terramyicin for rabbits???

[Lowell]

I read that it is good to treat water when babies are transitioning from mothers milk to solid food to help prevent diareha/scours.

Is this worth doing????

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I wouldn't- but I have never given my rabbits antibiotics on a routine basis (ever, actually) and don't intend to start. A lot of us here at RT believe it is the pellets that cause "scours"- hay and rolled oats are good first foods for the kits. As long as they have plenty of hay, the pellets probably wont hurt them. I have recently "gone pelletless" but even before that I never had any issues with diarrhea in kits.

 

[LilFish_JWQueen(:]

Um ive never heard it used for that...
Its known to use it for weepy eye in rabbits but ive never heard it used for anything else.

 

[Lowell]

Here is where I read about it.... http://www.debmark.com/rabbits/faq/bundeath.htm

 

[trinityoaks]

I second what MamaSheepDog said. I don't believe in routinely medicating my rabbits (or my family). As MSD says, giving the kits kitchen oatmeal and grass hay to nibble on while they transition will do far more to prevent scours than any amount of antibiotics.

 

[ottersatin]

One should not use medications haphazardly,
it will lead to more problems down the road.
Another thought: Pelleted Rabbit feed is NOT the cause of illness.
Overfeeding of greens and other "Treats" more often than not brings on problems.
The addition of a small portion of Rolled oats and Grass-hay is always a good thing.
I give Oats to ALL the members of my herd on occasion.
Everything in moderation, moderation is the key!
As always, JMPO.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[curlysue]

I dont and i dont reccomend it.

 

[skysthelimit]

Big no no for me and my herd, dogs, and prior chickens. i never give any meds unless the herbals fail, and since i have fresh herbs, they usually don't.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

If they ain't broke, don;t fix 'em!!! Use common sense and preventive measures-- such as the oatmeal and hay.

 

[LilFish_JWQueen(:]

If they ain't broke, don;t fix 'em!!! Use common sense and preventive measures-- such as the oatmeal and hay.

^^ I agree

 

[MaggieJ]

I would never, ever, routinely give antibiotics or any other medication to rabbits.

Pelleted food, if the only solid food given to weanling rabbits, can sometimes cause diarrhea. Pellets are rich and concentrated; rabbit kit digestive systems are immature and sensitive. Commercial meat breeders consider some losses as part of the game.

Grass hay can help prevent these problems, as can kitchen oatmeal (like Quaker Old Fashioned). Greens only cause a problem if they are not available from the beginning. My kits are chowing down greens as soon as they leave the nest and I have never lost one to GI problems. The problems happen when greens are suddenly introduced and the bunnies pig out because they taste so good. If they are there all along, while the kits are still just tasting, their systems develop the gut flora to digest them easily by the time they are doing more than nibbling.

Certain greens are very helpful to treat diarrhea in rabbits. The leaves of blackberry, raspberry and strawberry and the lawn weeds plantain and shepherd's purse help control poopy butt. You should be able to find all these in your area.

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

 

[Lowell]

Thanks for all the replies!!!! I was questioning using it too...but seems one has to sort through all the information available on the internet. Like to see several opinions that are the same...then I seem to go with the majority!!

MaggieJ... thaanks for the list of plants that will help....I have them here availble if needed!!


The bunnies are about 2 1/2 weeks old, out of the box and seem to be doing good. I'll get some pics up when I get a chance!!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Thanks for all the replies!!!! Like to see several opinions that are the same...then I seem to go with the majority!!

Obviously, you touched on a hot subject, but this is a good reminder to us all to respond even if our own views have already been expressed! Even to just say "I agree with So-and-So."

However, I wouldn't always blindly follow the majority, either. Sometimes the majority are wrong! Swimming against the current sometimes yields better results- so trust your gut and your brain!

Looking forward to seeing pics of your bunnies!

 

[Devon's Mom Lauren]

Scours is caused by bacteria such as E-coli, not from pellets. Pellets have everything a rabbit needs in the proper balance. That is why you feed a MEASURED amount. Feeding hay will lower their overall protein intake, but the crux of the matter is the kits gut PH is changing in the extreme at weaning to handle the new diet, and when they stop nursing are no longer protected by the doe's milk and a substance known as "milk oil". One needs to make sure that the cage is very clean and dry . Kits like to sit in their food dishes and will contaminate them, so food needs to be measured out (not free fed) and dishes washed daily. Poop and wet feed etc. also attract flies and other vermin which may also carry disease as well.