People began to eat rabbit meat from ancient times. It was loved by many thanks to its taste and dietary properties. In general, care for rabbits does not take much time and effort, but these animals are often amenable to disease. It may even happen that all individuals will die within a day. That is why it is so important to detect the presence of pathology in time and start treatment immediately. One of the most dangerous diseases is myxomatosis, which can manifest itself in domestic rabbits. Further in the article we will understand what this disease means, how to treat animals at home and what measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of this disease.
What kind of disease and what is dangerous
Myxomatosis is deadly disease for these lagomorphs. Fatal outcomes are common, so treatment must be prompt and correct. The causative agent of myxomatosis is a member of the poxvirus family and is directly related to smallpox. 
It is extremely difficult to get rid of this virus, because it sustainably tolerates many external influences, retaining its destructive characteristics for a long time. It has been studied that the virus can remain active and carry a hazard for three months under temperature conditions of 8-10 ° C. At a temperature of 15-20 ° C, the pathological virus can live in the animal's skin for about a year. Even after the animal dies, the virus can remain active in its body for about a week.
Important! Myxomatosis affects domestic rabbits of different sex, breed and age. It is noteworthy that young animals under the age of two months carry the effect of the virus more easily as compared with older brothers.
How is it transmitted
The DNA-containing pathological virus, the causative agent of myxomatosis, lives in the subcutaneous tissue and skin of the animal, as well as in the tissues of the internal organs and directly in the blood. The virus is able to reach the external environment due to various excretions from the nasal passages and eyes of the sick animal, or the one that allegedly recovered.
Infection of other healthy animals can occur in various ways:
- Thanks to the bloodsucking insects that can carry the virus. This includes not only mosquitoes, but also ticks, fleas.
- The respiratory virus can be transmitted if sick and healthy animals are kept together.
- The pathogen can also hit the body if the animals eat and drink from the same feeders and drinkers. You can even carry the disease through the inventory and hands of a person who cares for animals.
The peak incidence usually falls in the summer, since it is during the warm season that the prevalence of blood-sucking insects prevails.Did you know? Myxomatosis was first diagnosed in 1898 in Uruguay. This disease came to our countries only in 2005. Death end 75-90% of cases.
Forms and signs
Myxomatosis is divided into two kinds: edematous and nodular.
Edematous form disease develops extremely rapidly and, unfortunately, almost always has a fatal outcome. To cure it is almost impossible.
The disease manifests itself first in the form of inflammation of the eyes, which rapidly turns into conjunctivitis. Also, fairly quickly begin to form crusts. The nose is swollen, which makes it difficult for the animal to breathe, tearing rales are heard in the throat, and the animal coughs up clots of pus. Gradually the whole body of the animal becomes covered with tumors, such formations are filled with fluid. The rabbit does not eat and does not active. Most often, the animal dies within ten days.
After it becomes known about the presence of this form of myxomatosis in an animal, it must be immediately relocated from healthy individuals, otherwise the infection will quickly spread. If the animal has died, then the remains are recommended to be disposed of. 
Nodular form Myxomatosis is less dangerous for rabbits than edematous. Many animals are treatable and can survive (according to statistics, the survival rate of diseased rabbits is about 50% of the total).
A sign of this form of the disease is the formation of small knobs (knots) on the body of the animal. Usually they are formed primarily on the head. They may also disappear for a while, but later appear again. The greatest number of neoplasms is seen around the eyes and around the ears. The second stage of myxomatosis is the appearance of conjunctivitis, purulent discharge from the eyes of the rabbit, half-closed eyelids, and heavy breathing. A runny nose may also appear.
If the rabbit breeder does not notice the symptoms of myxomatosis in rabbits and does not start treatment, then the animal can die in two days, or even earlier. It happens that patients can live up to two weeks, but all this time they are terribly tormented and suffer from pain.
Did you know? The pygmy rabbit is the smallest breed of rabbits. An adult animal usually weighs no more than 450 g, and its length can be as little as about 22-35 cm.
Diagnostics
The opinion that you can diagnose myxomatosis in rabbits on your own is a mistake. The correct and final diagnosis will put only vet. This kind of diagnosis is carried out in the laboratory. 
To begin with, a specialist takes a sample of the skin along with subcutaneous tissue from a sick animal. After that, he conducts a histoscopy for the presence of myxomatosis. And only after such mandatory manipulations, the veterinarian will be able to confirm or disprove the fact that the rabbit has this virus.
The degree of possible spread, as well as the severity of this viral pathology, in the literal sense obliges the breeders to consult a veterinarian even with the slightest suspicion of the presence of a virus. Thanks to self-treatment, a positive outcome is almost impossible to achieve. In this way, it will only be possible to bring the death of the rabbit closer, and in addition to infect the still healthy individuals that are on the home farm. Only timely help with pharmaceuticals can prevent an epidemic.
Learn how to treat rabbits for pasteurellosis and coccidiosis.
What to do, is it possible to cure rabbits
If the presence of this viral disease has been confirmed, veterinary authorities have the right to enter quarantine in a specific area. At the same time, a number of necessary measures are appointed, which will be aimed at eradicating the disease and preventing the further spread of the virus among hares. Special attention is paid to the disinfection of the places where the rabbits were kept and walked. Also, before treating myxomatosis in rabbits, the equipment and ammunition that was used to care for them is disinfected. 
Such a viral disease is difficult to treat, but it is still possible to save the lives of rabbits in the early stages of defeat.
- First of all, patients with colic are injected with "Gamavita", 2 ml each day. This continues until the rabbit is fully recovered.
- Also, every day should be administered under the skin "Fosprenil" 1 ml.
- Among other things, twice a day, rabbits are given Baytril in the form of a drinking liquid. This therapy lasts seven days. The dosage is calculated based on the weight of the animal. It will take 1 ml of the drug for every 10 kg of rabbit weight.
- If there is a suspicion of dehydration of the animal, then he must also be given a solution of "Ringer".
- Nose drops will help ease breathing and lower the level of puffiness. The wounds should be treated with an alcohol-containing iodine solution or its equivalent.
Important! Preventing a new outbreak of viral disease will help maintain quarantine for 2-3 months after recovery of all animals.
What is forbidden to do
When myxomatosis is detected in domestic rabbits, many wonder if people can eat the meat of such animals. An unambiguous answer still does not give anyone. In general, such a disease is not dangerous to human health, since only a rabbit can be infected. In this regard, many argue that if the animal was still alive when it was slaughtered, then the meat can be consumed, it will be enough to thoroughly wash it beforehand and properly cook it. 
There are also people who, although they understand that this meat is not dangerous for them, they cannot use it for reasons of aesthetics and hygiene. This is not surprising, because sick animals often do not look very biased.
There is also an opinion that it is impossible to eat the meat of any animal species that have had some diseases. Such people carry out thorough disinfection in the rabbit, and even burn animal carcasses.
In general, the decision regarding the consumption of meat from a sick rabbit is left to everyone to take independently. There are no bans from doctors on this score. The main thing to do this allowed aesthetic feelings (meaning the presence / absence of disgust).
Read also about the features of the use of drugs for the treatment of rabbits: "Solikoks", "Tromeksin", "Baykoks", "Tylosin", "Enroksil", "Enrofloxacin", "Vetom 1.1", "Lozeval".
Will vaccination help?
Appropriate vaccinations can help keep rabbit healthy. Vaccination is carried out simultaneously from myxomitosis and viral hemorrhagic disease of rabbits (UHD). In this case, a single injection will not be enough. Vaccination should be carried out in several stages. When vaccinations are given to rabbits for myxomatosis, we describe further:
- The first injection should be made to the rabbit at the age of one and a half months. The weight of the animal should be higher than 500 g.
- The second injection is administered three months after the first.
- Subsequent vaccination should be carried out regularly, every 6 months.
Did you know? Rabbits can reach speeds of up to 56 km / h. But faster will always be their relatives hares, who can move at a speed of 72 km / h.
Prevention
In order not to face the problem of animal disease, it is necessary to prevent such a disease. It lies in the fact that in the period of activity of insects, bloodsuckers rabbits need to be protected. From May to June, the animals should be placed in a pre-prepared room, where contact with insect-carrying animals will be excluded.
In addition, buying new individuals, it is recommended to keep them separate from those rabbits that already live in the rabbit base. Sick animals also need to first quarantine, and only after that to carry out treatment. 
During the period when the treatment will be carried out, the room where the sick lagomorphs are located should be warm. It is desirable that the air temperature was above +20 ° C.
If the rabbits do not want to eat, which usually occurs during the active phase of the disease, then the general condition and strength of the animals should be maintained with the help of injections and special medications.
We advise you to read about the breeds of rabbits: Californian, Soviet chinchilla, giants (white giant, gray giant, flandr), black-brown, rizen, butterfly, decorative breeds.
On the sick eyes, mucus is almost always formed. It will need to be cleaned regularly, using a cotton swab, which is dipped in a tea brew.
Summing up, one should again emphasize that when the first signs of the presence of a viral myxomatosis in an animal appear, one should immediately contact a veterinarian. And having already discussed with him the situation that has developed, it will be possible to make a decision regarding further actions. Among other things, you need to remember about the need to use vaccines for rabbits that help protect them from myxomatosis.
