BABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21512, 29 June 1935, Page 10

BABBIT FARMING

A COMMON TROUBLE AND CURE

(By Rex)

Headers sometimes write to say thai one of their rabbits seems to have no power to move its hind legs and to the reason for this and if the condition can be cured. To answer this question in a really satisfactory manner it is essential to have more details of the case than simply the bare fact that ihe hind legs seem to be powerless. Such a condition may arise from a variety of causes and nobody can prescribe a cure, or, indeed say whether a cure is possible without knowing something of the events leading up to this condition. Full details should be given as to the extent of the powerlessness, for it may vary in a wide degree i from an apparent stiffness and inability to move the legs without an effort, which passes off when the rabbit has taken a few hops, to complete permanent loss of power when the legs have the appearance of being iimp an., lifeless, being dragged behind the rabbit when it moves about. The condition first described is probably rheumatism. Though rabbits cannot be said to be liable to this complaint, thev will sometimes contract this disease if they are allowed to get wet or are kept permanently in damp hutches. Rabbits kept in hutches spend most of their time in a sitting position. In the early stages of rheumatism it will be noticed that when the rabbit, after sitting for some time, starts to move across the hutch it appears to have difficulty in moving. If no measures are taken, this stiffness gradually comes more pronounced, until an awkward walking movement takes the place of the familiar hop. If the rabbit is allowed to reach this crippled state and no measures are taken to relieve it, the hinds legs will become so stiff that they are dragged behind it when the animal moves about. If taken in the early stages, rheumatism is easily curable. The treatment con- ' sists in massaging all the affected parts and the parts immediately surrounding it twice a day with equal parts of camphorated oil and turpentine. The joints affected are those of the hock, knee, hip, and in, a lesser degree the lower vertebral joints of the spine. So therefore, the parts to be treated involve the feet, hind legs, lower part of the back and the rump. The oil, should be well rubbed in with the palm of the hand and then massage should be given starting at the feet and working upwards with a circular movement ot the finger tips. Finish off with a firm stroking also in an upward direction. Perfectly dry quarters are essential for this treatment. When the legs of the rabbit go limp and lifeless and are dragged behind it in a loose manner with no suggestion of stiffness it may be concluded that the rabbit is suffering from some form of paralysis. Paralysis of tne hind legs occurs as a result of some disorder in the nervous system. At present there is very little accurate knowledge of these diseases, and in the majority of cases, the kindest and most humane course is to kill the rabbit at once. As a treatment the rabbit should be kept warm by a hot-water bottle placed under the bedding, which should consist of a quantity of soft say. The bottle must be refilled every two hours, to keep the temperature as even as possible. The diet should consist of three meals a day of warm milk, fallowed by a teaspoonful of the following mixture. Salicylate of soda; 40 grains; potassium iodide, 50 grains; tincture of orange, 2 drams; and water, 4 ounces. Times for the feeds and medicine should be adhered to strictly. If these directions are properly' carried out three or four days' treatment should bring about a permanent cure. The schedule for the Co-operative Rabbit Breeders' Association's Annual .Show is now available, and may be obtained from the secretary, 183 Cashel street. The show will be held in August, and entries close on Wednesday, July 31. Breeders will be interested to know that the New Zealand Fur and Angora Wool Producers, Ltd. is steadily establishing a market for furwul yarns These are manufactured In England from wool produced by New Zealand growers, and then returned as beautiful yarns. Advice has also been received | that the Angora industry is improving I in England and prices have a tendency to rise.