RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 7

RABBIT FARMING

AN EAR DISEASE (By Rex.) flrtien a rabbit is noticed to shake '. its head continually or to hold the head a little to one side, particularly if at the same time there is a tendency to scratch one or both ears, it is safe to conclude that ear canker is the cause of the trouble. This disease, sometimes called "ear mange," js caused by a mite "inside the ear. The first result of the activities of - the canker mite is an intense irritation which cause* the symptoms mentioned, and, as these can hardly fail to.attract the attention of the watchful attendant, there is no excuse for allowing the disease to go unchecked in its early stages. If a little treatment is applied when signs of discomfort first appear, a cure can be effected in a very short time, and observation and occasional preventive measures will, definitely prevent a recurrence. It must be kept in mind that ear canker is very contagious, and may be'spread from one rabbit to another in various ways. For instance, an affected rabbit may shake some of the mites out of jts ear, and these may be carried by wind to food or bedding, whence they find their way into other hutches. They may also be carried about by means of hutch cleaning utensils or on the hands of the attendant. Therefore, if there is a case of ear canker in the rabbitry, the breeder should be on the alert for signs of ' discomfort, and should, in addition, examine the ears of all stock at least each alternate day. If, at the time of the examination, a little preparation for the treatment is dropped into the ears of every rabbit the likelihood of further cases will be practically nil. When examining ears for the signs of canker, turn each ear back and look carefully along the whole length and .into the cavity of the ear itself. In the very early stages there may be traces of a greyish-brown powdery substance, slightly sticky and tending to adhere to the inside of the ear in scales or crusts. This substance is made up of the mites bound up by the "wax" secreted by small glands near the cnening of the ear. In the normal healthy ear, the amount of this wax is so small that it is not noticeable, but where there is irritation, as in the disease we are describing, the glands become more active, and increased quantities are secreted in order to hinder the cause of the irritation from entering the ear itself. Treatment of canker consists in applying to the ear something which will kill the mities without injuring the ear itself. It is no use to attempt this until the ear has been cleaned out thoroughly and all crusts and matter removed. A good instrument fox this purpose can be made with a piece of wire doubled and twisted for about three inches and finally formed into a more or less oval-shaped loop. Pass the loop into the ear and 'draw it out again, pressing lightly. By this means the crusts may be drawn out without injury to the lining membrane. It is important to remember that in dealing with the ear, no force must be used; pressure, though firm, should be light. When all foreign matter has been removed the ear should be cleaned gently with a piece of wet • boracic lint wrapped round the wire y, loop, and when it is quite clean a few |n, drops of oil of turpentine (Joz), and olive oil (4cz) should be poured in. This treatment should be repeated every three days until all signs of trouble have disappeared. Needless to say, all lint or other material used should be burnt immediately, and the hands of the attendant giving the treatment scrubbed with disinfectant soap before handling other stock. Wire loops used for removing matter from infected ears are best laid flat in a bath of disinfectant after use. A clear bright eye, free from any watery discharge or accumulation .of f matter from the corner is one of the signs of good health in a rabbit. Sore I or running eyes may mean a generally run-down or" even a diseased condition, or they may be due to some cause which, although»slight in itself, ' may lead to grave trouble if neglected. Under this last head comes a cold in the eye, which is usually due to exposure to draughts. The earliest symptom is a watery discharge. If the cause.of the complaint is immediately removed by altering the position of the hutch so that it is away from draughts, the trouble may quite possibly run its course and* clear up m a day. or so on its own accord. But as there is always the possibility that a neglected cold of this type may lead to chronic discharge which may in tune cause ulceration of the eyeball it is best to be on the safe side and apply simple treatment at the outset. The affected eye should be well bathed twice daily with a little boracic lotion, made by dissolving one teaspoonf ul of boracic crystals in boiling water and «sing when cool. All discharge should w removed from within and around we eye with a piece of rag or cotton wool dipped in the lotion, and finally, «ome of the lotion should be dropped right in the eye and allowed to run freely over the eyeball.