I need opinions.

[ZachsRabbits]

I need opinions. My foundation dutch pair had a litter of 4 kits. The kits seem very small for nine weeks and seem to have a genetic mutation or diseases that is making them very ill. One kit has already passed away from this illness and one kit has a split penis. What should I do with this pair? They both come from strong genetic backgrounds. They must carry some weird recessive genes that I didn't know about. I contacted both of their breeders and they both said they never have problems like this in their herds.

 

[Deer Heart]

Hopefully someone more experienced chimes in soon, but from what I've read if your buck carried split penis it would show on him. If the sire doesn't have one, then you need to look at your doe and try a different one. Does can carry it without showing it... since they lack a penis to split.

 

[Dood]

As this is your foundation pair and you've been breeding Dutch for a year I assume they've had numerous litters in the past without issue so it is not a genetic problem and is more likely a disease of which there are many that can stunt growth and cause death so more symptoms are needed, clear pictures of their body from the side and top down would also help.

If your buck has a normal penis then the doe must be the carrier, however, 9 weeks is awefully young to notice a split penis, normally the males are not even close to sexually mature and it can be extremely difficult to extend the penis from the sheath and get a good look at it. If it is mildly split then there is still a chance it will seal up but if she was my rabbit I'd remove her from the gene pool and not use any of her offspring as breeding stock.

 

[ZachsRabbits]

Actually Dood this is the first litter she's taken care of.

We lost another kit this morning :|

I just don't know what is happening? Any advice for the remaining kits?

 

[alforddm]

The split penis may or may not be related to the other health problems you are experiencing.

Most kits with a split penis make it to adulthood. Which may mean you may be dealing with two different issues. Have you attempted to necropsy any of the kits you have lost? How many litters have you lost?

 

[ZachsRabbits]

Yes, I have two different problems. The split penis and the sickness. I lost 2 kits in a litter of 4. Then I lost their 2 blues from the first litter.

 

[Dood]

Actually Dood this is the first litter she's taken care of

so has she had litters before but not taken care of them?

 

[Zass]

The kits seem very small for nine weeks and seem to have a genetic mutation or diseases that is making them very ill.

There are also tons of non-genetic diseases that can kill baby rabbits. Any kind of feed change, invisible mold toxins in the feed, worms, or even a protozoa, cocci.


From my experience, weanilings can die from things adult rabbits easily resist.

I'd be going through your husbandry practices first and making sure you had every base covered before deciding it was something genetic.


You have had litters of normal, non sick kits as well, right?

 

[ZachsRabbits]

Nope I never have had normal non sick kits. This my first litter that stayed alive and the first she's taken of care of. The kits were on track until they started losing weight. They are free fed pellets and hay with water with pedialyte for electrolytes since they started acting off. Could they have parasites or be faders? Any alternatives to pellets that I feed them until I rule pellets out of equation?

 

[Zass]

Nope I never have had normal non sick kits. This my first litter that stayed alive and the first she's taken of care of. The kits were on track until they started losing weight. They are free fed pellets and hay with water with pedialyte for electrolytes since they started acting off. Could they have parasites or be faders? Any alternatives to pellets that I feed them until I rule pellets out of equation?

Oats or old fashioned oatmeal and hay would be preferable over the pellets for now. Just because it's the easiest diet there is for struggling rabbits. Some might say just hay and no oats...It's all a matter of what you are comfortable with. The pedialyte was also a good idea.
A probiotic like benebac would be also good for the little guys if you have one.

I think, it could be anything at this point. Baby rabbits are very fragile.

Consider parasites like worms or hepatic cocci. (check droppings, and if you lose any, check their livers for white spots)

Make sure every surface in their cage or pen is clean and dry. Cocci thrives in moist or humid environments.

Look your hay over VERY closely. If you see a lot of weeds or dust, you may need to get new hay. Mold will produce powdery dust before it's visible on the surface of the hay. I had hay molding in the hay racks this spring...it was so humid. My first warning? The the hay actually sat in the racks for a few days. Normally they would have had it gone overnight.

Pellets were molding the the j-feeders after just 3 days in there too.

Check the way the pellet bag is stored while your looking around. Mold can start to grow from any part of the bags getting wet at any point, or like I said, just from exposure to humid air.

Stop everyone else from handling your babies for now, and with the next litter.
I'm pretty sure that kits are sometimes lost from exposure to e-coli from the unwashed hands of smaller children.

Check their water too. If you use a bottle, make sure it is clean and non moldy, that the valve words properly.