Mini lop doe sick

[Cottie]

One of my mini-lop does appears to be under the weather. They're about 4 months old and live in a colony. I went in to check on all of them yesterday, trying to sex again (I can't believe I'd get 4 and end up with NO bucks!). When I flipped this girl over, she had nasty, runny, sticky poop mixed in with regular, round droppings stuck to her rear end. It was too sticky/liquidy to be cecotropes, I think. It looked like the first meconium poop from a newborn.

I immediately removed her and checked the others. Clean butts.I checked the other three's ears (clean), eyes (clear), nose (dry), teeth (good), nails (good), and weight. They all had the gentle rolling bumps along their spine, however, all of them seem "pot bellied." They're just rounder than my NZs and Calis. Normal for mini-lops?

So I disinfected everything for the quarantine cage and plopped my potentially sick girl in there. First I gave her a thorough once over and discovered she's getting beaten up by the others, with scratches and bites all over her ears and rump. Either way, I figured she could use a little time to recuperate.

She's passing urine and pooping normally, but seems a little down. Not lethargic - I got her going when I unceremoniously flipped her over to check her butt - but she just sits in a corner. No more nasty poop since last night.

How to proceed? I'm thinking I should leave her in quarantine for at least 2 weeks before I attempt to reintroduce. Possibly longer if the runny poop recurs.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would give them all Probiotics. I use Bene-Bac by Manna Pro. It is labeled for livestock (cows, sheep, etc.).

If she develops diarrhea again, try feeding her just hay and kitchen oatmeal for a couple of days. Raspberry, blackberry, and strawberry leaves are good for loose stool, as are the weeds Shepherd's Purse and plantain.

If she is sitting all hunched up, she may have gas. Simethicone drops are good for that. Some people use the Gas-X strips. I have not had occasion to use a gas remedy, but I did buy a bottle of herbal drops for colicky human infants to have just in case I need it.

If you could post pics of your "pot-bellied" rabbits, maybe some of those familiar with mini lops could give you an opinion of whether they look normal or not.

I hope she continues to improve. Good luck! :clover:

 

[avdpas77]

If they are colony rabbits that live in an earth floored cage, I would treat them immediately for coccidiosis.

"Corid" is a common medicine and it can be found at most farm stores.

The "runny poop" and "pot bellied" would normally be an indication of mucoid enteritis. I doubt if it is that or she would have passed by now.

 

[Cottie]

Not an earth floor. It's a concrete floor with bedding.

I'll try to get a picture to describe what I mean. They don't "look" pot-bellied, but they kinda feel that way; maybe I'm using the wrong term. They just look round - rounder than my meat mutts.<br /><br />__________ Fri May 24, 2013 3:56 pm __________<br /><br />

 

[Miss M]

Aw... if she was being bullied, it may just be stress.

I think since you have separated her, maybe the probiotics already mentioned, along with the rolled oats and hay, will be all she needs to get back on track.

She doesn't look bloated or anything to me, but someone else could speak to that issue better than I.