Juggling Responsibilities: Balancing Work and Rabbit Care During a Rabbit Mange Outbreak

It's shameful to admit that I have been too busy and neglecting some of my responsibilities, including caring for my small rabbitry. I only visit them once a day to give them feed, refill their water, and then immediately go to work. They live in a colony type environment, and some are in cages, so I don't have the resources or time to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

This weekend, I noticed something that made me worry a lot - all of my rabbits are infected with fungus. The spread of the fungus is high because they live in the same environment where they can interact with each other. They have developed some rabbit mange skin disease, which is contagious and can be fatal if not treated properly.

That's why I need to vaccinate all of my rabbits. If I don't give them enough attention and the correct dosage, the disease could become even more contagious. I can't afford to get sick, especially since my thesis is only two years away, and I need my rabbits for my studies. They require intensive care, but I honestly cannot handle everything right now. That's why injecting them with "ivermectin" was the best choice to minimize and eliminate the outbreak

Ivermectin was controversial back in 2021 because it was suggested that it could be used to control SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, from my studies in "Farm Veterinary," I know that Ivermectin is a drug that paralyzes and kills parasites, which can totally eliminate infections. This will help my rabbits by easing their stress since rabbit mange is itchy and uncomfortable for them.

However, it's important to note that Ivermectin is a drug that could be fatal if not used properly. Therefore, it's essential to use the correct dosage and follow the instructions carefully.

Why fatal?

Reading the label of any drug is important, especially when administering it to your animals. Ivermectin is a powerful and effective drug, but it must be used in the right dosage. An overdose could result in tremors, seizures, blindness, coma, respiratory distress, and even mortality in your rabbits. Moreover, giving ivermectin to a pregnant or nursing rabbit could also be deadly for small rabbits. Therefore, it's crucial to carefully check the animals before administering the drug.

Ivermectin is not just for rabbits but also for cats, dogs, and other animals. However, administering the drug to rabbits requires extra care. You need to check the right kind of syringe, needles, and the age of your animals. I have two syringes - a disposable one for treating rabbits with small infections and another one for more severe cases. This way, I can save the syringe and prevent infections from spreading to other rabbits.

It's crucial to remember that you can only use a used syringe on your own animals. Never use a syringe if you're not sure when it was previously used. Ensuring proper sanitation is crucial in keeping your animals healthy.

When giving injections to rabbits, it's important to handle them carefully and help them relax while touching the leg muscle. The injection must be given quickly to avoid causing stress to the rabbit. However, you should also be careful not to hurt yourself or accidentally inject yourself if the rabbit jumps.

Having a steady hand is essential when administering injections to rabbits

I gave 10 rabbits a small dose of ivermectin since they only have mild mage infections. Next Sunday, when I am free again, I will check if there are any changes in the appearance of their mage. If there are no improvements, I will increase the dosage to eliminate the pathogens inside.

I feel ashamed to admit that I am often too busy and exhausted when I return home, especially since I have online classes from 5 to 7 PM every weekday. It can be suffocating at times, but I am slowly becoming immune to the pressure.

I also want to sincerely apologize if my replies have been delayed recently. I need to focus more on my assessment reports. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting me.