Friday, June 27, 2014

Pin-Worms

Rabbit's are very easily prone to getting sick.  One extremely common sickness for rabbits is known as 'pin worms'.  Now, before you continue reading, I must worn you it's a little TMI.  

Now rabbits, especially ones like the Lion Heads and Angora's, commonly get pin worms.  You probably are wondering what pin worms are exactly. 

Well, pin worms are when the bottom of your rabbit gets messy and a fly lays eggs in it.  The eggs hatch and larvae begin eating the rabbit from the inside out. 

These gross creatures irritate your rabbit, causing them to itch.  After a while of itching, they almost always break the skin, allowing an area for the worms to crawl inside your rabbit.  If they don't go in this way, they will make their way through your rabbit's private areas. 

Now, as I'm sure you're thankful about...I do not have any pictures of this.  I did have one rabbit who had them.  Using tea-tree oil which we diluted with cooking grade oil, we put in on the swollen area with a q-tip. 

He seemed to be getting better and the oil was really doing a great job!  Unfortunately though, he ripped open his entire hind leg and exposed dozens of larvae eating their way throughout his muscles. 

Being afraid we would not be able to keep the wound from getting infected and/or stitched up properly; and also for the fact he was completely riddled with larvae eating him alive, I felt it was best to put him down.  Not only all that, but his eyes seemed faded and we thought it would be best to put him out of pain and misery. 

However, that being said...PIN WORMS COME UNNOTICED!!! So do NOT feel badly if it's too late to save your rabbit!  You cannot notice them until they have over taken the rabbit's body and have become very bad. 

If you are a very persistent person and feel you could still help your rabbit, then continue with the tea-tree oil and feed your rabbit PURE PUMPKIN!!! Pure pumpkin to your rabbit is like prune juice for older people.  It helps flush out your system.  You can also give them plantain, comfrey, and dandelions. 


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