabbits
  caused by simple boredom, a nutrient deficiency,
  and a low-fiber diet.
• Prevention and treatment Best by feeding hay or
  straw to add fiber to the diet.
• Adding magnesium oxide to the ration also helps.

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• Hutch Burn
• Chapped or burning condition of the external
  genital area of doe.
• Caused by sitting in dirty, wet, urine soaked
  bedding.
• Prevention and treatment Keeping bedding clean.
  Treatment is with antibiotic creams.

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• Sore Hocks
• Ulcerated area on the bottom of the foot pads
  most often associated with rough wire cage floors
  and size of foot pad that doesnt support the
  weight of animal.
• Large breeds with long foot pads are most often
  affected.
• Prevention and treatment Get off wire and place
  on a solid surface. Apply astringents to the sore
  pads. (Astringents include petroleum jelly, bag
  balm for cows udders, and human hemorrhoid
  ointments and medications).

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• Malocclusion
• Rabbits teeth grow continously
• If a rabbits teeth are misaligned they cannot
  wear down properly - result in root and jaw
  infections, inability to eat, and pain.
• Temporary treatment is accomplished by trimming
  the teeth. (done by a vet!)
• Prevention is by avoiding using animals with
  malocclusion for breeding purposes

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HAMSTERS
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Wet tail
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• Wet tail also called enteritis
• Enteritis is caused by poor sanitation, bacteria,
  viruses, and diet.
• Symptoms wetness around the tail and rear of the
  animal, caused by a runny diarrhea. A high death
  rate occurs within 2 days of symptoms appearing.
  The disease is most often associated with poor
  sanitation caused by general neglect and poor
  care..

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• Wet Tail
• Prevention and treatment Wet tail, Bacillus
  piliformis and Salmonella, and many diseases
  Change and disinfect spoiled bedding, cages and
  equipment and isolate infected animals.
• Animals often do not respond well to treatment

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• Common diarrhea
• Caused by incorrect diet with overabundance of
  green leafy materials, vegetables, or fruits.
  Should not be confused with serious infections.
• Prevention and treatment Correct the diet by
  removing green leafy vegetables and fruits and
  feeding dry grains and seeds.

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• Fleas and lice
• Description Common among hamsters especially if
  other small animals are near.
• Clean cages and use flea powder recommended for
  cats (dog flea powder is too strong and may
  result in an overdose).

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GERBILS

• Gerbils are hardy and seldom affected by disease

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• COLDS most common
• Symptoms loss of appetite, constant sneezing,
  and runny eyes and nose. Avoid changing the
  temperature, drafts, damp condition, and
  overcrowding.
• Prevention and treatment Best treatment is to
  reduce stress caused by overcrowding (gerbils
  need more cage space than hamsters), avoid
  drafts, humidity, and temperature fluctuations.

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• Red nose
• Common condition caused by Staphylococcus
  bacteria. Animal will recover without any
  medication. Antibiotics are available.
• Symptoms hair loss and red, swollen areas of the
  skin around the nose and muzzle.
• Gerbils mucus can be red in color
• Gerbils also chew on EVERYTHING so their nose may
  be irritated from rubbing while chewing
• Try switching to aspen bedding

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• Tyzzers disease
• Illness that can cause cell death in the liver
  and intestinal tract of many small rodents.
• Caused by bacteria
• Symptons - watery diarrhea, staining around the
  anal area, depression, dehydration, lethargy, and
  scruffy hair coats. It is more frequently and
  likely to cause acute death (within 48 hours of
  the first signs) in young animals or those
  stressed by overcrowding, poor hygiene, extreme
  environmental temperatures and humidity,
  parasitic infections, or malnutrition
• Treatment is usually not effective

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• External Parasites
• Dust with flea powder recommended for cats or
  small animals and brush it into the fur. Allow 30
  minutes and brush the powder out of the fur.
  Disinfect and dust cages also.

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• Fits or Seizures
• Triggered by an unfamiliar stimulus (like being
  placed in a new environment) or by being
  overexcited.
• Simply leave the gerbil alone in its cage
• No treatment is necessary

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Rats Mice
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• Respiratory disease
• Symptoms include nasal discharge, snuffling,
  rattled breathing, rubbing the eyes and nose,
  titled head, incoordination, and circling.
• Prevent with proper ventilation and good
  sanitation. Remove contaminated feed, provide
  clean bedding, and maintain a draft free,
  constant temperature with low humidity. Treat
  with antibiotics added to water. Isolate and
  eliminate affected animals if antibiotics added
  to the drinking water is ineffective.

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• External parasites
• Treat lice and mites with flea powder every three
  to four days allowing the dust to stay on the
  animal for about 30 minutes at the time.

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GUINEA PIGS
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• Common cold respiratory diseases
• Immediate treatment with broad-spectrum
  antibiotics accompanied with increased Vitamin C

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• Neck swellings
• isolate animals, drain abscesses and clean the
  area with Neosporin, Mycitracin Ointment, or
  Panalog followed by warm compresses to speed
  healing.

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• Toxemia
• Feed a high quality diet to the pregnant female
  and add ½ teaspoon of Vitamin C in the water
  bottle.

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• External Parasites
• Use flea powder recommended for cats or small
  animals

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CHINCHILLAS
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• Chinchillas need proper nutrition, and a clean,
  dry, draft-free environment with low stress to
  avoid health problems.
• Provide adequate ventilation, avoid temperatures
  above 80F or cold drafts and high humidity.

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• Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis)
• symptoms swelling and redness around the eyes,
  sensitivity to light, watering, and pus
  formation.
• Isolate infected animals, wash eyes gently with
  warm boric acid solution and use ophthalmic
  medications. Clean and disinfect cages and feed
  containers.

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• Inner ear infection (otitis)
• Symptoms twisting and lowering of the head,
  hanging head to one side, and running in a
  circle.
• Prevention and treatment Prevent by avoiding
  drafty, cool environmental
• conditions. Clean the ear with warm boric acid
  solution and treat with ear drops.

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• Pneumonia
• Symptoms listlessness, failure to eat, breathing
  difficulty, and swollen abdomen.
• Prevention and treatment Prevent by eliminating
  cold, drafty, and high humidity conditions and
  treat immediately with aureomycin, penicillin, or
  other antibiotics.

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• Intestinal Infections (Enteritis)
• Intestinal tract inflammation
• Symptoms Sick animals will have diarrhea stained
  with blood. Animals will stop eating, but drink
  lots of water and grind their teeth
• Prevent with clean water, fresh food, and
  vaccinate

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• Uterine Infection
• Uterus becomes infected by bacteria
• Uterus becomes tender, animal shows signs og
  discomfort. Animal will miscarriage.
• Isolate infected females and give injections of
  penicillin or other antibiotics

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• Ringworm
• Isolate infected animals and apply daily
  application of antifungal medicine to the area

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• Impaction
• Lower digestive system becomes tightly packed
  with food material or feces. Then followed by
  diarrhea.
• Caused by poor quality feed, stress, and poor
  nutrition. Animal is often humped with chin
  resting between its front feet.
• Prevention and treatment Give a dropper full of
  mineral oil daily, or add up to three dropperfuls
  of grapefruit juice to the animals diet

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• Fur Chewing
• Pulling of fur from itself or other animals
  caused by simple boredom, a nutrient deficiency,
  and a low-fiber diet.
• Prevent by giving ample room, good nutrition, and
  a good environment
• Adding magnesium oxide to the ration also helps.

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• Convulsions
• When an animals body shakes rapidly and
  uncontrollably.
• During convulsions, the person's muscles contract
  and relax repeatedly
• Add calcium or Vitamin B to the diet with calcium
  gluconate, calcium lacate, dicalcium phosphate,
  and bone meal or give injections of calcium
  gluconate, thiamine, and B-complex vitamins

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• Mastitis
• Inflammation of mammary tissue
• Mastitis may cause nursing problems. Nursing
  babies may bite the nipples when they are unable
  to nurse, and nursing mothers may refuse to nurse
  the young
• Practice good cage sanitation, increase hay in
  the ration, and clip needle teeth of young

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FERRETS
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• Distemper
• A highly contagious viral disease, is a major
  problem and usually results in death. Symptoms
  include Discharge from the eyes and nose,
  breathing problems, and diarrhea.
• Vaccinate at 12 weeks of age and give boosters
  annually to prevent canine and feline distemper.
  Treatment is not affective.

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• Hemorrhagic enteritis
• Bloody diarrhea is commonly seen. Symptoms go
  off feed, bloody diarrhea, weight loss,
  dehydration, and possibly death.
• Prevention and treatment Treat with antibiotics
  and sulfur material.

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• Pasteurella Multocida
• Pasteurella multocida is the most common
  respiratory pathogen.
• Infection with the bacteria can result in
  rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, abscesses,
  and genital tract infections.
• Early treatment with antibiotics is helpful

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• Botulism
• Caused by toxin produced by bacteria.
• Symptoms include breathing difficulty and
  paralysis.
• Death can occur without symptoms.
• Keep food supply fresh.

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• Ear Mites
• Treat with eardrops recommended for cats and dogs

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• Mites and fleas
• Treated with flea dips and dusts recommended for
  cats and dogs