What am I doing wrong?!

[Jessykah]

So my mini Rex doe got mastitis. Tried to save her and feed the kits and they died. I disinfected the cage with bleach and water. Then 2 meat rabbits got it at the same time. They were side by side. They both died. I burned the whole cage with a torch. Then I disinfected the cage, feeders, waterers, and wooden nestboxes with bleach and water. Put rabbits in it. 2 kindled Tuesday and one will probably kindle tonight.
One had 13 kits, 11 alive.... I turned her over this morning to feed a runt, and noticed that one of her teats is swollen and the kit wouldn't drink from it..... Mastitis again??!!!
I thought this is extremely rare in a small rabbitry, and this is my forth doe in just a few months! I disinfect, I do everything I know how..... So what am I doing wrong? I will hate to lose all 11 of her kits (I am in no position to be hand feeding them, and it doesn't work for me anyways)... And I cannot foster them or that will transfer the mastitis.
Help please

 

[MaggieJ]

I don't know how to help you, Jessykah, but there has to be a reason why this is happening... can't be just bad luck. Some things to consider:

1. Are the does related? Could the tendency be genetic?

2. Could it be their feed? I've heard that in some cases feeding supplements like calf manna can increase the chances of mastitis.

3. Could the bacteria causing the mastitis be resistant to the disinfectants you are using? Is burning the cages with a propane torch a possibility, after regular disinfecting? Do you put the cages out in the sun for several days after disinfacting? UV is a powerful sanitizer. Since the doe's teats are in contact with cage flooring, it seems possible that the bacteria are surviving your efforts.

If I were you I would learn all I could about rabbit mastitis with exhaustive research online. Hope you can beat the problem.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

You MUST empty that part of her udder-- warm compresses, coupled with some injectable penicillin. the udder must be cleared out in order to 'flush' the bacteria-- so, hand milk the doe, being very gentle about it. Medicate-- sorry, but if you are organic-- it is either medicate or lose the litter/doe. Also, feed anything you can to stimulate milk production- that mammary system needs to be flushed...

 

[ottersatin]

Do you have access to a copy of "Rabbit Production"
from a Library or a friend?
You will need a long acting injectable Oxytetracycline.
9 milligrams per pound injected in the muscle for three days.
Other antibiotics may also be helpful. A number of hot poultices
have been tried to remove swelling and inflammation but seem
of questionable value in rabbits. The decision is a personal one,
but if the problem occurs again with the next breeding you might think
about culling the Doe and litter.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[fuzzy9]

I don't have any helpful information, but I just wanted to say that I am sorry you are going through this, and I hope you can get things figured out soon.

 

[Jessykah]

The does are not related. I don't think it has to do with the feed, as it's the same I use with all the rabbits, and only the does in this stackable unit get it. I did burn it with a torch, but it was before I sanitized, not after. I wanted to put it in the sun, but it is a 6 hole stackable unit that is too heavy to move and too hard to take apart by myself. No one would help me move it.... And I had to get the rabbits back in it.
I am almost finished building a new rabbit shelter. Maybe I can get the rabbits into the new cages and then somehow disinfect the cage with something else, then leave it in the sun.??
I have read and read about mastitis.... I will try to read more. My library does not have the "rabbit production" book. Who is the author?
I read that once a doe has had mastitis, it will keep coming back in future litters, so I will probably cull her anyways, but I want her to feed her litter first....
I have not fed calf manna.
I will evaluate the suggestions for medications, then decide which to use.
Oh thanks for the suggestions all. Hopefully I can get this resolved soon.
Any more added input is appreciated. Maybe I should burn the nestboxes, and build new ones. Maybe not.<br /><br />__________ Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:32 am __________<br /><br />

I don't have any helpful information, but I just wanted to say that I am sorry you are going through this, and I hope you can get things figured out soon.

Thanks a lot. Means a lot to me.
Hopefully this doesn't drive me so insane that I end up selling the whole lot of them..... Joking...that wouldn't happen
:bunnyhop:

 

[MaggieJ]

It could be the nest boxes. It is so hard to adequately sanitize wood. But if you use whatever box comes to hand, wouldn't it have shown up in other cages as well as in that unit?

Please don't think I am being critical of your procedures. From what I can tell you take excellent care of your rabbits and nothing you have done has caused this situation. My intent was simply to help you work your way through the problem.

Since the mastitis only shows up in that stack of cages, I think it almost certainly relates to something in the cages. I would not put new rabbits into them until you have had a chance to make sure the bacteria is gone.

I believe this is the book you want.
http://www.rabbitweb.net/review6.asp

Your local library may not have it but they can order it in for you from any other branch in the system at no charge. You just need the details (title, author, publisher, ISBN number etc.) so they can locate it for you.

 

[arachyd]

Are you rinsing off the bleach solution when you sanitize? Bleach can cause burns and irritation that might look like mastitis. If you must use those cages I suggest you pack them with bedding so the rabbits have no contact with the flooring or totally cover the floor with carpet or boards. It will make cleaning a chore but could save your rabbits. You mentioned some of the rabbits that had similar problems were side-by-side with the doe. Have all instances of this problem been at the same height? If so, it may be that you have an infestation of something - ants, spiders, centipedes - living at that level of the cages and attacking the underside of the rabbits. A nursing doe has a pretty vulnerable underside.

 

[Jessykah]

The mastitis has occurred in the stacking unit on different levels. First top right, then both middle cages, now top left.... I know for certain it is mastitis. It is not insect bites or irritation of bleach. But thanks for your thoughts.
I stripped her teat out last night. It has only affected one mammary gland so far. It took forever to strip out, and I thought the doe might die in my arms, she was in so much pain. But I finally reached the point where no more thick substance came out. It was very swollen and red.
This morning she was still swollen of course, but no longer red teat. I tried to strip her again, and only milk came out. . The kits did not look fed and she had a lot of milk.
The doe next to her had only one kit, so I fostered it and rebred her, and am now getting her to dry up. I plan to move her out of that unit tonight.
So I am going to pick up some penicillin. I think I should give 1/4 cc .... Right? Or is it 1/2 cc? Once a day?
The vet won't return my call...
So I plan to keep her alive as long as possible, so that she can feed them some maybe. I need to find some willow.
I plan to cull her when I know she won't feed the kits anymore. Hopefully the pressure buildup will make her want to feed them. I really cannot afford goat milk replacer. It is very expensive!
Thanks for the link Maggie.