Ammonia
intoxication in rabbits
Esther van Praag, Ph.D.
MediRabbit.com is
funded solely by the generosity of donors.
Every
donation, no matter what the size, is appreciated and will aid in the continuing
research of medical care and health of rabbits.
Thank you
|
Ammonia (NH3) is a heavy gas, whose presence
in greater concentration is toxic. It is formed by bacteria that degrade
litter, urine, excrements, and takes place in warm conditions. It
is thus more likely to observe NH3 intoxication during
the summer months, rather than in the winter.
In rabbits, ammonia-laden air leads to a reduction
in the respiratory rate, which means that the CO2 in the
blood cannot be properly removed. In air containing 50 to 100 ppm
NH3, respiratory rate drops from around 110 breaths per
minute to 70 breaths per minute. This also leads to an increase in
the CO2 and urea nitrogen content of the blood. However,
the blood pH remains unchanged at around 7.3. Air pollution by ammonia gas is toxic to the rabbit's
organism. Yet poisoning by this molecule is often overlooked when
diagnosing respiratory diseases. The problem is more common in commercial
rabbit farms, but less frequent in domestic rabbits, which are raised
in hygienic conditions. Exposure to ammonia gas can be avoided by
regular cleaning of litter trays and good ventilation of the housing.
Especially in humid summer weather. Clinical signs
The disease is characterized by
different stages, depending on the length of exposure and the concentration
of ammonia in the air. In the very beginning, typical
problems related to upper respiratory disease are observed: nasal and ocular
discharge, swollen eyelids and irritation of the corneal surface of the eye, sneezing
and snoring, rarely fever. If the problem is not treated,
pharyngeal and tracheal inflammation is observed, followed by lower
respiratory tract disease. At this stage, secondary bacterial infection is
possible, due to the destruction of the mucociliary barrier and depression of
the immune system. At this stage, the disease develops in an acute form, with
difficult respiration and sometimes coughing. The rabbit is often anorexic,
depressed, shows signs of dyspnea (abnormal or difficult breathing) and
cyanosis (blue discoloration of tongue, lips, gums, due to shortage of oxygen
in the blood), fever or hypothermia. The disease is difficult to treat
and often becomes chronic, even when the rabbits are transferred to a clean
well-aerated environment. For information of the treatment of bacteria induced
respiratory diseases, see: Upper respiratory tract disease in
rabbits. Further
Information
1.
Boucher S,
Nouaille L. Maladies des Lapins. Manual pratique.
Editions France Agricole. 2002. pp 182-183 2. Kruckenberg SM,
Cook JE, Feldman BF. Clinical toxicities of pet and caged rodents and
rabbits. Vet Clin North Am.
1975;5(4):675-84. 3. Makarenko ON, Skorik LV, Mel'nichuk
DA. The
characteristics of nitrogen metabolism in the tissues of rabbits with
ammonium toxicosis. Ukr Biokhim Zh.
1992; 64(6):105-9. |
e-mail: info@medirabbit.com