How to prevent heatstroke in domestic rabbits? Key points for heat prevention in hot seasons
In summer, sustained high temperatures bring a series of adverse effects on rabbit growth and breeding. If the outside temperature exceeds 33°C, the rabbit housing temperature exceeds 30°C, and there is poor ventilation with overcrowded cages, body heat accumulates and is difficult to release, and heatstroke can occur at any time. Heatstroke is usually thought to be triggered by hot weather and high temperatures, but this is not actually the case. Muggy heat with no ventilation, especially after rain when the sky clears, with damp and muggy conditions, is the true source of the disease. Some people also believe that heatstroke mostly occurs at noon or in the afternoon, but in reality cases mostly occur in the morning or evening, which is enough to show that it is caused by muggy heat causing heat accumulation and a sudden onset.
?1. Clinical symptoms:
Rabbits suffering from heatstroke first become listless, with elevated body temperature, reduced eating and excessive drinking, weak limbs, and a preference for lying down and not getting up; then breathing accelerates, body temperature rises above 42°C, the oral and nasal mucosa becomes flushed red, even turning blue due to oxygen deficiency, the eyeballs bulge, there is drooling and foaming from the mouth, and foam mixed with blood-tinged fluid stagnates in the nasal cavity; the heartbeat speeds up, and finally there is first excitement then depression, followed by lying on the side or abdomen, limp and weak, drowsy and unable to rise, spasms of the limbs, occasional twitching, red and white foam flowing from the mouth and nose, the pupils first dilate and then constrict, and the rabbit dies from asphyxia and paralysis with vocalizations. Necropsy reveals congestion and edema of the lungs and brain, and abdominal effusion. In addition, in individual heatstroke cases, foam-like blood-tinged fluid flows from the mouth and nose, and some people mistakenly think this is rabbit viral hemorrhagic disease, but it is actually caused by accelerated breathing in rabbits leading to dilation and rupture of capillaries. In individual heatstroke cases, death occurs with limb spasms, twitching and vocalizations, and this is mistakenly thought to be coccidiosis, but coccidiosis does not have symptoms of limp paralysis and drowsiness.
????2. Preventive measures:
The key to heatstroke is prevention. There are many specific methods with varying effects, and they should be chosen reasonably according to local conditions.
1. Planting trees in the farm area and in front of the housing is an advanced measure, but planting vines and flowers in front of the housing is inappropriate. If planting them, attention should be paid to ventilation and they should not be planted too densely. Splashing water on the floor inside the housing and placing wet bricks in cages to cool down have good effects, but this should not be done too frequently; otherwise, the dampness may instead lead to other diseases. Spraying the outer walls white to block direct sunlight both disinfects and keeps things clean while reducing heat and lowering temperature, achieving two goals at once. Installing exhaust fans, electric fans, and the like inside the housing to promote air circulation is also effective, but care should be taken to prevent rabbits from catching colds from the heat. Cooling with air conditioning and wet curtains has a good effect, but the cost is high and it is not practical. Building a shade awning in front of the housing and pulling up shade nets are simple, easy, and economical.
2. Supplementing with melons, fruits, and vegetables, providing sufficient drinking water, and feeding rabbits in a controlled manner in the morning and evening cannot prevent heatstroke; they can only relieve it. For example, watermelon rind and cucumber are sweet in taste and cool in nature. Adding a suitable amount of fresh, clean watermelon rind or cucumber to rabbits' feed every day not only has good palatability, but after eating it rabbits also benefit from its effects of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, promoting urination, and quenching thirst. Bitter melon is slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste. Adding a suitable amount of fresh bitter melon juice to rabbits' drinking water can, after drinking, effectively stimulate saliva and gastric juice secretion, and has the functions of promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, relieving summer heat and clearing heat, and promoting appetite.
3. Herbs can also be used to relieve summer heat. For example, regularly gathering a suitable amount of wild herbs to feed rabbits is convenient, simple, and nutritious, and can also prevent the occurrence of heatstroke in rabbits. Common herbs for preventing heatstroke in rabbits include: verbena, goosegrass, plantain, houttuynia, Chinese fevervine, siegesbeckia, odontosoria chinensis, mussaenda, and mosla scabra, among others. These herbs all have the effect of clearing heat, relieving summer heat, and lowering rabbits' body temperature.
?3. Treatment methods:
1. When a sick rabbit is found, it should immediately be moved to a cool, ventilated place, and cold water should be applied to the head to promote the release of body heat. Bloodletting should be done at the ear vein, tail tip, and between the four toes to reduce congestion in the brain and lungs. Orally administer Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui, Shidishui, warm light salt water, Rendan water, and the like to release the exterior and transform dampness, and to regulate qi and harmonize the middle.
2. If the sick rabbit has fainted, drip garlic juice or ginger juice into the nose. If the sick rabbit has spasms, inject 2.5% chlorpromazine hydrochloride 0.5-1 mL intramuscularly to lower temperature and sedate. If the sick rabbit is drowsy, apply essential balm to the tip of the rabbit's nose or drip-feed it to refresh and awaken the mind. If the sick rabbit has difficulty breathing, clear the nasal mucosa and inject atropine, ephedrine, and the like intramuscularly to dilate the bronchi and reduce the respiratory burden. After body temperature drops and symptoms ease, then carry out fluid replacement and cardiac support consolidation treatment: inject 20% sodium caffeine benzoate 1 mL subcutaneously or intramuscularly, replace fluids, and intravenously inject glucose or sodium chloride, etc. If conditions are not available, oral rehydration salts, VC, electrolytic multivitamins, and the like can be given by drinking.
Chang Fujun