2 baby kits poop question

[Peach]

I was checking the kits and they had poop matted to their butts. They are healthy and fed....I just went ahead and cleaned their bottoms....should I be worried? They are only a couple of days old and they have been separate for quarantine from my other rabbits...

__________ Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:07 pm __________

should I go ahead and treat all my rabbits for coccida? Adults and kits?

 

[MaggieJ]

Was it watery poop or just a bit soft?

 

[Peach]

It was hardened up when I got there so I'm assuming it was watery when it happened ( No body else will check on these kits but me because I'm the only one who knows how to handle the over protective doe) . I was in school from 8am-8pm to I'm usually rushing back to check all my buns on mondays and tuesdays. I noticed after I cleaned the solid new born and got to poop unlogged from his butt, light green poo was coming out. I also was checking on some 4 week old kits and one of them had poop matted on its bottom to the point I don't think it could poop anymore and I had to clean it off. It seems lighter than the rest.... I just checked that kit now and it has a clean bottom. I'm getting some coccidia medication in Saturday just in case...

 

[HendricksHearth]

I have an unopened bottle of Sulmet if you can't find any locally Peach. I would probably wait to use it though until later on unless someone around here knows for sure it is safe for an extremely young litter or lactating does. I just don't know about that part since I've never used it.

Sometimes the older kits get fur caught in their poop during the transition period and it can get matted. Once you clean it off and clip the hair around their nethers they should be okay again. I'd make sure they have hay to nibble on.

I've never dealt with GI issues in newborn kits though- their mother should be keeping them clean and stimulated when she is nursing them. Since she has been a freak when bothered, I'd probably leave them alone completely for a day and see if she starts to do her job so you don't have to keep messing with it. I know this sounds terrible, but I am also very much a believer in survival of the fittest with the youngsters. If someone is sickly right from the start and Mom is ignoring them then there might be something defective about the kit. Hopefully this is just a case of a Mom dropping the ball though and hopefully she will get back on track asap.

Best of luck!

Lauren

 

[MaggieJ]

I've never encountered this situation, but from what I have read I don't hold out much hope for infant rabbits with diarrhea. There is a link at the beginning of the article below to emergency measures that can be taken, but they sound complicated. Veterinary care for this situation is not feasible... Most vets do not know much about treating rabbits and treatment would be expensive beyond the value of the rabbits.

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

 

[ladysown]

they are TWO days old?

They got missed in the cleaning by mom. you clean their bums and put them back in the nest.

No need to treat a whole herd just because two baby kits have messy bums.

 

[Peach]

kk I just checked on the 4 week old kit and it seemed ok. No messy bottom butI guess it might just of been poop getting stuck to its bottom. I'll go ahead and leave the new borns alone too. Hope big evil mamma will get her stuff together. Otherwise, everyone is happy and healthy and getting a good grooming XD Most of my rabbits are molting. I'm sure everyone is appreciating me pulling them out and giving them a good brush and rub down