Rabbit Sialorrhea (Excessive Drooling): Causes and Treatment

1 Rabbit Sialorrhea (Excessive Drooling): Causes and Treatment

Causes of Rabbit Sialorrhea

It is mainly a viral infection causing acute infectious stomatitis in kits and young rabbits, with blisters on the mouth, lips, tongue, and mucous membranes. It can also come from bad bite alignment or summer heat. It mainly hits rabbits under 3 months, especially 1–2 weeks after weaning.

Symptoms of Rabbit Sialorrhea

Kits and young rabbits catch it most in summer, especially just weaned ones. Signs include:

Early, the oral mucus reddens, then blisters of varying size appear on lips, tongue, and more, filled with fluid, plus many small white or gray-white vesicles. They burst into sores or ulcers, and the mouth and drool turn foul. Constant drool irritates the skin, causing inflammation and hair loss; the rabbit loses appetite. Severe cases fever above 40°C with low spirit, diarrhea, and weight loss, dying in 5–10 days.

Treatment of Rabbit Sialorrhea

Also called rabbit infectious stomatitis, or ‘rotten tongue root.’ Because it’s viral and contagious, isolate the sick rabbit at once and disinfect cages and tools with 2% hot alkaline water; for thoroughness, flame-sterilize cages where safe. Deep-bury or disinfect all contaminants.

Common drugs: 0.1% potassium permanganate rinse, alum powder, goldthread (Coptis), and sulfadimidine tablets.

That covers rabbit sialorrhea—we hope it deepens your understanding.