Rabbit diarrhea - I messed up!

[Dragongreg]

Recently we breed our creme buck to a black cali doe and was rewarded with some beautiful harliquen kits. After seening the results we purchased 3 NZ /SF cross doe to hopefully repeat the results in the coming months. The purchased does are 7 weeks old and due to space and time constrants I placed them adjacent to my grow out pen. Seperate cage but a shared wall. In the grow out cage I had 15 rabbits ranging from 7-10 weeks old. Within 7 days two of the new crosses developed diarrhea and died and now I've lost 4 more of my stock rabbits in the adjacent grow out cage.

I've moved them all of them to a make shift shelter / cages to protect my other stock and my little ones. Currently, we have 20 kits on the primary encloser that range from 14-18 days of age and we are naturally fearful of lossing them. Over the weekend I spoke to the breeder about it and she stated that she had a coccidia problem over the last few weeks but all the rabbits were treated. I guess I'm a bit upset with them and myself with not asking enough questions and not properly seperating the new stock. I've started a water treatment of Merial Corid (20% powder) at 3/4 a teaspoon per gal. My question is; is the treatment dosage proper? Should I be doing something else to protect my stock and little one's. Also, the Corid is going to all the rabbits through the automatic watering system just to be safe. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I would give them some hay , no pellets and oatmeal from your kitchen. That is a start. The oatmeal will get the diarrhea under control... Make sure everyone is drinking. It could be enteritis. got stress from the move and they are at that age. .. I would go to the store and get some baby gas drops just in case you need in a day or so. but the Oatmeal is important right now.
You should always quarantine new stock coming in.

I would like to add. I would give water in a dish so they have water at all times. right now until they get over what they might have. Drinkiing is very important right now and with automatic water system you dont know who is drinking and who isnt.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I would give them some hay , no pellets and oatmeal from your kitchen. That is a start. The oatmeal will get the diarrhea under control... Make sure everyone is drinking. It could be enteritis. got stress from the move and they are at that age. .. I would go to the store and get some baby gas drops just in case you need in a day or so. but the Oatmeal is important right now.
You should always quarantine new stock coming in.

I would like to add. I would give water in a dish so they have water at all times. right now until they get over what they might have. Drinkiing is very important right now and with automatic water system you dont know who is drinking and who isnt.

Yes, Mary Ann is right. Give them water in a dish or bottle so you can see who is drinking and who is not. Oatmeal, hay, NO PELLETS, probiotics (Probios Paste works well) and gas drops or gasX strips. You are learning a lesson that most of us have had to learn as well....ALWAYS quarantine new stock FAR away from your existing herd....so sorry you are dealing with this. Hopefully, you will get a hold of it and get it stopped. Use this http://www.morfz.com/rx/drugcalc.html to calculate your Corid dosage.

 

[Dragongreg]

Last night we added two independent water bottles just to be safe. As of an hour ago they look to be using both. We've pulled the pellets and have stuff the hay racks with the best hay we have along with two bowls of oat meal.

Unfortunately, we lost another 10 week old cali in the last hour as well. In the end I know I should of quarantined them well away from home current stock and I'm more PO'd at myself then the person who sold me the new stock... Difficult lesson learned as I watch the youngsters die. I'm most concerned with my very young kits and getting the problem in check. We power washed and torched all the cages just two weeks ago in prep for the michigan winter but will likely do it all over again in the next day or so. Its just a monumental task with 16 large cages for our breeding does and bucks, plus 4 more grow out cages and then the over flow grow out pen where this all started. Its just heartbreaking to see it all happen and certainly happening so quickly. Thanks for the advice and will keep you posted on our recovery.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Its just heartbreaking to see it all happen and certainly happening so quickly. Thanks for the advice and will keep you posted on our recovery.

It really is... I lost 24 rabbits to a $15 feed store bunny that I did not quarantine for long enough. I watched them all die, one by one, over the course of three months, to pasteurellosis. Not something I care to repeat. Please do keep us posted....

 

[Miss M]

So sorry you're going through this, Dragongreg! I hope the losses stop quickly!

Do keep us posted.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I am so sorry that you are going through this.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that kits under eight weeks are very prone to stress which causes "weaning enteritis", so that could be a factor as well, especially if they had cocci. In the future, I would recommend that you buy kits that are at least eight weeks of age, and provide them with some type of shelter to conserve warmth. In fact, providing something for your remaining kits to huddle in together off of the drafty wire may help. Just make sure to keep the bedding clean since they can re-ingest the cocci by cleaning their feet. You could also fill some soda bottles with hot water and wrap them in an old towel or T-shirt.

I would also add electrolytes to their water. You can make your own. I especially like the suggestions in part 2:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5875270_make-el ... ution.html

One other thing you might do is to offer them goat's milk. I have never tried it with rabbits, but know goat milk is often used when feeding or supplementing kits. I have hand fed a lot of orphan kittens in my day, and on straight KMR they have runny stools, but adding goat milk gives them firm stool. You can buy goat milk replacer at TSC.

Good luck with your remaining babies! :clover:

 

[Dragongreg]

Running out to pickup the probiotics from TSC. How much should I give to each rabbit and how frequently? One the TSC sit is naturally list everything from cows to pigs when using the 80cc paste - nothing for the bunny's..

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I give adults 2gm twice a day and babies a green pea sized blob twice a day. You cannot overdose them on it...

 

[Cottie]

:zombiebun:

I would also add electrolytes to their water. You can make your own. I especially like the suggestions in part 2:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5875270_make-el ... ution.html

Can rabbits have raw honey?

 

[MaggieJ]

There are plants that are a big help in fighting diarrhea. These are all safe for rabbits of all ages. The leaves of blackberry, raspberry and strawberry are all excellent, as are the lawn weeds plantain and shepherd's purse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsella_bursa-pastoris

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:zombiebun:

I would also add electrolytes to their water. You can make your own. I especially like the suggestions in part 2:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5875270_make-el ... ution.html

Can rabbits have raw honey?

I'm not sure. :? I would think small amounts would be okay. I did use it on/in a Bot fly maggot tract on a doe, and she survived.

 

[Cottie]

I'm not sure. :? I would think small amounts would be okay. I did use it on/in a Bot fly maggot tract on a doe, and she survived.

Just thinking of adding it to my rabbit kit, for that electrolyte solution. I can't get good molasses or raw sugar readily, but I picked up a 12oz container of local raw honey for $4.50 today.

 

[jimmywalt]

I would give them some hay , no pellets and oatmeal from your kitchen. That is a start. The oatmeal will get the diarrhea under control... Make sure everyone is drinking. It could be enteritis. got stress from the move and they are at that age. .. I would go to the store and get some baby gas drops just in case you need in a day or so. but the Oatmeal is important right now.
You should always quarantine new stock coming in.

I would like to add. I would give water in a dish so they have water at all times. right now until they get over what they might have. Drinkiing is very important right now and with automatic water system you dont know who is drinking and who isnt.

Yes, Mary Ann is right. Give them water in a dish or bottle so you can see who is drinking and who is not. Oatmeal, hay, NO PELLETS, probiotics (Probios Paste works well) and gas drops or gasX strips. You are learning a lesson that most of us have had to learn as well....ALWAYS quarantine new stock FAR away from your existing herd....so sorry you are dealing with this. Hopefully, you will get a hold of it and get it stopped. Use this http://www.morfz.com/rx/drugcalc.html to calculate your Corid dosage.

I don't see Corid in the drop down list............ HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! :x

Found! Amprolium 9.6%

But how much to mix per gallon of water for 3 to 4 lb rabbits?

 

[Homer]

...Found! Amprolium 9.6%

But how much to mix per gallon of water for 3 to 4 lb rabbits?

That's the stuff.

Give a 4 pound rabbit .19cc a day for 5 days. (.0475cc per pound/ oral) ORAL and they don't like it.

I gave you the link to the calculator in your other thread.

In water: " Merial, the manufacturer of Corid, suggests mixing 1 teaspoon of Corrid 9.6% liquid solution with 1 gallon of water and offering this as the sole source of water for 5 days."



Good luck!

 

[grumpy]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune....but this happens all too often.

Unfortunately, you've got about a 1 in 5 chance of saving a rabbit
already showing discomfort......especially youngsters. I had the same
issues a couple of years ago....New rabbits-----weird bug brought in----
and stock dying like flies. I originally blamed the feed, but it was more
than that.

I was shocked to learn that most commercial breeders "expect to
lose" 15-20% of the youngsters to this malady each year. It's got
several names, but the same symptoms. It hits fast, and it's deadly.
Usually within 24 hours and its over for the rabbit.

I'm linked with several large commercial producers here in Missouri.
We've "all" had the same problem occurring throughout the year.
I refused to accept a 20% loss as normal.

Finally, there was a light at the end of the tunnel....One man contacted
vets all over the country. He even went outside the country to talk
to folks in some of the larger production countries. They too, were
having the same problems and all felt it was linked to diet during the
pre-weaning stage up through the tenth week of a young rabbit's life.

He made one simple change to the stock's diet and soon his losses
went from 19%....down to 2-3%. Now, it's even less.. He added
alfalfa cubes to the young rabbit's diet...and things began turning
around for him. He still feeds his normal ration but these cubes are
available to the youngsters from the time they start coming out of the
nest until the are ready for market.

I started doing the same thing.....and.....it works. I've not lost a
youngster in months. Just regular alfalfa cubes for cattle. They cost
about $15.00-$16.00 for a 50-pound bag. It lasts a long time but
holds up well in a covered plastic trash can.

Such a simple addition made a world of difference. Best of luck.

 

[Homer]

Thanks,never heard that about cubes before Grumpy. But then again, I don't have those kind of losses either. Maybe that's because I feed alfalfa to kits and nursing does. I can see the advantage of cubes though. Those little suckers are tough and I would think take days for a rabbit to devour one.