262 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



death. The first is caused by too much hquid 

 in the intestines ; the stomach dilates to such 

 an extent that the animal can hardly stand on 

 his feet ; the appetite is lost and the rabbit 

 dies of starvation. Prevention is proverbially 

 better than cure, and the precautions against 

 this malad\' are good hutches, little green food, 

 opportunity for exercise, and a sufficient quan- 

 tity of dry food given with judgment, the more 

 varied the better. 



Diarrhea is caused in the same way, and the 

 treatment should be about the same. Hay is an 

 excellent remedy, so are oats, whole or bruised. 



VI. Colds 



Colds are often very troublesome tf) rabbits 

 as well as to all other living beings ; and if the 

 animals are not properly cared for and kept out 

 of drafts (to which rabbits are very sensitive, 

 and which usually cause the trouble), pneumonia 

 may result. 



The animal attacked should be instantly 

 taken to a warm stable, given a soft bed, and 

 be made to drink a little hot milk. Warm 

 food, such as potato parings boiled with bran, 

 will contribute to a cure if continued for a 

 week or so. If, on the contrary, much mucus 



A Female Leporidf. with )ier Young 



V. DlSE.\SES OF THE E.\R 



This is shown by the formation of a warty 

 excrescence in the ear ; the wart hardens and 

 extends more and more until sometimes the 

 wh(.)le ear becomes rigid. To cure this at the 

 very beginning and to prex'ent its progress a 

 drop of sweet oil should be poured in. Even 

 if the wart is scarcely perceptible, it is well not 

 to postpone this remedy. It is essential to 

 clean the hutch with a disinfectant and to be 

 sure that no pus from the ear remains in it. 

 If the disease is so far advanced that the 

 swelling is perfectly hard, it must be taken 

 out with pinchers ; and if the operation is not 

 at first successful, it must be repeated for 

 several days 



issues from the nose, the greatest care must be 

 taken or the mucus will harden and stop respira- 

 tion. Bathing the nose with hot water twice a 

 day will relieve the animal and hasten a cure. 



VII. DlSE..\SE OF THE PaWS 



Rabbits, and especially the giant rabbits, 

 suffer much fnjm disease of the paws, and may 

 even die of it if neglected. There are several 

 causes of this malady : the animal may have 

 wounded itself, or it may be poisoned by the 

 filth of the hutch or by the manure which fre- 

 quently clings to its feet. To prevent this evil 

 the hutches must be kept clean, and the rabbit 

 should be given daily a handful of fresh hay or 

 straw for a soft bed. 



