
Cause:
This is when a rabbit ingests too much fur from cleaning or pulling
and it causes a blockage in the stomach
Symptoms
Stops eating or eats less
Fur imbedded in
feces
Size and/or number of droppings decrease
Sometimes blockage can be palpated.
Treatment
Hair Blockage is more common in long haired breeds
such as Angoras
however all rabbits can get this.
It is better to prevent this by grooming
and providing your rabbit with hay.
Treatment in severe cases is
surgery which is not always successful.
As soon
as you notice signs, you can try a hairball remedy
such as
petromalt or a treatment of 10cc's of fresh
pineapple
juice once a day for 3 days.
There is an enzyme in the juice that can break
down the mucous around
the hairball and helps the rabbit to pass the substance
forming the block.
It is important to move the blockage and get
the rabbit eating as soon as possible.
Prevention:
Exercise
Timothy Hay daily
Grooming especially during a heavy molt
Email Liz
© 2006 The Rabbit Info Center and Crystal Publications
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