I receive many calls which I think is healthy encouragement by pet owners who want to know a little more about their pet or that their pet has developed either a curious behaviour or sadly something more pressing ? I always recommend that they contact their vet in the first instance if it is a medical issue which could depend on the animal surviving a life-threatening illness or sadly cause death.
AWARENESS
What some pet owners do not realise is that within sometimes hours (and do not be mistaken) thinking you can review health issue tomorrow? the animal can become seriously ILL within a few hours and for this reason a visit to the vet is a MUST.
I have collated some hopefully helpful information on this page which may be of valuable help particularly for conditions which can be life threatening for the animal
Flystrike in Rabbits & Guinea Pigs
Fly strike, or blowfly strike, is a serious condition, mainly affecting rabbits, that occurs during summer months. Fly strike is caused by flies; attracted to damp fur, urine, faeces or the odour of rabbit scent gland, lay their eggs on or around the rabbit's rear end where they hatch within hours into a seething bunch of maggots that eat into the rabbit's flesh, eating it alive and releasing toxins in the process.
Key Points
Domestic rabbits are vulnerable to fly strike, or 'myiasis', a condition most probably caused by the blowfly Lucilia sericata.
Rabbits with soiled hair and skin are particularly attractive to flies and such soiling can therefore predispose to fly strike. A wide range of factors may be responsible for such soiling and the underlying cause(s) should always be investigated.
An appropriate intensive care programme is required to stabilise the rabbit with fly strike. Fluid therapy, analgesia and antibiotic therapy are all indicated. Sedation or general anaesthesia is often necessary for wound cleaning and debridement. Any visible maggots should be removed. The wounds must be cleaned, debrided and dried; this process needs to be carried out repeatedly and thoroughly until all maggots are removed from the wound.
Use of hydrogel and hydrocolloid dressings will encourage wound healing.
Daily examination of all pet rabbits is necessary if fly strike is to be identified early. Attention to the rabbit's diet, activity levels and grooming, together with the use of a fly repellent, may help prevent recurrence.
Cushing's Disease in Guinea Pigs By an eHow Contributor
Although uncommon in Guinea pigs, Cushing's disease occurs when adrenal glands produce too much of the hormones that control stress, blood pressure and heart rate. Fluctuations in hormone levels may lead to many problems, such as hair loss, high blood pressure and increased urination, increasing the the risk of diabetes. Managing the disease is the only solution to date, and treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms and allow your guinea pig to live a happy and comfortable life.
Causes Cushing's disease often develops in response to benign tumors located at the pituitary or adrenal glands located near the kidneys. While the tumors are not often removed due to the high risk of the surgery, drugs are available to stabilize hormone production and alleviate symptoms.
Symptoms Symptoms of Cushing's disease varies between guinea pigs. Pigs may experience the mild discomfort of hair loss, or increased thirst or appetite, to more serious symptoms such as rapid breathing or skin lumps.
Diagnosis Cushing's disease may be diagnosed through an ultrasound. An ultrasound shows the size of the adrenal gland. Adrenal glands in a healthy guinea pig measure 3mm to 4mm in size; an enlargement of these may indicate disease or detect a tumor of one or both glands.
Comparison Vets suggest that a healthy guinea pig receive an ultrasound alongside the one that is experiencing problems for comparison; this is the easiest to recognize differences and problems.
Spread Cushing's disease is not contagious to other guinea pigs nor to pet owners; the disease is the result of a hormonal imbalance, not caused by an infectious disease.
Treatment Daily treatments of L-deprenyl helps reduce the size of the adrenal glands, while other drug therapy may be used to destroy part of the glands to decrease the overproduction of hormones. These treatments are dangerous and need to be monitored carefully by a vet to prevent damage to the glands. Herbal remedies, such as Cushex drops help relax the adrenal glands to decrease the overproduction of hormones. Partnering with your vet to decide which treatment option is best for your guinea pig is vital to treatment. *
Anal Impaction in Guinea Pigs Peter Gurney Journal - A-Z Guinea pigs are coprophagic, a long word used to describe the reingestion of certain faecal pellets which for some animals is a perfectly normal part of their digestive systems. These pellets, which are taken from the perineal sac are seldom seen for the simple reason that the animal does not excrete them. You will often see a guinea pig, head down hard between it's back legs, rummaging like mad. What it is doing, nine times out of ten is taking one of these pellets from the sac. In some boars, I have yet to come across this problem in a sow and know of no other owner who has seem it in one, the sac becomes impacted with these pellets. It maybe because the muscle spasms which enable the pellets to be presented to the boar become weak. Alternatively, it could be because the pellets, which are softer than those that are excreted, get softer still and form into a large ball. After I first notice this problem I will put the boar on 0.4Feroglobin once a day for a week to keep up the B vitamins, some of which I believe are in the faecal material reingested. I'm sure that after a short while these boars begin to eat more of the dry food and this is where they get most of the B's from, so I don't continue with the supplement. I am convinced that when guinea pigs have been ill they do not produce sufficient of these pellets, perhaps they do not even need them when they are not using as much energy. Why I have come to this conclusion is because of the behaviour such animals display when they are beginning to get back onto their feet again. They literally become a pain in the butt to other guinea pig they live with by persistently shoving their snouts between their legs and becoming more frantic when the animal they are pestering defecates. To me this is always a welcome sign for it invariably means that they are 'in business' again, so to speak. What I think this behaviour indicates is that though they are feeling a bit better their systems have not properly kicked in to produce enough of the reingestible pellets, while all those about them have what they need and they simply take them as best they can. After a few days this behaviour will cease. Presumably by this time animal is able to produce it's own reingestible pellets It is more common in elderly boars but is by no means unknown in younger ones. I have been told that these animals die after a short time because they are not getting the essential elements needed to sustain the digestive system. If they they do not get some help from their human friends they certainly will do, but those who get a little bit of help from their human friends go on to live out their normal life spans. The help needed may not be very pleasant for those who give it but it is incumbent upon owners to perform this duty to the animal who has given them the pleasure of its company. It is simply a matter of rolling back the opening of the sac over the lump and expelling it with finger and thumb over the toilet pedestal. It doesn't smell very nice but it takes a couple of seconds to do. How regularly it has to be done varies between animals, some need it daily, other only two or three times a week. I have come across a few cases where after a couple of weeks of 'toilet duty' the problem is resolved by the animal resuming is usual coprophagic behaviour but these have been in the minority. |
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MYXOMATOSIS In Rabbits
What is myxomatosis?
Myxomatosis is a severe viral disease of rabbits that decimated the wild rabbit population when it arrived in Britain 50 years ago. Domestic rabbits are also susceptible to the disease and deaths in pets are reported every year.
The number and severity of outbreaks varies over time: the myxomatosis virus is notorious for its ability to mutate from year to year and the background immunity in the wild rabbit population also varies. For example, in autumn 2000, southern areas of the UK (the south west, Hampshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire) experienced a severe outbreak of myxomatosis, thought to have been caused by a particularly virulent strain of the myxomatosis virus.
Is my rabbit at risk?
Myxomatosis poses a threat to all pet rabbits – but the risk varies depending on whether your rabbit lives inside or outside.
Pet rabbits at greatest risk are those living outside, especially if they may have any contact with wild rabbits or hares. Pet rabbits affected by rabbit fleas are also at very high risk - rabbit owners who also have a dog or cat that hunts wild rabbits (or foxes that visit the garden and nose around rabbit hutches) must be particularly careful, in case rabbit fleas are brought back to the pet bunny.
Houserabbits living permanently indoors are at less risk than outdoor rabbits, but can and do get myxomatosis. They must be vaccinated and protected from possible sources of myxomatosis transmission too.
How is it spread?
Myxi is usually spread by biting insects (fleas, mosquitoes) carrying the Myxoma virus. However, direct rabbit-to-rabbit spread can occur. Previously, this was mainly seen in a French respiratory strain of the disease, but reports from the Autumn 2000 UK outbreak suggest that rabbit-to-rabbit transmission may now occur the UK.
Pet rabbits could contract myxomatosis in a variety of ways:
• Bites from mosquitoes carrying the Myxoma virus.
• Bites from fleas carrying the Myxoma virus (fleas can survive for many months in hay)
• Myxomatosis can also be spread by Cheyletiella fur mites
What happens when a rabbit catches myxomatosis?
The classic form of myxomatosis is seen in rabbits that haven't been vaccinated. It is a dreadful disease that causes immense suffering: affected rabbits can take a fortnight to die and treatment is usually futile, which is why euthanasia is usually recommended.
Classic myxomatosis starts with runny eyes and in the very early stages can be confused with other causes of conjunctivitis. However, myxomatosis differs as the genitals are also swollen. It rapidly progresses to a severe conjunctivitis which causes blindness and is accompanied by lumpy (nodular) swellings on the head, plus lumps on the body. Excessive amounts of thick pus discharges from the nose and swollen eyes (which are often sealed shut). There are also two atypical forms of myxomatosis: one causes pneumonia and a snuffles-like illness; the other ("Nodular myxomatosis") mainly affects skin and carries a better prognosis.
If a vaccinated rabbit develops myxomatosis, the disease is usually much less severe. The exact pattern of disease seen in vaccinated animals is very variable, and impossible to predict: it depends upon how much immunity the rabbit has. Some rabbits develop just a few odd skin lesions and remain otherwise well; others become quite poorly and suffer from swellings and conjunctivitis more like classical myxomatosis. The difference is that vaccination turns a fatal illness into one that is treatable.
What about myxomatosis vaccination?
Domestic rabbits do not have any genetically based immunity against myxomatosis. If an unvaccinated pet rabbit catches myxomatosis, it will almost certainly die. Vaccination is a vital part of a package of measures you can take to protect your rabbit and the RWA urges all rabbit owners to make sure their rabbit is vaccinated with a licensed veterinary product and boosters are kept up to date.
The myxomatosis vaccine in Britain (Nobi-vac Myxo) is made from a harmless virus called Shope Fibroma. Antibodies made in response to Shope Fibroma Virus also protect against myxomatosis - this is called cross immunity. Different vaccines (including live attenuated myxomatosis virus) are used elsewhere in Europe, but tend to have more side effects and there are concerns that they are not safe enough for use in pet rabbits.
Different vaccines (including live attenuated myxomatosis virus) are used elsewhere in Europe, but tend to have more side effects and there are concerns that they are not safe enough for use in pet rabbits.
"High risk" areas typically include:
• Anywhere near standing water or a with large mosquito population
• Areas affected by outbreaks of myxomatosis in wild or domestic rabbits.
If you hear of a myxi outbreak in your vicinity, it would be wise to ensure your bunny has been vaccinated within the previous 6 months: take him for an early booster if necessary.
We would advise when vaccinating to vaccinate 2 weeks apart from the VHD vaccine.
Vaccination can start from as young as 6 weeks of age, but only healthy rabbits should be vaccinated and the vaccine can't be administered to pregnant animals.
Even if your rabbit is vaccinated, you must also take steps to prevent biting insects getting to your rabbit.
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) in Rabbits
What is Viral Haemorrhagic Disease?
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) is a more recent disease that Myxomatosis, it was first reported in the UK in only 1992. It is spread through direct contact between rabbits and also through contaminated surfaces such as bedding, hutches and clothing. This means both indoor and outdoor rabbits are at risk.
It can survive for 3 months at room temperature. The incubation period is 1-3 days and death usually occurs 12-36 hours after the onset of fever.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include high fever, lethargy, collapse, convulsions, paralysis, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite and bleeding from the nose. In some cases (approx. 1 in 10) there are no visible symptoms. The rapidness of the disease means that the rabbit may die within 24 hours of noticeable symptoms.
Prevention - Vaccination
Vaccination is very successful, it can be done from 12-14 weeks of age. The vaccination is also safe for pregnant rabbits. A booster needs to be given ever 12 months to ensure continued protection.
Vaccination against Myxomatosis must not be done within 2 weeks of vaccination against VHD.
Don't handle rabbits in petshops or other similar environments and wash your hands thoroughly after visiting environments that contain other rabbits. Buy bedding and food from reputable sources. Take precautions to minimise insects coming into contact with your rabbits (see Myxomatosis prevention).
Treatment
There is no cure and VHD disease is almost always fatal, most rabbits die within days. Surviving rabbits are infectious and can spread the disease.