Dyspnoea must be differentiated from laboured breathing due to heat-stress or shock. Following infection of the respiratory system, young rabbits usually die within a week. Those that survive fail to thrive and do not reach market weight. Infected animals continually shed bacteria into the environment, resulting in transmission of the disease to other susceptible stock. Wry-Neck Wry neck is the common name for a middle ear infection.
Rabbits lose their sense of balance and direction and consequently tilt their heads to one side.
Wry neck is not particularly serious and whilst some animals may develop brain abscess, the majority go to slaughter at the correct market weight. In contract, young growers with severe pasteurella body abscess usually fail to thrive. The abscess continually forms, discharges and regresses, spreading bacteria into the environment. Infection usually results from pre or post weaning injury with the opportunistic bacteria invading wounds caused from fighting. Rabbits that make slaughter are usually condemned which is worse than the animal dying during the growing period.