Need help with diarrhea

[AmysMacdog]

I've been raising rabbits since the early 80s and I've come to realise just how lucky i've been. Now I'm in trouble!!! While little goat was sick we found one bunny in a group sick and diarrhea. Culled it and his brothers immediately. Treated the rest with Corid hoping it was coccidiosis. Its not! This morning it had spread to all my bunnies in 3 different cages. These cages are feet apart and are outside where they are well ventilated. So It must be a virus. At first I thought it was b/c I had added hay at feeding time when we finally got fresh hay in but now....a virus!
This is awful! Do I cull all bunnies? Try to save the ones I was going to keep? None of the adults have it yet anything I can do to boost their immune systems, especially my American rabbits.
My one grey doe just had a litter yesterdaynow they are expose to, she had 7 w/o bunnies that were moved just in time for the nest box, now they have it and I was planning to keep her 2 doelings.

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

There has been a lot of talk on Facebook groups about this. I think there has been a link to feed. Do you feed pellets? Sorry to hear about this it sounds awful!!

 

[MaggieJ]

Devon's Mom Lauren makes a valid point about possible feed contaminants. Did you perhaps open a new bag just before this problem started? This was one many reasons I went to natural feeding for my rabbits... A lot of people in Ontario lost rabbits in this way back in 2007 or thereabouts.

If the afflicted rabbits are in the 4-10 week-old range only, it could be weaning enteritis. If you have older rabbits affected, then I would suspect a problem with the pellets. I hope you are able to find and eliminate the cause.

For diarrhea of any type, I suggest removing the pellets and feeding grass hay and kitchen oatmeal instead. Once the situation resolves, you can slowly reintroduce the pellets, although you may want to change brands or at least feed from a different lot number. Check online for feed recalls or widespread problems reported by other rabbit people.

There are several plants that can help tremendously with diarrhea.

Plantain - Plantago major and related species.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major

Shepherd's Purse - Capsella bursa-pastoris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/shepherd.htm

Blackberry, raspberry and strawberry leavess.

All these plants are safe and excellent as both food and medicine. Use them with confidence even with very young rabbits.

 

[SatinsRule]

Another thing that will help to clear whatever is in their digestive tracts while keeping their apetites up and help with keeping dehydration down is celery. It has fiber and is normally has a noticeable degree of water in it. Most rabbits will turn to it because it is fresh.

Also, giving everyone in the barn water that is mixed with vitamins and electrolytes is a sensible step. My rabbits get it year round for a number of reasons, and it is especially helpful during the summer months when stress is at its highest for your animals. I mix half teaspoon per gallon of water, and it works like a champ.

The key to anything you can do for them at this point, though, is time. The longer you wait, the worse it is likely to get, and the worst thing that could happen is for them to lose their apetites altogether. That is usually the point of no return.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Oh boy what a nightmare! 2 have died already. Alot of the 28 affected are not eating already.
I did change back to manna pro about a month ago from a cheaper brand and I go through a bag a week and started hay 2 weeks ago.
So far its only bunnies. If its weaning enteritis what and where does this come from? In all these years I've never seen this. Its reminds me of Parvo in puppies when I worked at the vet! I so hope the adult don't get it!
In the cage that 2 have died, those feel bloated. Should I Try to give them something for bloating like Gas Ex?
Thanks guys I so appeciate your help.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Oh, how awful!

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

((Hugs))

Electrolytes, Gas X, the plants Maggie mentioned, oats and grass hay, and probiotics should all be given. I use Bene-Bac by Manna Pro.

Also, canned unsweetened pumpkin is good to firm up the stools, and goat's milk may also help if they will drink it.

Banana can work both ways- to firm up or soften stool- but you may want to try that as well.

Good luck! :clover:<br /><br />__________ Wed Jun 12, 2013 7:32 am __________<br /><br />

If its weaning enteritis what and where does this come from?

It seems to be related to several factors. Chilling on the wire is a biggie- but unless your night time temps are low, I doubt that is a factor at this time of year.

Pellets are such concentrated feed that if that is the sole food source it seems to contribute to the problem. Hay and oats are great first foods for kits that are just beginning to eat.

It seems odd to me that all of your litters would be affected, however, and I believe something else is a factor.

It could be the feed or water. If you are on a municipal system, call and ask if they treated the water for a specific problem recently.

Look carefully at your hay and see if there are any weeds mixed in, and check for dustiness (mold spores) or mildewed spots. Perhaps there is something there that is causing it.

 

[MaggieJ]

I'd stop feeding those pellets to everybunny until you get this sorted out. Perhaps go back to your previous brand for the healthy ones and stop pellets completely for the ones having problems.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:yeahthat:

I feed mine 60% barley, 30% oats, and 10% BOSS, as well as alfalfa hay, and occasionally bermuda grass.

They also get weeds and greens, but it has been a lean year for that, so they have only gotten small amounts so far.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Oh no, I'm so sorry!!! I hope it is just a problem with the feed and can be cleared up soon.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Thanks for the help and well wishes everybody.
Its so weird, this is the first year I've used hay to supplement the feed. The hay is fresh cut bermuda and is really nice and fresh. looks and smells great. I'm feeding Manna Pro pellets too. Just openned this bag and it looks fine but I'll switch babies to oats and the hay.
Here is a thought.... we had lots of rain lately and I gave reduced amounts of food but more times a day b/c even though the food was under shelter and kept dry, it still absorbs moisture from the air. Could this have spoiled? The food sticks when damp or wet and I've had to pull some feeders out to clean them off. Its been wet and warm here. Could that be a contributing factor?<br /><br />__________ Wed Jun 12, 2013 10:44 am __________<br /><br />I forgot, going to town this afternoon to pick up gas X, Neomycin Sulfate (Biosol) and probiotics. What do you think? Anything else or different item?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It could be... but you are doing all you can by feeding more frequently. :?

Next time you have to clean a feeder, smell the soggy pellets- if they smell sour, you have found your problem.

 

[MaggieJ]

It could be if the pellets developed mould. I think you were wise to feed less more often in those conditions.

Can you pin the date of the first rabbit falling ill to anything in their feeding? It's a good idea when you make a change in feeding or feeding methods to just make a brief note of it, in case you need the information later. Not many of us actually do this consistently, but it would certainly pay off.

 

[LauraNJ]

Just want to offer good thoughts that your rabbits get better.

 

[Marinea]

*more good thoughts for healthy buns*

 

[DitchDoc]

Bless you, sounds like you're getting some very good advice, I hope things improve for you and your buns in a big hurry. Do keep us informed, yes?

 

[AmysMacdog]

Thanks everybody. Went to town and got stuff now all I can do is wait and see if it works. No more losses while I was in town....<br /><br />__________ Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:46 pm __________<br /><br />Nevermind two more gone. (sigh)

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry Amy.

What did you end up getting for them?

 

[AmysMacdog]

The neomycin sulfate (Biosol) and Probios gel. I used syringe and gave the sick ones alittle to get it started and then 5cc per gallon of water in their bottles and bowls to everybody back there. Adults included even though none are affected....yet. Hopefully they won't be. Hopefully I got the right stuff. Awww I forgot the Gas X! Rats! Well I do have the strips but if I have the dosage right that would be 1-2 strips per rabbit! Hmmm.

 

[grumpy]

Amy,
It 'sounds' like weaning enteritis.
"Weaning" is somewhat of a misnomer.
It can occur in older youngsters as well.
Sometimes....adults, but not very often.

I had that nasty stuff go through my herd a month or so ago.
For no earthly reason....it appeared one day. It wasn't pretty.
They'll sit by themselves a little 'fluffed-up' and ka-pow the
next morning they are in horrible shape and insufferable pain.

Usually, they'll expire within the next 24 hours.
I had a pen get hit with it.
Good young does, I wanted to save.
I uttered a few expletive deleted's and pulled their feed.
Threw in a handful of grass hay and regular cooking oats in the feeder.
""Live or Die----Girls!!"" I walked away and hoped.
The next morning....at least none were dead!
I added more hay and some oats. I did this for nearly a week.

It worked and none of them look worse for the wear.

I hope you can bring your problem under control.

grumpy.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Thank you MSD and Grumpy. I went out and looked at them alittle while ago and the ones I treated were actually acting better. They were moving around and acting more normal. I was encouraged alittle. Only time will tell. Cross your fingers and say alittle prayer, its in Gods hands now.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:58 am __________<br /><br />At feeding time this morning (7:00am) everybody was hanging in there. Hopefully the rest will do Ok. Poor little things.