Enteric Diseases in Rabbits
Enteritis, an infection of the intestinal tract, is caused by a group of very common
and often devastating diseases affecting rabbits. It is considered to be the major cause of
disease, mortality, and economic loss in domestic rabbits, particularly young rabbits.
Diarrhea is the most prevalent symptom of enteritis. Initially it was thought that all
instances of diarrhea in rabbits were caused by one disease, known as mucoid enteritis.
Today we know that there are separate diseases that cause diarrhea in rabbits, which
include coccidiosis (see the Nutrifax “Coccidiosis in Rabbits” November 2005),
enterotoxemia, colibacillosis, mucoid enteritis, proliferative enteropathy and Tyzzer’s
disease.