Beneficial properties of iodine for rabbits
Coccidiosis in rabbits is the most common cause of death. Moreover, she “mows down” entire batches of young animals and adults. When eating fresh grass, single-celled parasites called coccidia enter the rabbits' body. The parasites are localized in the intestines and liver, destroying organ systems in a short time.
A solution of potassium iodide helps inhibit the development of coccidiosis. The substance prevents coccidia from fully multiplying and feeding.
Many farmers also use iodine solution for the following purposes:
- removal of toxic substances from the body of animals;
- stimulation of the thyroid gland;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- strengthening the immune system;
- strengthening the nervous system;
- regulation of the digestive system;
- pregnant rabbits are given an iodine solution so that the period of gestation proceeds without problems.
Why do you need to give iodine to rabbits?
Iodine prevents the development of two types of coccidiosis in rabbits:
- The hepatic type is not very severe, but lasts 30-60 days; the mucous membrane of the animal’s eyes becomes yellow, white spots appear on the liver; a favorable outcome is very likely;
- Bowel type - a dangerous form characterized by rapid progression and acute symptoms: constipation, diarrhea, bloody fecal discharge, fever, poor appetite, slow growth, purulent discharge from the eyes and nose, deterioration of the coat (dull, disheveled); in the absence of urgent treatment, the animal may die within 2 weeks.
Symptoms of infections vary, so treatment must be individualized for each type. Both forms of coccidiosis are often observed, resulting in death.
In addition, tincture of potassium iodide strengthens the immune system and normalizes metabolic processes, stimulating the animal's thyroid gland.
It is added to drinking water for rabbits in the last stage of pregnancy, which pass the necessary substance to newborns along with mother's milk. For preventive purposes, iodine is given to young rabbits with water, especially during the nesting period.
Prepare the solution strictly in accordance with the instructions , otherwise an overdose is possible. Early in the morning before feeding, pour the solution into the drinking bowl. For preventive purposes, simply add a few drops to water.
A rabbit is vulnerable to the onslaught of infections from birth, so it is important to take care of prevention as early as possible, improving the health of future offspring.
The female begins to drink iodized water in the last few days of pregnancy, the entire gestation cycle takes about 30 days.
There should be no clean water near the solution, as rabbits will prefer it. The substance is poisonous and should therefore not be offered in concentrated form.
Coccidiosis can only be treated with iodine-based medications. They are sold in most veterinary pharmacies and are used for both treatment and prevention.
Many people have known this tincture since childhood as an antiseptic for wounds (it can also be used for the same purposes in rabbits). It can cure newborn rabbits, as well as prevent mass mortality among the herd as a whole.
Many farmers also use iodine solution for the following purposes:
- removal of toxic substances from the body of animals;
- stimulates the thyroid gland;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- strengthening the immune system;
- strengthening the nervous system;
- regulation of the digestive system;
- pregnant rabbits are given an iodine solution to ensure a safe gestation period.
Farmers use iodine primarily to avoid wastage on their farms. After all, animals themselves, due to their small size, do not have the necessary immunity to infectious diseases.
How to prepare iodine solution for rabbits?
Rabbits need iodine from the first days of their life, since from the moment they are born they are vulnerable to coccidiosis. The young animals are fed by a female rabbit, so the iodine solution is given to her, and along with the milk the substance is transferred to the rabbits.
The iodine solution should differ in concentration for newborn animals, pregnant rabbits and adult offspring. For representatives of the first two categories, a concentration of 0.01% is used, for adults - 0.02% (the same concentration is prepared for newly born rabbits).
When buying iodine at a pharmacy, you can choose a 5% or 10% solution. To achieve a 0.01% solution concentration, you need to properly dilute the substance: stir 2 ml of 5% or 1 ml of 10% iodine in 1 liter of cooled boiled water. To obtain a 0.02% iodine solution, add 4 ml of 5% or 2 ml of 10% iodine to the cooled boiled liquid.
See also: What and how to feed a pregnant rabbit at home?
Many rabbit breeders use crystalline iodine to prepare an iodine solution (it is cheaper). 10 grams of this substance are first ground, then 4 ml of alcohol is added to it, after which the alcohol-iodine mixture is poured with 100 ml of water.
When preparing solutions, you must adhere to an important rule: use only plastic or glass containers.
The prepared solution is stored for up to 7 days in the refrigerator or other cool and dark place. Before giving the solution to animals, shake it.
How to feed rabbits with iodine, how much
For veterinary use, iodine is produced in the form of a 5% alcohol solution. In pharmacies you can find 5% iodine produced in Russia: TD BiAgro LLC, NPF Farmaks CJSC, Veterinary Preparations Plant JSC, Vettorg LLC, BioChemPharm LLC. In Belarus, a 5% iodine solution is produced at the company BelVitUnifarm LLC.
Photo. Alcohol solution of 5% iodine.
Ready-made solutions with iodine
There are several iodine-containing preparations created specifically for feeding rabbits. These are veterinary drugs:
- Poviodon;
- Yodovit;
- Monclavit-1;
- Iodinol.
Poviodon
A Belarusian-made iodine-containing solution is developed for external and internal use. The drug contains iodine in the amount of 2.15 mg/ml. For internal use, Poviodon is diluted in a concentration of 1:10.
This remedy is effective in suppressing many types of bacteria in the body of animals: streptococci, staphylococci, proteus, coccidia, etc. To dilute the drug Poviodon, you need to dilute it in cold boiled water in a ratio of 1:10 (solution and water, respectively).
For rabbits, 0.2-0.3 ml of Poviodine is usually taken for each kilogram of the animal’s weight.
Yodovit
Iodovit 0.1% is widely used to disinfect rabbit cages. More often, the drug is used for external antiseptic measures, but it is also used for sealing rabbits to prevent coccidiosis, although this indication for use is not indicated in the instructions for the product.
Breeders who give Yodovit to rabbits use the following dosage: 1.0 ml of the drug is taken per 1 kilogram of animal. This amount of product is given in pure form or diluted with water (1:2). Desoldering lasts only 1-2 days, twice a day.
Yodovit also exists in the form of tablets, but it is not used for feeding rabbits.
Monclavit-1
Monclavit-1 is similar in action to Yodovit: it is used to disinfect cells and is given orally to rabbits to normalize the digestive tract. Prevention of coccidiosis with Monclavit-1 is rarely carried out, however, it is not excluded.
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For soldering, take a dose of the drug equal to 1.0 ml per kilogram of animal weight. It is not necessary to dilute this drug with water, but it is possible, using a small amount of water (1:1). Give Monclavit-1 2 times a day - morning and evening - for 2-3 days.
This remedy can be used to combat coccidiosis in another way - by treating the nipples of a nursing rabbit. This is how iodine enters the body of recently born rabbits. The solution is sprayed onto the rabbit's nipples using a spray nozzle 2 times a day. This procedure lasts for a week.
It is worth noting that there have been cases when, after spraying Monklavit-1, young animals refused their mother’s milk or it completely disappeared from the rabbit. To avoid such a reaction to the drug, it is recommended to treat 1 nipple of a rabbit for a test and observe the animal’s reaction.
Iodinol
Iodinol is most often used for feeding calves, but it is also effective for rabbits. The drug is used in the following quantity: take 2 ml of Iodinol for each kilogram of animal. This amount of product is diluted in water (1:2) and the rabbits are watered twice a day for 10 days.
Measures to combat coccidiosis
The instructions are silent about the rules for using drugs containing iodine for coccidiosis in rabbits. However, medications containing halogen are used to treat and prevent gastrointestinal diseases of other farm animals. Rabbit farmers have developed schemes to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.
It is necessary to know the date of mating of the female in order to start drinking a 0.01% iodine solution a week before giving birth. The approximate water consumption for a pregnant female is 100 ml/day. It is important to exclude other sources of drinking.
The treatment solution is changed daily. The drinking bowl and dishes for preparing the solution should be glass or ceramic, since halogen reacts chemically with metals.
Be sure to read:
How to treat scabs in a rabbit’s ears from ear mites, folk remedies and preparations.
Soldering continues for the first 5 days of lactation. The amount of water consumed doubles as it is used to produce milk. Take a five-day break and resume soldering with a 0.02% solution for two weeks.
Weanling rabbits are given iodine preparations according to the following scheme:
- In the first ten days, young animals are fed a 0.01% solution at the rate of 50 ml per rabbit per day.
- A five-day ventilation period is carried out, during which the iodine solution is replaced with plain water.
- Resume soldering with a 0.2% solution. The approximate daily drinking requirement in the first week is 70 ml, in the second - 100.
If young animals develop symptoms of coccidiosis, they are treated with a 0.2% solution according to the same scheme. In addition to eimeria (parasites), iodine destroys the accompanying microflora. Pathogenic bacteria do not develop immunity.
How to give iodine to rabbits?
0.01% and 0.02% iodine solution is given to baby rabbits and nursing rabbits. Soldering is carried out according to the following schemes:
- For a pregnant rabbit, a solution of 100 ml is prepared, designed for 10 days of drinking. They start giving it on the 25th day of pregnancy. The completion of feeding occurs on the 5th day of feeding newborn rabbits.
- For adult rabbits, a 0.02% drink in a volume of 200 ml is prepared, designed for 15 days. Watering begins on the 10th day of feeding the rabbits, and ends on the 25th day of the same period.
- A 0.02% solution is prepared for newborn rabbits. As for the volume of liquid, it is not standardized - how much animals will drink.
- A 0.01% solution is prepared for offspring aged 30-45 days. The volume of the liquid is 50 ml, and the duration of drinking is 10 days.
- Offspring at the age of 45-60 days are given a 0.02% iodine solution. It is prepared in a volume of 100 ml and distributed over 15 days of continuous drinking.
- To protect adults from coccidiosis, they are given an aqueous solution every 6 months as a preventive measure. The course lasts 14 days, for this period 100-200 ml of liquid is prepared at a concentration of 0.01%.
- Adult newcomers, recently added to the main stock, also need to be soldered with an iodine solution so that they do not die and do not infect others. To do this, prepare a 0.01% solution and give it for 5-7 days. Animals are also soldered with this solution 3-5 days before the expected mating date.
The prepared solutions are given to rabbits in the morning, pouring the required amount into clean drinking bowls.
How to dilute iodine for rabbits
The dosage of the drug may be different: 0.01% or 0.02% solution. In the first case, a substance is added to a liter of water in the following volume: 5% tincture - 2 ml, 10% - 1 ml. If you need to obtain a solution concentration of 0.02%, the indicated dosage is doubled.
To save money, some rabbit breeders prepare an aqueous solution from crystalline iodine. To do this, grind 10 grams of the drug, add about 4 g of alcohol and dissolve the mixture in 100 ml of water. The result is a 10% tincture, which is added to drinking water in the dosage indicated above.
It is not recommended to use metal utensils to prepare the medicinal solution. It is better to take a container and spoon made of plastic or glass.
