Rabbit Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs is a fairly common complicationof several diseases. The course of the disease is rapid and mayprove fatal in three or four days. The animal usually has noappetite, and sits huddled and quiet. Temperature and res-piration rate are increased, and in some cases there is a waterydischarge from the eyes. The lungs after death are seen to bepartly or completely darkish in colour and firm to the touchinstead of pinkish and soft. The affected portions will sink inwater. There is no reliable treatment for pneumonia, but theanimal should be placed in a warm dry hutch where there isplenty of air.

Pneumonia often arises from changed conditions such assubjection to draughts or damp, and should not be confusedwith congestion of the lungs wherein these arc bright red incolour due to excess blood. This condition is as common aspneumonia, but the causes arc not entirely known.

Chilling undoubtedly causes deaths for which there appearslittle explanation. Young rabbits still in the nest are particu-larly susceptible. Very young rabbits often die overnight,whilst older ones may appear sick for a day or two and thendie. Symptoms vary a good deal but generally scouring ispresent as well as slobbering. There is congestion of the lungs.No treatment is available but prevention lies in giving adequateprotection to stock. When a doe does not line her nest suffici-ently with fur, then additional fur should be given.

Paralysis may be due to a number of factors, such as fractureof the spine, muscular paralysis through excess cod liver oilfeeding, by a very rare nervous condition known as syringo-myelia, by poisoning, and sometimes as a result from chilling.Usually the animal will be somewhat constipated. There is nosatisfactory treatment except in the case of excess cod liver oilfeeding, but the animal may recover if placed in a warm dryhutch and carefully fed.