Rabbit sepsis symptoms

Last Updated on June 15, 2023 by Admin

Rabbit sepsis is a deadly disease as a result of severe bacterial infection. The condition not only prevents antibodies from counteracting the infection but the disease also ends up damaging a rabbit’s own tissue. This article is going to look at the causes of infection, rabbit sepsis symptoms, how to treat this particular disease and whether it’s contagious.

How does a bunny get sepsis?

There are various ways in which rabbits can get a sepsis infection. Transmission can be through contact with contaminated items such as a rabbit’s food, water, or bedding. Rabbit sepsis can also be a result of direct contact with an infected rabbit’s ocular/ nasal discharge or contamination from abscess pus.

Rabbit sepsis symptoms

Some of the symptoms of this particular disease include drooling, dark red or pink gums, difficulty breathing, panting, diarrhea, or lethargy. In addition, rabbit sepsis also causes loss of appetite, inflammation, or blood clots due to the reduction of blood flow to vital organs.

 

How do you treat rabbit sepsis?

If your rabbit displays any of the sepsis symptoms mentioned, take them to the vet as soon as possible. The doctor should then conduct a physical examination before your bunny gets a complete diagnostic test. The veterinarian will then carry out a urinalysis, blood sample/ count, and a serum chemistry panel.

Positive signs of rabbit sepsis symptoms include fever, increased white blood cells, heart, and respiratory rate. However, further testing may also be necessary. For instance, depending on the results during the physical examination, A CT Scan, ultrasounds, X-rays, MRI, or ECG tests are essential.

Finally, when it comes to treatment, from the blood samples taken, your vets may give your pet antibiotics. This typically decreases the sepsis symptoms by fighting infections. Depending on the sepsis cause, surgery might also be an option. In addition, your rabbit may need oxygen therapy and the vet may administer more medication to help treat the different types of ailments as a result of the sepsis.

 

The prognosis for rabbits with Sepsis

The prognosis for bunnies with sepsis entirely depends on the main cause of the infection and how early you administer treatment. Unfortunately, if you don’t treat the condition early, the survival rate for your bunny is pretty slim. In other words, when the vet detects the condition earlier, they may establish the root cause of the infection.

The vet will initially administer different antibiotics to try and mitigate the rabbit’s sepsis symptoms. However, once the lab results are out, the most effective antibiotic is used to treat the specific bacteria causing distress. They may then perform surgery to drain the abscesses or to remove the dead tissue.

How to Prevent Rabbit Sepsis

One of the best rabbit sepsis preventative measures is to ensure that your pets receive regular veterinary care. This is recommended especially if they show any signs and symptoms of infection. In other words, this particular disease is caused by other illnesses that cause severe infections. This is mainly the case if your bunny has an open wound. Below are some of the preventative measures to take.

• Clean their wounds

When your bunny has an open wound, regardless of whether they look healthy or not, it’s always advisable to clean their wounds regularly. Open wounds often lead to infections. In case of a severe injury, take them to the vet to have it properly cleaned. Additionally, the veterinarian will also prescribe antibiotics that drastically reduce the chances of infection.

• Treating other infections/illnesses

The other preventative measure against rabbit sepsis is to cure or treat other illnesses that are most likely to cause infection. Take your ailing pet to the vet as soon as possible to prevent infections from spreading into their bloodstream. In other words, the earlier they receive treatment, the better.

 

Is rabbit sepsis contagious to humans or other pets?

Rabbit sepsis is caused by bacterial infection, however, it’s not contagious to humans or other pets. Although the disease isn’t contagious, the underlying cause can be a contributing factor to its spread.