There are two diseases that can be fatal to rabbits, these can be vaccinated against on an annual basis. The diseases are very easily spread by direct infection from other rabbits that are infected (domesticated or wild), and through secondary infection – people, shoes, clothing and even fleas.
This disease is caused by a pox virus that can be spread through rabbit and cat flea bites. House rabbits that may not even go outside are susceptible to catching “Myxi”. Symptoms include swelling of lips, eyes, insides of ears and around genitals. The swellings become progressive and in turn make it difficult to drink or eat.
Castrations can be completed at 5-6 months of age and reduce territorial, aggressive behaviour and eliminate unwanted pregnancies.
Spaying can be completed at 4 months of age and reduce territorial, aggressive behaviour and eliminate unwanted pregnancies. Having rabbits spayed can also prevent uterine cancer.
Rabbits' teeth grow continuously and are worn down through grinding their food up to eat. Misaligned teeth reduce the ability to keep the teeth at a suitable length, in turn this means teeth keep growing and thus cause soreness and ulceration.
You can book in to have the teeth assessed by a vet or nurse. They may be able to “clip” the teeth unless a more in depth dental is required with rasping on the molars.
Flystrike is a potentially fatal condition that can be seen in rabbits during milder weather. It occurs when flies are attracted to the urine, faeces and open wounds on your pet and lay eggs on your pet’s skin/ wounds. These eggs then develop in to maggots which bury themselves and feed off the skin.
It is important to keep your pets housing and their coat clean. Cleanliness minimises the risk of your rabbit developing fly strike. You can book your rabbit in for a “bunny de-matt” where the nurses will clean the area and remove any matts in the coat.
Kuna magonjwa mawili ambayo yanaweza kuwa hatari kwa sungura, haya yanaweza chanjo dhidi ya kila mwaka. Magonjwa hayo huenea kwa urahisi sana kwa maambukizi ya moja kwa moja kutoka kwa sungura wengine walioambukizwa (wa kufugwa au wa porini), na kupitia maambukizi ya sekondari - watu, viatu, nguo na hata chawa. Ugonjwa huu husababishwa na virusi vya ugonjwa wa ndui ambavyo vinaweza kuenea kupitia kuumwa na mbawakawa na paka. Sungura wa nyumbani ambao huenda wasiende nje wanaweza kuambukizwa <unk>Myxi<unk>. Dalili hizo zinatia ndani uvimbe wa midomo, macho, ndani ya masikio na karibu na viungo vya uzazi. Uvimbe huo huendelea na kufanya iwe vigumu kunywa au kula. Upasuaji wa kibofu unaweza kufanywa katika umri wa miezi 5 hadi 6 na kupunguza tabia ya kibiashara, ya uhasama na kuondoa mimba zisizohitajika. Utoaji wa uzazi unaweza kukamilika katika umri wa miezi minne na kupunguza utamaduni, tabia ya uhasama na kuondoa mimba zisizohitajika. Kuua sungura kwa njia ya kuua viini kunaweza pia kuzuia kansa ya tumbo la uzazi. Meno ya sungura hukua daima na huvunjika-vunjika kwa kuchoma chakula chao ili wakila. Meno yasiyofaa hupunguza uwezo wa kuweka meno kwa urefu unaofaa, na hii inamaanisha meno yanaendelea kukua na hivyo kusababisha maumivu na ulceration. Unaweza kuagiza meno yako yakahukumiwe na daktari wa mifugo au muuguzi. Huenda wakaweza <unk>kufupisha<unk> meno isipokuwa kama kuna uhitaji wa kufanya uchunguzi wa kina zaidi wa meno kwa kuchoma meno ya mgongo. Mshtuko wa nzi ni hali inayoweza kusababisha kifo ambayo yaweza kuonekana kwa sungura wakati wa hali ya hewa ya kiasi. Hii hutokea wakati nzi huvutiwa na mkojo, kinyesi na majeraha ya wazi kwenye mnyama wako na kuweka mayai kwenye ngozi ya mnyama wako. Kisha mayai hayo yanaendelea kuwa minyoo ambayo hujificha na kula ngozi yake. Ni muhimu kuweka nyumba ya wanyama wako wa kufugwa na manyoya yao safi. Usafi hupunguza hatari ya sungura wako kupata mshtuko wa nzi. Unaweza kuweka kitabu kwa ajili ya sungura wako katika <unk> bunny de-matt<unk> ambapo wauguzi kusafisha eneo na kuondoa yoyote mats katika kanzu.