Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/262

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CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF RABBITS

Sometimes it is due to both weakness in breeding stock and improper feeding. One cannot feed unbalanced rations composed of green food and other cheap stuff without expecting trouble in raising your litters. There must be a balanced ration, as stated in the Chapters on Feeding, and the stock must have plenty to eat or they will fail to deliver the goods.

Convulsions often seize young stock and cause death. This is due almost entirely to lack of constitutional vigor or feeding.

Abscesses and Boils. The cause generally arises from bites, scratches or bruises. They may also come in young stock as a result of the parents having been bred while in that condition. The hair must be removed from the skin around the abscess and an incision made in the skin clear across the lumps. If you are careful, the pus bag can generally be removed entire. In the case of boils it will be necessary to squeeze out the pus as the boil ripens. It is best to wash the boil or abscess in a solution of weak peroxide