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Erins Rabbits

Erins Rabbits

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2009
Messages
415
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1
Location
White Mountains, Arizona, USA
First and foremost, let me say I am not going to a vet. Please don't suggest it. I am not going to pay $200+ for a vet to tell me something I already knew.

Today, when I went out to feed the rabbits, I noticed one of my bucks (Ot1s)hadn't finished his food from yesterday. He didn't come to the front of the cage, or move at all actually, short of adjusting a little when I reached in to pet him. I still put in his ration, filled up his water bottle, and moved on.

Tonight, I went back out with my dad to grill, and refill water bottles again. He still hadn't moved from his spot, his food dish was untouched. Worried, I pulled him out and looked him over. The only thing I could find wrong was a little dried up poop on his tail. Whoops, looks like I missed something. Diaharea remnants. Looks like he's all dried up but just in case I took away his pellets, syringed him sugar water, and stuffed his cage with hay. I'm also keeping a close eye on him.

Is there anything I'm missing, because I feel like I'm forgeting something.

If anything, wish my guy better, please.
 
Are you sure it is diarrhea? If so, it could be coccidiosis, which requires de-worming. I don't know the doses for dewormers, but if you post in the Rabbitry or search, you may be able to find a dosing regimen. Diarrhea affects younger bunnies more often. Also, there's not a lot you can do on your own for a bunny with diarrhea, as they usually require subcutaneous fluids. You're right, home treatment for diarrhea is to give lots of hay and water. There's a recipe on the web for home-made pedialyte that may help as well.

I don't think bunnies with diarrhea usually stop eating though, which makes me suspect GI stasis or gas instead. It's possible that the dried poo you saw was just an uneaten cecal or dirty bum because he was being lazy.

If you think it could be stasis or gas instead of diarrhea, I would give simethicone 1mL every hour for 3 hours, and also give water or pedialte orally. Tummy massages can also help, as can putting the bunny on a washing machine during the spin cycle. You can also force feed a pellet slurry (let the pellets soak a long time in water and syringe in the mouth).

In either situation, I would recommend a probiotic like Bene-Bac or Probios. Something is wrong with the GI flora in this guy, and helping the good bacteria get back into control will be good.
 
It looks like diarrhea, I can't be positive. I Have a wormer stored away in the extra supplies box that I've used in this situation before, I'll go ahead and give him some tomorrow.

I've nursed rabbits out ofdiarrhea before, I follow the instructions on Laurie Stroupe's site and it worked wonders for me- My little doe had stopped eating and drinking all together, so that's why I saw it as a sign...I'm hoping he was just being a little lazy. :nerves1

I'm going to go ahead and worm him (I needed to worm the herd anyway) tomorrow and keep watching. If he doesn't improve I'll keep taking the steps you suggested. Thank you.
 
sometimes you can get lucky with guess work,othertimes murphy,s law #1applies,left to themselves-things go from bad to worse.,forums are no excuse for proper treatment.!.lagamorphs are nocturnal,therefore you will be sleeping when they are most active,..if you have noticed a decline in activity,eating,drinking habits,and bodily functions-the signs all point one direction,.always keep in mind prey animals would rather die than show weakness,.thus they do,-die,..sincerely james waller
 
Lagomorphs are NOT noctournal. They are most active during dawn, and twilight. :expressionless

Thought I'd give an update-

He's doing better. Prompted him to eat a little,been syringinghim some more of the ORT solution on Laurie Stroupe's website onceevery waking hour, plus some straight up water. He's gotten a little more active and came towards the front of the cage for head rubs. =) I think I freaked out over something that wasn't a huge deal.
 
werecatrising wrote:
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. You said you won't pay a vet to tell you what you already know, yet you don't seem sure what's going on.
Click to expand...

Okay, gonna say it up-front...

I don't like going to vets for my rabbits. Especially where I'm at. There is only ONE vet up here who knows just a little about rabbits. When I was dealing with wry neck issues, I called her to ask for advice, but she had no idea what wry neck was, which was upsetting. She also wanted me to came in so she could take a look, but the fee for just waling in with an 'exotic' was $200 plus a steep fee for it being a walk in. She said it was probably just snuffles. I ended up loosing the rabbit, because I had no experience. I know what to do in that situation now, and won't ever be counting on vets for information on my bunnies.

That being said, I thought I knew for sure what was going on with my buck- when GI stasis was suggested as a possibility, I'll admit, I freaked out. He's doing better now, I am keeping a watch on him.
 
I amleery of the homemade electrolyte solutions; if you get pedialyte you have a sure thing. I would also suggest getting a probiotic like benebac or probios >
you can get probios (which is made for horses but fine for rabbits) at Farm and fleet

One on-line solution a member was using on her bun was actually dehydrating him.

Giving the water is good

As Randy always says hydration before food.
 
you should feel and listen to the stomach,you should hear light gurgling sound,and the belly area should feel like-soft dough,..i also lost a rabbit due to incompetence,he-(dvm)-could not even properly treat my cats diarhea,..i have to travel 70miles round trip to take my rabbits to an extremely competent dvm specialist,.i stand by my earlier thread(above),.sincerely james waller
 
Glad to hear your buck is doing better.
$200.00 just to walk in...sheesh, that would be so depressing!
I'm lucky where I am that if they have to slip me in without an appointment it's only an extra $47.00.
I keep telling my husband there are people having to pay an excess of $200.00 for vet visits, etc., but he doesn't really believe me, lol.
 
I wanted to clarify what Angieluv said about Probios, which I think is a good product. You can get it at any feed or farm store, like Tractor Supply. Farm and Fleet is a midwest chain that everybody here knows about. The national equivalent is Tractor Supply Co, or your local farm supply store. ;)
 
Here is a number of a knowledgable vet that knows about rabbits, 1-360-373-1467, it is Dr Crawford who specializes with rabbits and other exotics. I understand that you live far away but maybe he can help you over the phone. He has helped me with my rabbits. He charges $20.00 for an office visit. Then whatever your rabbit needs done then you get charged for that. But it usual is under $100.00 unless it is surgery.
 
I guess we are lucky--we have 4 really good, rabbit savvy vets within 14 miles. It's not cheap though. Last visit was $65, but, that included the visit, exam, some shaving, and a couple of medicines--she's doing very good now. Good luck.
 
Nancy McClelland wrote:
I guess we are lucky--we have 4 really good, rabbit savvy vets within 14 miles. It's not cheap though. Last visit was $65, but, that included the visit, exam, some shaving, and a couple of medicines--she's doing very good now. Good luck.
Click to expand...
I want to move there! that's cheap compared to here and they don't know anything
 
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