wormed rabbit has voracious appetite

[Bad Habit]

So I have a borrowed vlop buck, and he is kinda really skinny. It's not for lack of eating, though, he has been eating 1c of mixed grains and 2c of pellets plus hay daily.

I found out night before last that he would be spending another week here with me. So I decided to worm him, since I had the wormer out anyway to do the vlop kit.

Yesterday he was insanely hungry. He ate 2c of grains and 4 cups of pellets, and was working on another bowl when I went in. I left him with 1c of grains and 2c of pellets this AM.

Is that normal? Does it indicate him having a worm problem? I didn't actually see worms in his poop or around his bum, but he has a big old pot belly and his hair looks weird too.

 

[Dood]

What wormer did you use?

Unfortubately it sounds like something i had to deal with earlier this year (and still am) - Hepatic coccidia

It doesnt show up on fecal floats as it doesnt seriously infect the digestive sysyem but the attacks the liver. The parasite causes an enlarge liver and water retention that gives them a pot belly; patchy, dry and/or brittle coats; and makes them very thirsty and hungry but with poor condition and muscling.

Prevention is the best course of action as the damage once done is irreversible. Please keep him in quarantine and give your rabbits a monthly preventative (i use sulphaquinoxaline ) especially the kits, to keep your stock healthy.

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_disease ... occ_en.htm

 

[Bad Habit]

I am not convinced that that would be it, as his appetite grew only after he was wormed, it wasn't exceptionally large before that. I used ivermectin to worm them. He is in quarantine, though, as best as I could offer(no neighbour, he is still in the shed with everyone else.). I will have to read more when I get home.<br /><br />__________ Tue Nov 19, 2013 2:14 pm __________<br /><br />So his food consumption has slowly gone back down to what I consider normal. I am seeing a bit of slow improvement with his weight, though. Not as fast as I'd like, but I'm also not wanting to shock his system too badly, or put fat on him instead of meat. He's eating 1.5c of grains(oats, wheat kernels, BOSS, and a touch of flax) and 2c of pellets now, plus a very large portion of hay.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

since you dewormed him,i wouldn't worry to much about it ..he is just one of those that like to eat more than others.. I just watch his weight

 

[Bad Habit]

Well, the thing that surprised me was that he more than doubled his consumption after being wormed. Before being wormed, he was eating the same as the rest of my vlops(they eat a LOT for the size of them - the Harlequin does I got from ladysown weigh more but eat less). After being wormed he was acting like he hadn't seen food in a month, when I know he was being well fed for at least a week before that, since he was in my care.

He goes back on Friday, though. It'll be a nice break in my feed bill, I've been going through twice as much grains as normal(mine only get a 1/2 portion as a treat, he got double because he's so skinny).

I'll probably worm him again before he leaves - if a week between wormings is okay. Otherwise I will advise her to do him again later.