Myxomatosis is a seriously serious disease. Rabbits become very ill from it and most do not survive the disease. Myxomatosis is caused by a virus that belongs to the poxviruses. There are different strains of this virus and these strains can give a different clinical picture. When infected, the rabbit gets swellings (myxomas), especially on the head. In addition, the rabbit gets a fever and does not want to eat anymore.
Cause
Myxomatosis is caused by a virus (Myxoma virus, a virus belonging to the poxviruses). Myxomatosis is mainly spread by biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes and flies. Infection is also possible through direct contact with infected animals or materials. So prevent wild rabbits in the garden from being able to get to your rabbits.
Symptoms of myxomatosis
Myxomatosis is a disease with a long incubation period. This means that it can take quite a long time before the infection and the first symptoms are visible. The incubation period is between a few days and two weeks. A rabbit that suffers from myxomatosis will have the following symptoms: Swelling of the eyelids, swelling of the mouth, swelling of the anus, lumps in the skin near the ears, mouth and on the back and pneumonia. The rabbit will therefore suffer from many swellings in different places on the body. Due to the swelling of the eyelids, the rabbit will also no longer be able to see. This makes rabbits that live in the wild and have this condition easy prey for predators. In the wild, only 10 percent of all infected rabbits survive this disease.
Diagnosis
In recent years, the disease has taken on a different character, much less typical and less deadly. Because it is also less recognizable, the disease is often treated too late. In the first week, the affected rabbits show all the signs of a kind of snot, a Pasteurella infection. It starts with red-rimmed, but not watery eyes. Then the rabbit starts sneezing, which makes one think of snot. Only in the second week do the myxomatosis tumors start to develop. This form of the disease, also called the wild form, can also be transmitted from rabbit to rabbit without the intervention of stinging insects. Hares are resistant to the disease, but are carriers of the disease. Because the disease became less deadly, but also because the rabbits developed resistance to the disease, the mortality rates decreased.
Treatment
When treating a rabbit with myxomatosis, it is important to help the animal as best as possible. But how can you best support your rabbit? Provide a comfortable, warm environment, possibly with a hot water bottle or heat lamp. If the rabbit does not eat by itself, you must provide food several times a day. This can be done by means of soft food. Think of a powder that is made into a thick porridge with water. This can be given on a dish, but it is usually necessary to administer it with a feeding syringe in the mouth. A rabbit is very sensitive to stress, so do not startle the rabbit and be careful when administering it so that the rabbit cannot choke. You can also administer an infusion: a subcutaneous (or better intravenous) infusion is given for support. Or give the rabbit a course of antibiotics: in most cases there are additional infections present and pneumonia develops that must be treated with antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Other medication is also recommended: medication for the gastrointestinal tract, eye ointment, vitamins.
Prevention
Vaccinate the rabbit in the spring to provide optimal protection.
If the rabbit has not yet been vaccinated this year, have it vaccinated as soon as possible. Try to keep insects out of the cages by using mosquito nets or fine mesh. If necessary, hang a mosquito net over the cages outside in the evening and at night. Also ensure that wild rabbits do not have contact with your rabbits in the garden. Your rabbits can be infected with myxomatosis by these wild rabbits. Avoid contact with hedgehogs, rabbits from the wild, these can also transmit fleas. Ensure good hygiene. Especially if you have multiple rabbits in different cages. If myxomatosis is suspected, ensure that rabbits do not have contact with each other. Also ensure that materials such as food bowls and the like are kept well separated. Give each rabbit or rabbit pair its own food bowl and drinking bottle.
Compare rabbit insurance
If you own a rabbit, it is highly recommended to take out insurance. Maintaining a rabbit takes a lot of time, but also a lot of money. Think of food, the farrier and possible treatments and medicines if the rabbit gets sick. You can choose to have your rabbit partially insured or, for example, only insure the trailer. Not all insurance is the same, of course. With the rabbit insurance comparison module, you can view different providers to see which one suits you best. Not every insurer reimburses the same costs. For example, some insurers only reimburse part of the costs, so it is very wise to pay close attention to this. You can also consider additional insurance. These do not necessarily have to be directly related to the rabbit. You can think of additional insurance for theft or accident insurance for passengers. After all, you can end up badly if you fall off a rabbit. Theft and accident insurance are often offered as additional insurance. So look carefully at your personal preferences and get good advice on which insurance suits you best. Insurer Figo Pet , for example, is tipped as one of the cheaper insurances to insure your rabbit with. That is of course beneficial if you have to watch your budget. There can therefore be quite a few differences between the premiums of the various insurers. So take another good look at which insurance best suits your wishes and your needs.
