Floppy rabbit syndrome

[kelliebunny]

I would just like to share my experience of floppy rabbit syndrome with you. I recently rescued 5 baby bunnies approximately 4 weeks old and already fending for themselves, their mum who had another litter of kits now 3 weeks old . all going well with the older batch until tuesday night. I went to get them in from outdoor run and put into night time area, i found lightening dust flopped on his side lifeless. I immediately thought he had broken his back or neck but on bringing him indoors he began moving his legs so i thought that was unlikely. We managed to syringe feed him a small amount of water and i took him upstairs for the night .I can honestly say i never expected him to be alive in the morning but he was. i went on a rabbit forum and to my friend who shows rabbits for advice.My bunnies eat burgess with mint pellets we made a stew in a pan with crushed burgess pellets, water, one squashed up banana,6 cherry tomatoes peeled and seeds removed, very finely chopped dandelions and clover cooked on a low heat for a few minutes. We allowed this to cool and then popped a vitamin e capsule with a needle and squeezed this onto the first spoonful to make sure he got the vitamin e. Its messy and my bunny had to wear a bib and be cleaned up afterwards but i can honestly say today is thursday and although hes still a little bit wobbly he is amazing for a 8 week old kit who had such a poor start. We made a decent sized batch of stew and fed him the stew every couple of hours but only added the vitamin e every 12 hours . I hope this helps other people out there with this problem .What a tough little cookie lightening dust is and hes so cute a blue harlequin not sure of breed. He was going to be advertised for sale but i guess he might be able to stay here just dont tell my other half!!!

 

[MummyBunnyEm]

Hi Kellie, have you thought about taking your poorly bunny to the vets at all?

 

[JessBun]

Yes, vets time. From what I understand, 'floppy rabbit syndrome' is a deficiency in Selenium and/orVitamin E (which is vital to process and utilise Selenium). There is also something possibly to do with Potassium. All in all, the bun would need to see a vet so they can pinpoint and treat the cause as to why and how this happened - rather than just symptoms so this doesn't happen again. Best of luck with your wee bun.

 

[MightyMax]

I would just like to share my experience of floppy rabbit syndrome with you. I recently rescued 5 baby bunnies approximately 4 weeks old and already fending for themselves, their mum who had another litter of kits now 3 weeks old . all going well with the older batch until tuesday night. I went to get them in from outdoor run and put into night time area, i found lightening dust flopped on his side lifeless. I immediately thought he had broken his back or neck but on bringing him indoors he began moving his legs so i thought that was unlikely. We managed to syringe feed him a small amount of water and i took him upstairs for the night .I can honestly say i never expected him to be alive in the morning but he was. i went on a rabbit forum and to my friend who shows rabbits for advice.My bunnies eat burgess with mint pellets we made a stew in a pan with crushed burgess pellets, water, one squashed up banana,6 cherry tomatoes peeled and seeds removed, very finely chopped dandelions and clover cooked on a low heat for a few minutes. We allowed this to cool and then popped a vitamin e capsule with a needle and squeezed this onto the first spoonful to make sure he got the vitamin e. Its messy and my bunny had to wear a bib and be cleaned up afterwards but i can honestly say today is thursday and although hes still a little bit wobbly he is amazing for a 8 week old kit who had such a poor start. We made a decent sized batch of stew and fed him the stew every couple of hours but only added the vitamin e every 12 hours . I hope this helps other people out there with this problem .What a tough little cookie lightening dust is and hes so cute a blue harlequin not sure of breed. He was going to be advertised for sale but i guess he might be able to stay here just dont tell my other half!!!

Floppy Rabbit Syndrome is not a well defined condition. It can be due to a number of factors, which ideally should be assessed by a good rabbit vet.

I am pleased you got your little one through, and welcome to the Forum :wave:

 

[kelliebunny]

Yes, vets time. From what I understand, 'floppy rabbit syndrome' is a deficiency in Selenium and/orVitamin E (which is vital to process and utilise Selenium). There is also something possibly to do with Potassium. All in all, the bun would need to see a vet so they can pinpoint and treat the cause as to why and how this happened - rather than just symptoms so this doesn't happen again. Best of luck with your wee bun.

hi jess these little guys have had a terrible start in life and i can honestly say we got this chap through it . i have since had another little guy with the same symptoms whom i took to the vets. the vet wanted to put him down . its early days but he is responding to richards rescue remedy. we are novice owners and are open to any advice . the new litter seem to be doing great have handled them for the first time today at 4 weeks they are the same size as the 8 week old litter. mum has had good care and i think its shows in older litter that their immunity is low mum is booked in for neutering in a months time when babies are gone and i will probably keep her. she was surviving on white bread when i rescued her. if the kits do die. at least they have had good food and care with us in their short lifes.

 

[JessBun]

Thats good news the babies have pulled through hun. Sending positive vibes for them all.

On the vet front - sounds like you need a new, rabbit savvy vet to be honest! A deficiency if not too far gone should be relatively simple to treat with injections (once tests are back of course).