URGENT QUESTION

[MamaSheepdog]

I'm glad you did the necropsy.

I asked about the cleanliness of the rabbitry because it mentions ingestion as the vector of infection- I know you just recently purchased your rabbits, so was asking about the state of hygiene of the breeder's facility, not yours. I hope I caused no offense.

Hopefully his illness is an isolated incident- he may have just had a weaker immune system. If your other rabbits remain healthy it proves that they are resistant to whatever it is... but I would cull hard for health in the future. I don't believe in medicating my herd- I want them to thrive without intervention since most of them end up on our plates, and I am raising my own animals to avoid eating "medicated meat".

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I am watching the remaining herd very closely. I am not offended at all. My husba.nd and son bought the bunny at a sale so I do not know the condition of the rabbitry that he came from. I am a bit worried about the rest of my rabbits now. I palpated does yesterday and have quite a few im pretty sure are bred. 8 I believe. It would really suck to lose those bred does because of this. I told my husband he is not buying any more sale bunnies for pets.

 

[LauraNJ]

I'm sorry.

We lost a 9 week old this summer. Very similiar except we also bought her sister. I have 2 others from the same breeder. She had diarhea 2 days after we got her, cleaner her up, managed to nurse her back.She went back to eating pellets (breeder sent enough for a few weeks) but seemed thin. A week later, same thing again, ended up having a seizure and dying.

All the other rabbits here are fine, have had no issues but our new mini rexes are in a separate area, they are actually in a screened in porch and I am watching carefully but so far everyone seems fine. I think sometimes young rabbits just have things not functioning at 100% and it is hard to pin down the cause.

 

[ZRabbits]

My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your Son's bunny. Hoping all is well with the rest of your herd.

Karen

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Thanks Everyone. I haven't told him yet. Am considering replacing it with an identical one before he notices.
I can contact the guy I got my bunnies from and see if he has a fawn flemish jr buck. With any luck he does and Im saved.

 

[faiththequeen]

I'm so sorry

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Everyone is doing ok today. I am actually sending some to FC but I'm not liking it none to much today. :'(<br /><br />__________ Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:59 am __________<br /><br />2 more than on to the excess roosters.

 

[Demamma]

I am sorry about the loss of your son's rabbit. With my kids I always sit them down when a pet is lost and we talk about how thankful we are to have been able to have them for a bit. If you believe that animals are in heaven you can also talk about that. I always use a sad situation like this as a moment of growth and thankfulness for the kids. We cry and hold a funeral. I have never replaced a pet right away but waited a few weeks. from age 3 and up this is the way I dealt with it. Just wanted to give you some info on how we deal with animal loss. wishing you good things.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

In addition to the suggestions already made, you may want to give him certain plants that help to combat diarrhea. The lawn weed plantain is excellent as well as shepherd's purse and the leaves of raspberry, blackberry or strawberry plants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/shepherd.htm

Good luck! :clover: :clover: :clover: I hope the little guy makes it.

Is it possible to harvest and dry the Plantago major to feed in the winter months? Would it be a good idea to feed them a little of this on a regular basis year round. Maybe I could pick and freeze the leaves even.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Maybe I could pick and freeze the leaves even.

If you freeze the leaves they will just turn mushy. Drying would be the best option. You can use the mesh bags that potatoes and oranges are bagged in, or burlap bags. Some feed stores carry them- I bought mine for $2 each.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I I see you can dry it an make a tea with it. Wonder how that would work for bunnies in place of water in the winter time? or added to the water at any rate. I aim to keep the rest of my heard healthy.
I am in the process of making quarantine pens in my garage now so that they are ready for any new bunnies. 6 pens should just about cover it. Ok maybe I better go with 8. <br /><br />__________ Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:41 am __________<br /><br />Yeah I wondered if that would happen. I have grain bags that should work even. My husband will think Im nuts when I tell him and the kids they CANT mow the lawn now. :roll: I am gonna get as much of those plants as I can before winter. :farmer3: :choptree: :mrgreen:

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, you can dry any of those plants. But try to pot up a few for your windowsill. They will grow all winter with minimum care... just a little water now and again.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Great idea. I can plant some and keep them in the heated part of our garage.
I am desperate here to same my bunnies. I just dont understand what is going on here.
This sucks!!

 

[MaggieJ]

It sure does. It's bad enough losing rabbits when you know what went wrong, but far worse when you can't pin down the cause.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I believe it is feed related. I am switching feeds. I put her on oats and she is doing way better. I think she is going to make it. Yay!!!!