Could someone please help me....sick rabbit!

[Wendy85]

I have a sick rabbit, she has lost a few pounds I can feel her spine and ribs when I picked her up. The thing is shes still eating not as much as my other rabbit but she's still eating hay and I gave her some craisins and a piece of a banana. she has lost alot of hair on her bottom and at first it was really wet and smelled of ammonia , now 3 days later it's no longer wet and the skin doesnt look raw but shes still not gaining weight I believe she might've gotten an infection from the pee on her bottom. I've already put vitamins in her water and gave her some ivermectin and will repeat in ten days as suggested. However I also bought some penicillin g procaine and I would like to give her a few doses to clear any infection she might have.I have 3ml syringe and the she weighs two pounds. Could you guys help me with the dosage and for how many days i should give it to her?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Wendy,

Other than the fact that she has lost weight and is not eating as well, what are her symptoms aside from a pee stained bottom? The only thing that tells me is that she feels too ill to clean herself properly, which is not a good sign.

Is she sneezing, does she have discharge in her eyes? Have her poop pellets gotten smaller, or is she having diarrhea? What does her urine look like?

Is she a pet rabbit or a production animal? Most people that raise for meat, fiber, or show don't keep animals that show any signs of compromised immune systems and would terminally cull a sick rabbit. But if she is a pet that wont be bred the approach might be different.

From the symptoms you have listed I have no idea what her problem may be, but others might have some ideas. However without at least a good guess as to what might be wrong I wouldn't recommend just randomly injecting her with penicillin.

Parsley is an appetite stimulant, so you could offer her some. If she isn't accustomed to fresh greens just give her a couple of sprigs- but if she regularly gets fresh weeds and greens I would let her have as much as she wants. Celery is another food that will often get rabbits eating, but it doesn't provide a lot of nutrients.

Some things that you can try that wont hurt but may help are giving her electrolytes and probiotics.

She may also have wool block which will cause a lack of appetite because the stomach is already full of fur.

 

[Wendy85]

She isn't sneezing. She doesn't have any discharge around her nose or eyes. Her poop pellets looks the same, she doesnt have any diarrhea..her urine looks a little brown doesn't look thick or "muddy" she has been peeing a little less but she hasnt been drinking as much water as usual. She's a pet rabbit. She usually eats vegetables however since shes been sick I've only given her spinach which she didn't eat, she did eat a few craisins and she ate a piece of banana and I've caught her feeding on hay a few times. I also wet her pellets and sprinkled some probiotics on but she didnt eat much of it.
Her breathing seems normal except I can tell she is in pain she shifts her weight from one foot to the other and sometimes shakes her front feet.

What kind of probiotics? Could I give her pedialyte? and do I mix it with water?
I also have frozen pineapple juice however I'm not sure if I should just try feeding it to her myself or put some in her water jug or do both...Thank you for replying I honestly have no idea what it could be either.

I was going to wash her bottom and put some preparation h to help but I was told not to as I might stress her and cause her to go into shock. Any advice you can give me is very much appreciated.<br /><br />__________ Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:47 pm __________<br /><br />Ok, Ive had a towel on the floor for her to sit on and right now I went to go check it and I see her pee seems to have blood in it its very light. Could it be a urinary infection?

 

[Miss M]

I don't see blood, but I can't guarantee there isn't any. I can tell you that rabbit urine comes in all colors of the rainbow -- including red, which is really good for inducing panic! It usually varies from light milky whitish yellow sludge to brown, but orange, red, green, and purple have all been observed.

She appears to have a little fur in her system, which is rather normal. I think I see two sets of joined poops? If you are seeing a couple of her "bunny berries" attached like that here and there, it isn't much of a worry. If you start seeing them a lot, it's an emergency. This would be a symptom of wool block possibly forming, and you would need to try to prevent it. This would be: removing all food except for hay and regular kitchen oatmeal, supplement with fresh pineapple, fresh pineapple juice, fresh papaya, or papaya enzyme tablets. The enzymes in papaya and pineapple can break up hair.

That may not have anything to do with her problem, though.

Could she have an injured leg?

Could the fur loss be from her bottom being wet for a while?

Could you post pictures of the rabbit, and anything important, like the loss of fur?

How much rabbit experience do you have?

 

[squidpop]

I'm sorry your rabbit is sick and I'm not sure about what to do but just want to interject and say - don't put preparation h on her - she will lick it off..

I think you should take her to the vet- it would be good to know if she has a temperature or not so that you can figure out if she has a infection.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

first look under her hocks and make sure there is no sores...If she is fine that way.. I think she does have infection.. being a pet bunny.. I go ahead a medicate her.. She might have a fever.. Does she seem warm to you..

 

[Wendy85]

I don't see blood, but I can't guarantee there isn't any. I can tell you that rabbit urine comes in all colors of the rainbow -- including red, which is really good for inducing panic! It usually varies from light milky whitish yellow sludge to brown, but orange, red, green, and purple have all been observed.

She appears to have a little fur in her system, which is rather normal. I think I see two sets of joined poops? If you are seeing a couple of her "bunny berries" attached like that here and there, it isn't much of a worry. If you start seeing them a lot, it's an emergency. This would be a symptom of wool block possibly forming, and you would need to try to prevent it. This would be: removing all food except for hay and regular kitchen oatmeal, supplement with fresh pineapple, fresh pineapple juice, fresh papaya, or papaya enzyme tablets. The enzymes in papaya and pineapple can break up hair.

That may not have anything to do with her problem, though.

Could she have an injured leg?

Could the fur loss be from her bottom being wet for a while?

Could you post pictures of the rabbit, and anything important, like the loss of fur?

How much rabbit experience do you have?

Thank you for your advice she's been eating a lot of hay and I gave her oats like you suggested and pineapple juice (not the bottled kind)She's been pooping normally and I haven't seen any joined poops since.I also gave her probiotics. (Bene-bac)

She's my first pet rabbit, I've had her for three years and this is the first time she's been sick. Today she seemed a little more energetic she's been hopping to me and if I'm standing somewhere in the living room she'll come to me and kinda stand up leaning on my legs, like she wants my attention.

I've only nursed dogs back to health by giving them fluids subq every day until they started eating and drinking on their own (parvo) after they're back to health I vaccinate and take them to be neutered or spayed and find them a good home to go to. I know people here are way more knowledgeable when it comes to rabbits and what might be causing them to be sick and how to help them which is why I asked you guys for advice....and I very much appreciate it.

Like a week before this started I noticed she was peeing and sitting in her urine,she's litter box trained. I didnt think anything of it because every now and then she'd do this. The fur on the bottom of her foot is matted and like I said she's lost alot of weight. She's still eating though. She's just not drinking as much or peeing as much. She doesn't drink from her bottle or a bowl if I put it next to her but if I hold up a syringe full of water next to her mouth she will drink about 10ml of water. What could it be? I have no clue and unfortunately right now I'm strapped for cash which is why I went and bought what I could which is the Penicillin procaine and Ivermec.

__________ Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:32 pm __________

first look under her hocks and make sure there is no sores...If she is fine that way.. I think she does have infection.. being a pet bunny.. I go ahead a medicate her.. She might have a fever.. Does she seem warm to you..

The fur on the bottom of her hocks is matted but there's not any hair missing there. The hair is missing around her pee pee area....(sorry don't know the technical term)and on her inner thigh area. No she doesn't seem warm.<br /><br />__________ Tue Oct 22, 2013 9:51 pm __________<br /><br />By the way, how do you guys learn so much about rabbits? Just by experience, or literature? I would like to learn more.

 

[Miss M]

Glad to hear she's feeling better! Rabbits can be so difficult to figure out when they are sick. Usually, by the time you notice they are ill, it is already rather serious. This is because they are prey animals, and are very good at hiding weaknesses. Sometimes, you never really figure out what it was.

She's my first pet rabbit, I've had her for three years and this is the first time she's been sick.

Well, you've obviously been doing a lot right!

You can give rabbits fluids subq as well. It is good that she is still eating. I treated a couple of rabbits with PenG, and they would pretty much stop eating for the last couple of days, and pick back up a day or so later. So I didn't think anything of it when I treated a rabbit with Tylan50, and she stopped eating... for a week. I kept thinking she'd start again. Then she died of gut stasis. That's when I remembered that I had recently read that rabbits have to always have something going through their systems, or the GI tract will just stop.

I cannot answer why she is not drinking from a bottle or bowl, but will drink from a syringe. That is odd. You might try enticing her with various mixtures: Gatorade or Pedialyte with water, tea with water, blackstrap molasses with water. We recently used full strength Gatorade with a rabbit for a couple of days, then started diluting it more and more. It was Fruit Punch, and he loved it. It also dyed his chin and one foot pink. :lol:

I know people here are way more knowledgeable when it comes to rabbits and what might be causing them to be sick and how to help them which is why I asked you guys for advice....and I very much appreciate it.

So many of us learn by asking others on here!!!

What could it be? I have no clue and unfortunately right now I'm strapped for cash which is why I went and bought what I could which is the Penicillin procaine and Ivermec.

I wish I could give you more of a clue. But I certainly know what you are going through with the cash flow! A little while back, I bought 1/4 pound of Safeguard worming pellets, because it cost just over $1. After payday, I bought more.

The hair is missing around her pee pee area....(sorry don't know the technical term)and on her inner thigh area.

It's called her vent, and that refers to the vaginal area as well, as they use the same passage for a short distance.

My guess would be that the fur is missing from this area because it has been wet so much, due to her sitting in her urine. Hopefully, more knowledgeable members will chip in more/better info. Nu-Stock can help clear up skin issues and help her fur grow back. It's about $13/tube here. It is messy, and smells of pine oil mingled with sulphur... because that's what it is. Her fur would probably grow back just from you finding a way to keep her dry, though.

By the way, how do you guys learn so much about rabbits? Just by experience, or literature? I would like to learn more.

Oh, goodness... well, I've learned most everything I know about rabbits here at RabbitTalk, just by reading threads, doing searches, and asking questions. There is literature out there, though, and information from that gets referenced on here as well. The Merck Veterinary Manual at http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/index.html has a lot of good information, and there are rabbit specific sites such as:

http://medirabbit.com/
http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/
http://www.hoppinherdofhares.com/rabbitcare.html

...and others.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

try not to use ivomec on the rabbit if possible.. what kind of rabbit is she.. and how old is the rabbit.

 

[Miss M]

try not to use ivomec on the rabbit if possible.. what kind of rabbit is she.. and how old is the rabbit.

Mary Ann's right... there are some rabbits who cannot tolerate ivermectin. It's supposed to be mostly fatal to Dutch, and quite dangerous to other Vienna carriers.

I have used it with no issues, but I have no Vienna marked rabbits.

 

[Wendy85]

oops! I gave it to her about 5 days ago she's been eating and drinking fine she's a holland lop. I have a lionhead as well.
What is Vienna?<br /><br />__________ Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:46 pm __________<br /><br /> I'm learning more everytime I log in.

 

[Miss M]

I think you would have had problems by now if you were going to have them. So I'd continue with the next two doses 10 days apart, just to complete the course.

Vienna is a gene that causes certain markings on rabbits. It is a recessive gene. Two copies of the recessive gene result in a blue-eyed white (BEW) rabbit, or Dutch markings. One copy can result in no visible Vienna-related marks at all, or various tell-tale white marks on the forehead, the nose, even a paw.

I could be wrong on any of this, and we have a number of members who are very knowledgeable in genetics. I am not one of them.

The Vienna gene does not manifest itself only in the appearance of the rabbit, though. It also carries a tendency to be much more sensitive to the effects of certain medications. Not all Dutch rabbits have died after being given ivermectin, but many have. It's my understanding that you see the same genetic issues at play in collies and similar dogs -- they can't take ivermectin, either.

Keep reading those old threads! You will learn so much about rabbits!

Oh -- one more great site for understanding rabbit body language: http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

I tried the "offendedness" body language on a rabbit who nipped me. I had to do it twice. That was four years ago, and he's never nipped me again.

(Oh -- the rabbit at top left at the link above... it's a Dutch, or it looks like a Dutch. The rabbit at top left of RabbitTalk is Vienna marked, with the white nose and little white strip on the forehead.)

 

[Wendy85]

I think you would have had problems by now if you were going to have them. So I'd continue with the next two doses 10 days apart, just to complete the course.

Vienna is a gene that causes certain markings on rabbits. It is a recessive gene. Two copies of the recessive gene result in a blue-eyed white (BEW) rabbit, or Dutch markings. One copy can result in no visible Vienna-related marks at all, or various tell-tale white marks on the forehead, the nose, even a paw.

I could be wrong on any of this, and we have a number of members who are very knowledgeable in genetics. I am not one of them.

The Vienna gene does not manifest itself only in the appearance of the rabbit, though. It also carries a tendency to be much more sensitive to the effects of certain medications. Not all Dutch rabbits have died after being given ivermectin, but many have. It's my understanding that you see the same genetic issues at play in collies and similar dogs -- they can't take ivermectin, either.

Keep reading those old threads! You will learn so much about rabbits!

Oh -- one more great site for understanding rabbit body language: http://language.rabbitspeak.com/

I tried the "offendedness" body language on a rabbit who nipped me. I had to do it twice. That was four years ago, and he's never nipped me again.

(Oh -- the rabbit at top left at the link above... it's a Dutch, or it looks like a Dutch. The rabbit at top left of RabbitTalk is Vienna marked, with the white nose and little white strip on the forehead.)

Wow, just spent and hour and a half on that site reading and then clicking on other links, very interesting. Thanks! I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Question, is Ivermectin the same as Wazine do they both get rid of all worms or parasites? I was at the feed store and I was thinking maybe in the future I would treat both my buns with Wazine just as a preventative however when I was chatting with the owner he said they both get rid of all types of worms..so naturally I went for the cheaper one which was Ivermectin. What is your opinion?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

you are fine with a Holland lop .. you don't have to deworm rabbits unless they you might think they have it because nothing else works or they are on the ground.. so don't use any more medication unless needed.

 

[Dood]

They are different drugs

The active ingredient in Wazine is Piperazine - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piperazine
While the active ingredient in ivermec is ivermectin - http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivermectin

Neither will kill all worms. Piperazine is effective against most round worms while ivermectin kills most round worms, hookworms, whip worms, and skin parasites like mites. Neither are defective agai st tapeworm or flukes - only praziquantel ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praziquantel ) will work on these.

 

[Miss M]

you are fine with a Holland lop .. you don't have to deworm rabbits unless they you might think they have it because nothing else works or they are on the ground.. so don't use any more medication unless needed.

I figured she should complete the course because the rabbit is feeling better?

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I am not to sure what you mean miss M.. to complete the course.. if it is antibiotics ,, then yes.. you have to complete it if you are giving it all ready.

what I ment was it is a Holland lop rabbit.. so you will be fine giving any meds to it. That's all .. had to clarify my post. Not to good at explaining things.

 

[Wendy85]

UPDATE> and asking for opinions....

So my rabbit has gained most of her weight back is eating and drinking regularly and is hopping around normally.
I'm going to give her the second dose of ivermec tomorrow.

When she was sick she was sitting in her urine and he hair was really wet and matted from the bottom. Her fur has dried and her skin doesnt seem irritated anymore but her fur is falling out. I've also notice a little bit falling off around her eyes I dont see any wetness or mucus around her eyes. Which is strange.....So I'm unsure if her skin is healing from the wet tail and her fur is just going to fall out and grow out again...or if it could be something else like mites. Here are the pictures I took tonight.