Excessive secretion of saliva and coughing
Esther van Praag, Ph.D.
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Excessive secretion of saliva is
observed mainly after intake of food by the rabbit. The saliva can be translucent,
clear or greenish if vegetables were eaten, or the color of pellets.
Sometimes it is foamy. This problem is frequently related to the presence of
a foreign body such as a piece of hay stuck in the gum or between two cheek
teeth, or a plant “thread”, e.g. after eating a celery branch, fennel, or
parsley. The rabbit becomes distressed while trying to remove the foreign
body. The irritation leads to excessive salivation. Excessive salivation is often linked
to a dental problem and to pain :
· Presence of molar spurs on cheek teeth, even when tiny; · A split or fractured cheek tooth; · An overgrown cheek tooth, that may deviate from the regular alignment
of the cheek teeth, causing a deformation of the palate; · Misalignment of cheek teeth; · Malocclusion of cheek teeth, with irregular surfaces of the crowns,
giving a « step mouth » aspect. In older rabbits, this problem can
relate to acquired dental disease (ADD). A bulging lump along the jaw bone can
sometimes be palpated. Its presence is a sign of an infection at the root
level of teeth, of an abscess. Gum ulceration or secondary tongue lesions are
sometimes observed. Rabbits cannot vomit. The excessive
salivation is not the content of the stomach. Instead, paralysis of the
larynx can lead to excessive salivation. The eaten food and saliva accumulate
in the esophagus is regurgitated through the oral cavity and nose. This
gagging disorder is observed in horses, another herbivorous animal whose
medicine shows analogies with that of rabbits, and has been suspected in a
few rabbits. The regurgitated saliva can be aspired in the airways and cause
pneumonia. In some cases, an abnormal elongation
or drop of the palate has been suspected, linked to the presence of the
parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi. To this day, this has never been
confirmed clinically. Excessive salivation is only rarely
linked to a primary respiratory problems or pneumonia. If, however, the
saliva and chewed food enter the airways, pneumonia can develop. A secondary bacterial or fungal
infection can develop under the chin or on the dewlap. Diagnosis The oral cavity should be carefully
inspected after anesthetizing the rabbit. Radiographs and CT scan help
confirm the presence and location of a dental abscess, of bone infection
(osteomyelitis, a widening of roots, an abnormal bending of the molar or
other problems located under the gum level. Treatment The treatment will depend on the cause
and on the dental problems. If infection, antibiotics must be administered
to the rabbit. It is important to give analgesics to
the rabbits, as these animals do not deal with pain well. When a rabbit
refuses to eat, assisted feeding should be started by feeding pureed food,
e.g., grinded pellets grinded with a coffee grinder and mixed with water, or
a nutritive solution specially formulated for rabbits. Fresh vegetables and hay can be cut in small pieces.
Hay can be softened by wetting it. It should, however, be removed after a few
hours, as it mold and bacteria develop rapidly on wet hay kept at room
temperature. |
