GHAfTER VI 



DISEASES OF THE SKIN 



Apart from the invasions of the necrosis 

 bacillus, skin lesions in the rabbit are almost in- 

 variably produced by ectozoa. The exception 

 is found in dermatitis of the hocks. 



Dermatitis of the Hocks 



This is the result of allowing wet and dirty 

 litter to accumulate in the hutches. The hocks 

 become swollen tender and often raw from the 

 irritant effect of the ammonia in the feces and 

 urine. 



Treatment: Keep the hutches clean and ap- 

 ply, a little zinc ointment thoroughly rubbed in^ 

 after the parts have been well washed with soap 

 and water. . 



Fleas 



In badly managed rabbitries fleas soon make 

 their appearance and adversely affect the con- 

 dition of the animals by the constant irritation 

 they produce. The rabbit flea Pulex gonioce- 

 phalus, the dog flea Pulex serraticeps and the 

 Pulex irritans of mail are the varieties that 

 infest the rabbit. Lop-eared rabbits are said to 

 be more frequently affected than other v&,rieties 

 of rabbits, this being accounted for by the fact 

 that these animals, by reason of their long ears 

 are unable to clean themselves as easily as the 

 ordinary rabbife The more probable explana- 



45 



