Pyoderma in rabbits

Pyoderma in rabbits is a  bacterial skin infection. This usually happens when your bunnies skin has broke or teared or if the skin is exposed to moist conditions. This alters the flora found within. Normally, its healthy bacteria which lives in their skin, but this can easily be altered to harmful bacteria which will overgrow.

Symptoms:

The symptoms can depend on the type of bacteria infection in which they have, but here are some common symptoms:

• Obesity (weight gain)
• Muscle pain.
• Diarrhoea.
• Nasal and eye discharge.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Redness and crusting around the infected area.
• Their fur becomes matted.
• sanitation and personal hygiene is poor.  
• A dental disease - they will have bleeding gums, be slobbering, as well as loose and decaying teeth.

Cause:

This mainly occurs when the skin has been broken, mainly happens when their is poor environmental conditions, which could be moisture. It could happen if they have an injury, or poor blood circulation. Its a very common occurrence so if your bunny has it, don't freak out.

This is worse in unhealthy or obese bunnies, and can become trapped in matted fur.

Treatment:

Most will need to have a bath (I would recommend letting a vet do this) and will need to be dried very well, especially the affected area's. If the infection is really bad, you will need to have the area around it shaved, and you may also be prescribed some anti-biotics or something to apply to these areas.

Prevention:

You need to keep feeding your bunny a balanced diet. By you preventing obesity, you are preventing some further infections from occurring within their skin folds. You need to keep their fur well groomed and not matted. This can prevent bacteria from being close to their body.

I hope this post about pyoderma in rabbits was useful to you

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