Prevention and treatment of common diseases in bamboo rat breeding
When the bamboo rats being bred show the following symptoms, it is necessary to pay attention because they are very likely to be sick and should be isolated for observation and treatment in time.
Here are a few common signs:
1. Bamboo rats have difficulty walking, eat less and move less;
2. Bamboo rats appear lethargic, with dull fur, not eating or moving, curling up in a corner;
3. There are no visible wounds on the bamboo rat's body, but lumps can be felt by touch;
4. Bamboo rats suffering from gastroenteritis may have diarrhea, with loose stools around the anus, sometimes with blood in the feces;
5. When bamboo rats have a fever, they may have eye discharge, tearing, hot bodies and cold tails;
6. Some bamboo rats appear normal on the surface but are actually emaciated with pale skin;
7. The bamboo rat's body is covered with blisters ranging in size from soybeans to corn kernels, which may even become purulent;
8. Bamboo rats suffering from cystitis or internal injuries may pass bloody stools.
Prevention and treatment of common diseases in bamboo rat breeding
1. External injuries: This is the most common disease in bamboo rat breeding. They are often caused by mutual fighting over food, fright, fighting for nesting rooms, bites during transport, or improper handling leading to human-induced injuries. Treatment method: Upon discovering external injuries, antiseptic solutions such as Lantian iodine tincture, pot-bottom ash, or Ten Thousand Flowers oil can be applied promptly. Human-use external injury hemostatic drugs can also be used. For larger, deeper wounds with significant bleeding, Yunnan Baiyao powder can be sprinkled to stop the bleeding and reduce inflammation. Wounds should not be bandaged with gauze or ointment, as the bamboo rats will tear off any bandages.
2. Colds: These are caused by sudden changes in climate, where bamboo rats are exposed to wind and rain, leading to chills. Symptoms include accelerated breathing, sensitivity to cold, clear nasal discharge, reduced or stopped eating, and a drop in body temperature. In severe cases, the body temperature may rise if left untreated, leading easily to pneumonia. Treatment method: Intramuscular injection of compound aminopyrine, 0.3-0.5 ml per dose, twice daily. For severe cases, intramuscular injection of 100,000-150,000 units of penicillin, three times daily. If pneumonia occurs concurrently, penicillin and streptomycin alternating injections should be administered under the guidance of a veterinarian due to the complexity of the medication technique.
3. Heatstroke: During summer transportation, if the temperature rises above 32 degrees Celsius, coupled with poor ventilation in the vehicle or exposure to direct sunlight for 20-30 minutes, and a lack of juicy feed leading to insufficient water replenishment within the body, heatstroke can occur. First aid method: Move the sick rat to a shady area, bury its body in wet sand while leaving the head exposed. After 10-15 minutes, the bamboo rat will regain consciousness. If wet sand is unavailable, immerse the bamboo rat in cold water, keeping its head above water and preventing excessive drinking. Otherwise, even if the heatstroke is relieved, the rat may still be difficult to keep alive. Alternatively, menthol oil can be applied to the bamboo rat's nostrils.
4. Postpartum uterine prolapse: Some female rats experience uterine prolapse after giving birth to their first litter due to excessive exertion. If not discovered in time, the uterus turns black and emits an unpleasant odor, eventually causing the mother rat to bite it off, thereby losing her reproductive ability. First aid method: If continuously hearing the cries of baby rats (due to lack of milk) within two to three days postpartum, it's time to check the condition of the mother rat. There are two treatments if uterine prolapse is confirmed. The first involves roasting soybeans, soaking them in pig bile to absorb its juice, drying slightly, grinding into powder, and mixing with feed for feeding. Within two to three days, the uterus will return to its original position. The second involves applying menthol oil to the prolapsed uterus three to four times daily, causing the mother rat to lick it frequently, which helps recovery. Note that these methods are suitable within three days postpartum. If discovered more than four days postpartum, the chances of successful treatment decrease significantly, and the rat may already be considered sterile.
5. Gastroenteritis: This is mainly caused by unclean and moldy feed. Symptoms include depression, reduced or stopped eating, loose stools around the anus, moaning at night in the nest, gradual weight loss, and eventual dehydration and death. Treatment method: After stopping food for 1-2 meals, grind one tablet of oxytetracycline (if using human medication, use 1/4 to 1/6 of the dosage) (0.5 grams) and mix it with refined feed for oral administration, twice daily; or intramuscular injection of oxytetracycline solution, 0.4-0.5 ml each time, once daily, for continuous medication over three days; in severe cases, inject chloramphenicol into the inner thigh muscle, 0.5-0.6 ml each time, once daily, for two consecutive days until cured. (This disease is harder to treat in the middle to late stages, so careful observation during the feeding process is necessary. Early stage treatment may involve mixing pot-bottom ash from burning wood with refined feed.)
6. Severe external injuries or abscesses: Abscesses in bamboo rats are often caused by fighting injuries that were not treated in time or improperly treated, resulting in yellow-white pus-filled swellings commonly found on the head, abdomen, limbs, and tail base of bamboo rats, which feel hard on the outside and soft inside when pressed. Treatment method: Incise the abscess, drain the pus, rinse and disinfect the wound, crush chloramphenicol tablets and mix with peanut oil for application, while simultaneously injecting penicillin intramuscularly to prevent re-infection of the wound.
7. E. coli disease: This mostly occurs in spring and summer. Affected rats have swollen abdomens, feeling fluctuant upon touch, and are often mistaken for pregnancy in female rats. Upon autopsy, there are large amounts of jelly-like (transparent gel-like) exudates in the abdomen. Treatment method: Use neomycin and cefalexin for treatment, injecting 0.5 ml per large rat and half that amount for young rats.