Rabbit folks help needed

[Eggstra New]

I have a seven year old neutered male Netherland dwarf, Bilbo Baggins. Over the last few weeks he has been blowing his coat. In the past I've had rabbits have some intermittent diarrhea and be off or down for a couple days when they're molting. Bo has always gotten diarrhea for a couple days when he molts, but this time it is more persistent. It's not a watery consistency, but more pudding to soft formed some days. I have of course made sure that he continues to eat and drink some. Tho he's not taking in as much as he usually does. He's been eating his hay well. I cut out his fruit treats that he is used to, but I didn't want adding to the problem. I've also cut his greens back but I kinda wanted him to continue on some greens to keep his water intake up. He's also been eating about 1.0 ml of yogurt once a day. I wanted him to have some good bugs stay in his GI tract. This morning, I've noticed that I think he's loosing a little weight. Has any one else experienced this? Do you think it could just be his age?

 

[LV426]

I'd cut the yogurt immediately. Rabbits' GI tract aren't made to handle dairy. If you want to get him some beneficial gut bacteria you can get probiotics from any feed store. Benebac is a good one.

Offer water in a bowl instead of a water bottle if you haven't already. Rabbits will drink more from a bowl than they will a bottle. You can even put in some pedialyte but clean and wash the water bowl 2 times a day to prevent bacteria build up in the bowl.

Also I would cut back the greens completely until the stool has firmed up. It could be the type of greens you are offering.

You should be feeding a quality pellet that has no more than 15-16% protein. Purina show, Mazuri, and Pfau all have this but there are others. Beware of pet store pellets and feeds especially if they have seeds and bits in them. These can cause runny stools and health issues.

I'd mix in a couple of table spoons of whole oats and a teaspoon of flax seed 3 times a week as well.

Make sure the hay is not an alfalfa hay but Timothy based as the timothy is high in fiber but low in protein.

Good luck.

 

[imtc]

I'd guess some of it has to do with age but another remedy for diahrrea in rabbits is dry oatmeal (not instant).

 

[Sachasmom]

Can you take a fecal sample to your vet? Is he on a solid bottomed cage or wire?

It wouldn't hurt to treat him with Corrid or Sulmet to knock down any Coccidia, that can cause poop butt and lose of condition, and his age would probably make him more susecptable to it.

Plantain (The weed, not the Banana thing) is great for mild cases of poopy butt, just give him one or two small leaves. I've used Liquid Immodium too, they do sell Dry Tail at the rabbit shows for it, but the Immodium is cheaper. ;p