How do I know if my kits have coccidiosis and how to treat?

[jimmywalt]

For some reason many of our kits are dying around 5 weeks of age. This has happened quite often this summer/fall. It happened with some of our Holland Lops, Fuzzy Lops and mini lops. Each litter had some that lived and some that didn't.

It seems the common thing was that they got runny bowels and then quickly went down hill and died. They would be fine one day and then within 24 to 48 hours dead.

My wife has been reading about coccidiosis and is thinking that possibly we have it. Is there something that we can look for to find out (without dissecting a bunny), and how do we get rid of it if we have it????

Tonight we looked at the following items, but aren't sure if they are the right things, and even if they are how to find the right consistency (the right mix) to treat our bunnies.

Also would we treat every rabbit and kit (we have about 15) or do we just treat the baby bunnies? Also is it okay to treat a pregnant doe?

Here are the items we looked at. Thank you for your help!

 

[Zinnia]

I'm sorry this is happening to your litters. If it were me, I'd check your feed to be sure it's fresh. I'd give lots of extra hay and put a few drops of ACV into their waters. That extra hay (good quality grass hay) seems to really help the gut. I'm not sure if you can afford to lose any, but culling them to keep the most resistant is very wise. I'm sure you've already cleaned the cages, etc. That's important. I've never used any of these products. Others here may have advice on that. I hope you see improvement soon.

 

[Homer]

Jimmy you have your work cut out for you. Get out the scrub brush, ammonia and water. To get a handle on this you MUST disinfect their entire environment. Everything!
Every rabbit. Coccidiosis is highly contagious, treat the entire herd.
The meds you show will work in a 5 day on 5 off treatment schedule then treat again for 5 days.

Here's what MediRabbit.com http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm has to say about it.

..Sulfonamide and trimethoprim antibiotics have proven efficacious in the treatment of coccidiosis. They should only be used to cure the disease, never as a preventive measure. The most effective drug is sulphadimethoxine (0.5 to 0.7 g / liter water). It is the well tolerated by pregnant and nursing does. Other sulpha drugs include:

· sulphaquinoxaline in drinking water: 1 g/litre;

· sulphadimerazine in drinking water: 2 g/litre.

· Salinomycine (Bio-Cox®);

· Diclazuril (Clinicox®);

· Toltrazuril (Baycox®), 2.5 to 5 mg/kg (higher doses cause anorexia and decrease in size of fecal droppings), twice, repeat after 5 days.

Treatment is best administrated to all the rabbits during a minimum of 5 days. The treatment should be repeated after 5 days.

Treatment of the environment is important (e.g. 10% ammonia). Water crocks and feed hoppers should be disinfected and remain free of rabbit feces. When treating a carpet, vacuum first in order to further penetration of the anticoccidial product. During treatment of the environment, rabbits should be kept in another part of the home to avoid the danger of contact with the products and possible intoxication...

It's pretty hard to tell if this is it unless you open one up. The link I gave shows you a few things to look for...are you sure it isn't weaning enteritis? The age is just right and easier to treat, http://rabbittalk.com/kit-with-diarrhea-t26759.html#p285930

 

[Nika]

The best way to determine whether it is coccidia or not is to deliver "freshly dead bunny" (or poops of the diseased animals) to the clinic for further examination and dissection. With us it doesnt`t cost much more that treating the whole herd with medications.

I had a "thing" going on this summer, 9 out of 12 died because of diarrhea (only from one doe, even though 2 does with kits shared colony setup). Never had coccidia, never had weaning enteritis, so I didn`t know what was going on and I still don`t. With the next litter everything was fine, If it wasn`t I would treat for coccidia and then go from there.