Intestinal Parasites

Introduction

Internal parasites can be found in many different organs and tissues of an animal’s body. One area commonly targeted is the intestines. Parasite infections can occur through a number of possible routes, depending on the parasite species and the stage of the parasite’s life cycle playing a role in transmission. A primary route of infection is ingestion of infective eggs from the environment. Typically this happens when a dog or cat ingests fecal matter or soil that contains fecal …

Remove a Tick from Your Pet in a Few Simple Steps

To remove a tick from a pet in just a few simple steps, please do the following. We have included a video from the TickEncounter Resource Center for your convenience.

  1. You will first need a small pair of tweezers or forceps. 
  2. Next, grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the tick’s head as possible, but be careful not to pinch the skin. 
  3. Pull gently, and avoid twisting or crushing the tick, until it frees. Be sure the mouth parts

Hot-Weather Care for Rabbits

Rabbits are fairly hardy animals, but heat can cause them stress. At temperatures over 85 degrees, rabbits may show signs of overheating. With proper care and a few husbandry techniques, you can ensure that your rabbit will be cool and comfortable during the hot, long summer.

Providing Plenty of Cool Water

Water is the single most important thing you can give your rabbit during the hot summer days. Make sure that your rabbit has access to cool, clean drinking water …

Enteritis in Rabbits

Rabbits are prone to gastrointestinal tract diseases. One commonly observed gastrointestinal tract disease in rabbits is enteritis, or the inflammation of the intestines. Enteritis can cause high death rates in rabbits. A variety of causes can lead to enteritis, and if left untreated, it can result in serious health consequences for the rabbit. Enterotoxemia is one form of enteritis caused by pathogenic bacteria overgrowth. Mucoid enteritis, another form of enteritis, can cause a high level of mucus secretions, which can …

Nutrients Required by Rabbits

A nutrient is a chemical or substance that an animal requires to live and grow. Nutrients can be found in food, synthesized in the body, or taken in from the environment. Nutrients that must be consumed in the diet because the animal cannot produce them or cannot produce them in sufficient quantities are considered essential nutrients. Those the animal can synthesize to meet its needs or does not need from the diet are considered nonessential nutrients.

All animals require six …

The Digestive System of the Rabbit

The rabbit, as an herbivore, is uniquely designed to consume large amounts of plant material.  The plants that rabbits eat are high in fiber, which is indigestible to mammalian digestive enzymes.  This means that humans and many other animals cannot utilize the nutrients found in these plants.  However, the rabbit’s digestive system makes it able to consume these plants and make the most of their nutrients. 

Understanding your rabbit’s digestive, or gastrointestinal, system will help to choose the best diet …

Cold Weather Care for Rabbits

Winter is a difficult time for many animal species, including rabbits. With proper care, however, you can ensure that your rabbit will remain healthy through the cold weather. Rabbits are more able to cope with cold weather conditions than hot conditions, but given the wrong conditions, rabbits can suffer from exposure, frostbite, and decreased body temperature.  Smaller breeds of rabbits may be more susceptible to cold temperatures than larger breeds of rabbits because their small body mass cannot retain heat …

How to Feed Your Rabbit

Amount to feed

Rabbits should be provided with a pelleted diet daily.  You may also choose to feed a home-prepared diet of fresh vegetables and greens.  The amount to feed depends on the rabbit’s age and reproductive status.  Young growing and pregnant or nursing rabbits may be provided with food ad libitum.  This means they are provided with an excess of food and can eat as much as they want during the course of the day and night. 

Adult …

Preventive Health Care for Rabbits

Rabbits may not need vaccinations like dogs and cats do, but it is still important to provide routine health care, such as annual check-ups and weigh-ins and to establish an association with a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits. You may be able to provide much of the preventive health care yourself, including proper grooming, good nutrition, and suitable housing. But it is a good idea for you to have a veterinarian who is familiar with rabbits when a problem …

My rabbit has a runny nose. Did he catch a cold from me?

The good news is human colds are not transmittable to rabbits. However, there are a variety of reasons your rabbit may have a runny nose and many may require veterinary attention.

One common cause of a runny nose is a respiratory infection. An upper respiratory infection in rabbits is commonly referred to as “snuffles.” It can be caused by a variety of bacteria, so it is best to discuss with your veterinarian the best antibiotics to use to treat snuffles. …