How to prevent and treat weight loss in rabbits caused by sarcoptic mange

    Rabbit mange, also known as rabbit scabies, is a common and frequently occurring parasitic disease of rabbits. The pathogens are Sarcoptes scabiei and Psoroptes mites. Mites take only 7-15 days to develop from egg to adult, and adults live about 4-6 weeks. It occurs year-round, with more cases in autumn, winter and early spring. Sarcoptic mange is characterized by intense itching of the affected area, weight loss in the rabbit, skin crusting and hair loss.

Rabbit

    1. Epidemiological characteristics: Sarcoptic mange is mainly transmitted through direct contact between sick rabbits and healthy rabbits; indirect contact through cages, equipment and the like can also cause infection. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious; after a few rabbits become ill, if prevention and treatment are not carried out promptly, it will rapidly spread through the rabbit herd.

    2. Symptoms: The mites parasitize the dermis of sparsely haired areas such as the head, inside the ears, between the toes of the feet, and around the mouth, nose and eyes. The rabbit suffers unbearable itching, and to relieve the itch it rubs against the sharp edges of the cage, scratches with its toes and bites with its mouth, damaging the skin, which then becomes inflamed, forming blisters and ulcers. The ulcer surface exudes fluid mixed with blood, which dries into hard scabs, making the affected skin thicken and crack. As the disease progresses, hair falls out at the lesion site, forming a very thick, bran-like crusted surface. When crusting is severe, the affected rabbit's lips become thick and hard and the nostrils become blocked, affecting feeding and breathing. The affected rabbit cannot rest because of the intense itching, gradually loses weight, becomes weak, and finally dies.

    3. Prevention and treatment measures:

    Prevention: ① Maintain good rabbitry hygiene. Keep the rabbit house, cages and equipment clean, dry and well ventilated, and do not keep the rabbit population density too high.

    ② Regularly disinfect the rabbit house, cages and equipment. Soak and scrub the cage floor boards with a 2% trichlorfon aqueous solution, wash clean, air-dry, and disinfect with a flame sprayer. At the same time, choose acaricides to thoroughly disinfect the rabbit house and cages.

    ③ Regularly inspect the rabbit herd. Once the disease is found, promptly isolate, disinfect and treat, and minimize the spread as much as possible.

Rabbit herd

    ④ Feed must be complete in nutrition. Supplement vitamins to improve the rabbits' resistance.

    ⑤ Regularly carry out drug prophylaxis for the rabbit herd. That is, every six months dip the feet and apply drops to the ears of healthy rabbits with a 1-2% trichlorfon solution; newly purchased rabbits must have their paws and ears cleaned.

    ⑥ Breeding rabbits introduced from outside must undergo strict quarantine and be kept under isolation and observation; only after being confirmed disease-free may they be mixed into the herd.

    ⑦ Prevent complications of rabbit mange. Regularly inject the triple vaccine for immunization; for rabbits that have already become ill, use antibiotic drugs for treatment.

    Treatment: Before treatment, first clip the hair around the affected area of the rabbit; after softening the scabs with warm water, carefully scrape them off, then apply the medicine to improve the efficacy.

    ① When sick rabbits are found, isolate and treat them, and spray the cages and equipment with a 1-2% trichlorfon solution for strict disinfection.

    ② Choose Chongkexing liniment and apply it inside the ear canal, twice a day for 3 consecutive days; the effect is obvious. According to the mite's development pattern, treat once more after one week.

    ③ Coumaphos is an effective drug for treating rabbit sarcoptic mange. Dip a writing brush in coumaphos solution (made by diluting 16% coumaphos emulsifiable concentrate with 70 times its volume of water) and apply it to the affected area, 1-2 times daily, continuing once every 7 days.

    ④ Treat with ivermectin or avermectin. Use the dosage or dosing interval according to the instructions.