Show Rabbit Stress and Diseases
Showing can be stressful for rabbits, but most healthy rabbits tolerate showing well and don't seem to suffer any problems from it. Once in a while, you might find a rabbit that just doesn't handle the stress of showing very well. Read on for tips on stress, illness and treatment:
Symptoms The Rabbit Is Stressed
A rabbit stressed may show the following symptoms either at the show, or back home after the show:
- Diarrhea or soft mushy feces-that the rabbit did not have before the show
- Listlessness-especially noticed after the show, back at home
- Not eating and/or drinking-again, usually noticed back home, after the show
Stress or Illness?
A 'stressed rabbit' should not be blowing snot, or showing signs of respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, or jelly-like stool. Such symptoms indicate an illness, although the stress of showing can readily bring out an illness a rabbit has.
Rabbits that have an underlying disease should not be shown. If a rabbit had any symptoms indicating illness, such as runny nose, sneezing, sores, severe eye infections, etc. in the past but seemed to get over it, chances are the rabbit illness is only in remission and the stress of showing will bring the illness out again.
If your rabbit had a previous illness, not only do you put your own rabbit in danger by showing, you also put other exhibitors' rabbits under danger of catching the same disease your rabbit has. Don't show that rabbit!
Treating Stress
Treatment depends upon the symptoms. The few stressed rabbits we've had, had quit eating and became listless. Sometimes the early symptoms can be easy to overlook - we lost a very nice doe after a long show back in early 2005 because we didn't notice the stress symptoms early enough.
For any rabbit showing stress - Immediately we give a dose of probiotics and offer extra hay. After careful monitoring and additional doses of probiotics, the rabbit usually bounces back quickly, within a day or so. If the rabbit doesn't improve rapidly, and is still not drinking, a dose of fluids given under the skin (ask your vet or experienced breeder to do this) will usually perk up the rabbit quickly.
Conditioning To Handle Stress
Handling rabbits while they are young and introducing them to other people and noises, such as a moderately loud radio, helps 'condition' them for the stress of the show room. PA systems at some rabbit shows are horrendously loud or blaring and can scare even an experienced show rabbit - don't sit by the speakers, especially with young or new show rabbits.
Personally, I don't like showing rabbits that are very young, say...3 months old. If you have a nice looking rabbit that you are excited to show, just waiting an extra month seems to allow the rabbit to mature enough to handle the stress better. I just don't see the need to stress out a very young rabbit. Rarely is a rabbit that young, even competitive in its class anyway......
On the other hand, some breeders will show their very young rabbits as a way to get them used to showing - you'll have to figure out if you want to show your own very young rabbits - maybe take into account each rabbit's personality while deciding. Some have more vigorous or outgoing personalities and can manage stressful situations better than a reserved animal.
More Tips on Preventing Stress
At shows, I try to keep my rabbits eating throughout the day. I bring a lot of hay, even tempting alfalfa hay, to keep things 'moving along' at shows. I always keep water in their carriers and I also give them their pellets too - although the pellets are not necessary, I think they do better if allowed to keep eating throughout the day. It has been a long long time since I've had a rabbit stressed at a show, so I must be doing something right.
A certain amount of 'nervousness' is almost expected from any rabbit during their first show or two, but usually they get used to the noise and activity quickly. For nervous rabbits, we usually place their carrier away from the traffic areas, and if you are really concerned, you can even partially cover the nervous rabbit's carrier with a light sheet, offering a covered 'retreat' while the rabbit gets used to the noise.
Some breeders give their rabbits one of the commercial stress/vitamin mixes in the rabbit's water, before, during and after showing, to try to head off any stress. I've never used them, but some breeders swear by these products. You can ask any rabbit supply vendor for these.
If you have a rabbit that cannot seem to tolerate showing, you might want to retire that animal.
Catching Rabbit Diseases At A Rabbit Show
When people bring sick or carrier-state rabbits to show, undoubtedly, some rabbits will catch their illnesses - whether or not these rabbits ever become ill depends on their environment and their general health and ability to fight off the disease.
Part of the breeder' job is to breed for disease-resistance, vitality and health, and maintain their rabbits' environment in a way so that disease does not have the advantage.
I think parasites, both external and internal, are likely passed around at rabbit shows. Fur mites, e.cuniculi from other rabbits' urine at the show tables, and more. Most all are treatable and not too much of a concern. Watch for signs of parasites and treat accordingly.
I've also seen breeders give their rabbits antibiotic-medicated water while at shows in an attempt to prevent disease, and I don't agree with this practice. I believe that unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to drug resistance.
It has been suggested by many, to quarantine show rabbits after each show, for at least 2 weeks. This way any illness or disease can be identified and dealt with before it can spread to the rest of the herd.
Don't get too worried about your rabbit becoming stressed or catching an illness at a show - in our experience over the past several years of showing, we've only had a very few instances of rabbit stress and even fewer of illness. And as I mentioned above, its been a long time since we've had a show-stressed rabbit, just from following the few simple tips above.......