i have 2 rabbits and one of them has a red infection on her cheek (near her nose) and it is swollen. I tried spraying mite and lice spray on her body to prevent further infection because I think it is a mite infection.
I have noticed that neither of my rabbits have drunk ANY water for a long time. They used to drink fine when they were younger (they're about 1-2 years old now). I tried giving water to them by hand but they refuse.I tried giving water to them in a bowl! But they refused.
How can I get them to drink? It's very necessary for a rabbits diet to drink water.
What are some other ways to help the rabbits infection?
2007-09-15 14:49:02 · 6 answers · asked by m.n.m 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It's hard to say what that redness is due to without seeing a picture of the area on the rabbit. It could be due to mites possibly, it could be due to the rabbit having a cold, it could be due to an abcess, or even another rabbit chewing on it. It is hard to say.
As you stated, it is important that your rabbit drinks water. You might want to see about putting vitamins in the rabbits drinking water. Some rabbits like to drink water with vitamins in it better. You can get rabbit vitamins for drinking water at http://www.klubertanz.com or a number of other rabbit supply places.
I would probably recommend taking your rabbit to the vet. You could treat your rabbit for mites. It's kind of expensive to though. Most rabbit breeders use Ivermectin to treat for mites. It's a drug that is normally injected into the rabbit and will protect it from mites and other parasites for about a month or so. You want to watch the concentration level. If you use the concentration level for adult livestock that is too high. Something around the concentration level for the baby pig formula is more appropriate.
I'd recommend taking your rabbits to the vet. You need to identify what is causing that. Mites normally won't prevent a rabbit from drinking. So I think that redness and your rabbit not drinking may be due to something else.
If your rabbit has mites, it will normally produce white flakey stuff that looks like dandruff and it will shed a lot. Also, if you look around the back of the neck you will normally see thin lines of scabs around the back of the neck.
2007-09-17 01:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mite and lice spray is a PESTICIDE, if there is an open sore and infection it will not help and may even lead to poisoning of the rabbit if a significant amount enters the bloodstream through open wounds.
Contact a veterinarian pronto.
You didn't say how their eating and eliminations are going. If the stool or urine output has changed that will also give a clue as to infection.
2007-09-15 18:25:55 · answer #2 · answered by ✡mama pajama✡ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A red infection on the cheek?! This sounds really serious...I don't think it's a mite infection because my rabbits had mites before and it was just a loss of fur along with white crusty dandruffs...or maybe you're talking about something else. You better get your rabbits to the vet before they die of dehydration.
2007-09-15 16:16:28 · answer #3 · answered by coffeemate 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't be 100% sure it's mites please take them to the vet. Both of them just in case they are both ill but only one is showing symptoms. It is really easy for animals like rabbits to die so don't delay. And once they have been seen do not put them straight back in to their hutch make sure you clean it properly with a non toxic disinfectant clean everything including bedding, food and water bowls.
2007-09-15 14:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by Walks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok, well you can use a small straw and stick one end in water and then cover the top of the straw with one finger. pull the straw out of the water with your finger still pressed to the top, and tehn have your rabbit drink from it.
2007-09-15 15:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by sunshine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they might have the virus my guinnea pig died of so take them to the vet first chance you get.
2007-09-15 15:24:35 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋