Rabbit Enteric Syndrome

This chapter aims to approach the most relevant enteric disorders that affect rabbits and have great economic impact on rabbit farms as a syndrome. Enteric diseases are a major cause of losses in rabbits reared for meat production. Many digestive disorders of rabbits may be related to diet, environmental comfort, stress, or other management factors, and only a few are caused by enteric pathogens. There is a complex interrelationship between stress, diet, gut motility, and infectious agents involved in the etiopathogenesis of enteric syndrome. This syndrome is manifested by a disruption in normal fecal production. Digestible (fermentable) and indigestible (nonfermentable) fiber play a relevant role in digestive physiology. Additionally, the rabbit cecum is an ecosystem containing a microbiota that is essential to the health of the rabbit. Alterations in the balance of microorganisms within the cecum can result in the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. The management of this syndrome is based on the control of the risk factors.