What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[ChocolateMouse]

I really hope things work out for you!

 

[APDoxies]

They are doing great! They are eating out of the J feeder and the crock. They are drinking out of the water crock and eating hay, too. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[APDoxies]

Well, everyone was doing well, then suddenly one of the 4 week old mini lop babies suddenly became very very skinny. I brought him inside. He drank lots of water and ate hay. He wouldn't eat oats or pellets. My vet friend said to worm him with kitten revolution, but he passed before I could. :-(
Any ideas? His gums were pale and he was very wobbly. Any suggestions on things I did wrong? All other bunnies are fine.

 

[RS rabbitry]

Give terramycin water if it is an infection it will keep others safe

 

[ChocolateMouse]

If the other bunnies are fine I would not put stress on their possibly sensitive digestive system by giving them antibiotics... Just my thoughts, since rabbits are sensitive to them. If you do, mix in probiotic powder with their food.

Unfortunately, sometimes the answer to what you did wrong when an animal in your care dies is "nothing". You can do everything right and sometimes a rabbit fails to thrive for whatever reason. I would try giving some probiotics to your bunnies and some unpasturised apple cider vinegar both in their water. (Maybe 1/2tbs of each in a normal 32oz bottle.) This should help improve overall digestive function. You can also try some greens safe for kits and intoducing rabbits to veggies. Blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and mulberry tend to be good. Small branches and green leaves, just enough to be a snack. And hay. Always lots of hay. If it is a food balance issue qualit hay will fix it.

Worms doesn't make much sense unless mom has worms (possible if she didn't want to feed her kits? But still unlikely) or if the rabbits can come in lots of contact with things like dirt from your lawn that other animals can get to also. Worms in rabbits is pretty rare, and revolution is prescription only anyhow. :/ You would have had to talk to a vet.

 

[Bunnylady]

I agree with CM - antibiotics should only be given to a rabbit that has an active bacterial infection, never as a preventative. Rabbits depend on the beneficial bacteria in their digestive system to help them digest their food. Antibiotics don't discriminate, they knock out the good bacteria too, which can lead to serious digestive disturbance and even death of the animal.

When one kit that is just out of the nest box gets skinny and dies, wool block is high on my list of suspected causes. Young rabbits chew on everything, and they often eat the nesting material. A good mother pulls quite a bit of fur, so the kits can wind up eating a fair amount of hair. Hair can build up, particularly in the stomach, which can seriously affect the rabbit's appetite. It can lead to GI stasis, which is the rabbit's digestive system basically shutting down.

With a litter of rapidly growing, fuzzy young rabbits, it can be hard to tell if one kit isn't eating well. Things often get really bad before it is noticeable, and rabbits can lose ground in a hurry.

Some rabbit breeders will completely change out the nest material (or even remove the nest box) when the litter is about 2 weeks old, since this is about the time that kits start experimenting with solid food. By removing the loose fur, it is hoped that the kits won't swallow as much, though sometimes you will get the odd rabbit that chews its own or its littermates' fur.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

I agree with CM - antibiotics should only be given to a rabbit that has an active bacterial infection, never as a preventative. Rabbits depend on the beneficial bacteria in their digestive system to help them digest their food. Antibiotics don't discriminate, they knock out the good bacteria too, which can lead to serious digestive disturbance and even death of the animal.

When one kit that is just out of the nest box gets skinny and dies, wool block is high on my list of suspected causes. Young rabbits chew on everything, and they often eat the nesting material. A good mother pulls quite a bit of fur, so the kits can wind up eating a fair amount of hair. Hair can build up, particularly in the stomach, which can seriously affect the rabbit's appetite. It can lead to GI stasis, which is the rabbit's digestive system basically shutting down. 

With a litter of rapidly growing, fuzzy young rabbits, it can be hard to tell if one kit isn't eating well. Things often get really bad before it is noticeable, and rabbits can lose ground in a hurry. 

Some rabbit breeders will completely change out the nest material (or even remove the nest box) when the litter is about 2 weeks old, since this is about the time that kits start experimenting with solid food. By removing the loose fur, it is hoped that the kits won't swallow as much, though sometimes you will get the odd rabbit that chews its own or its littermates' fur.

Super good advice Chocolate and Bunny. I learned some new stuff.

 

[kacklinkelly]

So sorry for the loss. Thank you for the additional info on keeping kits safe. Am filing it for future reference. On a light note. I am holding onto the weekend bliss I'm feeling. Spent the entire weekend in the yard/garden. Bunnies and chickens free ranging. Have some radishes, lettuce, cilantro and tomatoes going. Started some string beans, sunflowers, watermelon, zucchini and cucumbers. DH made a sturdy stand for a rolling composter. I bought the 55 gallon drum off CL and he is altering it. Our first one is full and percolating nicely. So we wanted a 2nd one because the chickens are making a mess of the compost area we have on the ground. Planted some colorful hanging baskets. AHHHHHH - Spring in the desert. My favorite time of year. Sending everyone springtime thoughts

 

[Lynzi777]

Anyone know what color to call this holland lop that also VM?

 

[Loriemarler]

I

Anyone know what color to call this holland lop that also VM?

It is hard to tell on my phone but if the color is grey then it would be a vienna marked blue.