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I have a problem

Blood results are often done on site in bigger vet practices as they have the machines that can run the samples through almost immediately.

You can get dipsticks to do a quick check on urine samples, but you need to be able to collect the sample properly (clean, uncontaminated and definitely only from one known animal). You also need to know how to read and interpret the results. Timing is critical to carrying out some of the tests. Vet nurses can do them while you wait.

You would be better getting a full examination and any follow up tests from a trained professional, rather than second guessing anything. If treatment is needed, you are still (legally) reliant on a vet to prescribe the correct drugs at the correct dosing regime. Getting them seen by a vet tomorrow is a good idea. If you can get a sample of urine from each, I would take that in as well.
 
I have been looking at urine test kits and also diagnostic machines for blood work and urine testing but they are pricey but then again so are visits to the vet and if vet visits is going to be an going thing it might be worth me investing in a diagnostic machine so that I can do some things at home.

I will order some urine test kits and I'm sure any instructions that come with them will tell me the meanings but if not I'll google it or ask on here. I'll order a pack of new syringes. I can wait for when the bunny pees then syringe it from the puddle and test it.
 
The machines used to run blood profiles are essentially ones that NHS hospitals use but adapted for veterinary use - they are not the sort of thing that you install at home. Blood samples for those tests can legally only be taken by a qualified vet. It's not just about eg a urine sample result. It also takes years of training to be able to examine and diagnose any animal.You still need to consult a vet, and even then it can take time to get to the bottom of things.

I hope you manage to get an appointment tomorrow morning. Once you find out what's going on, then you can look at ways to manage it in future.
 
The best advice I can give you is to get your rabbits registered with the Royal Veterinary College in Camden. I lived in London up until very recently and have a fair bit of experience with them. They really do not mess about. You would have an initial 40 minute consultation and during that consultation they will go over everything with a fine tooth comb: symptoms, clinical history, diet, environment, etc in order to explore all possible causes. They will then book the bunnies in for any appropriate diagnostics, such as scans, blood tests, etc. They will get to the bottom of it very quickly, which will save you time and money in the long run. It will also be better for your bunnies if the issue can be diagnosed and they can be put on the right treatment as soon as possible.

If you can't arrange an appointment with the specialists at the RVC, you could try Goddards at Wanstead and ask specifically for Louise Worth. She is the head veterinary surgeon there and has a special interest in rabbits, although I don't think she is technically a rabbit specialist (happy to be corrected on that) I've also had a lot of contact with Louise and she is extremely thorough and conscientious when it comes to treating rabbits.
 
Scrappy's Little Helper said:
The best advice I can give you is to get your rabbits registered with the Royal Veterinary College in Camden. I lived in London up until very recently and have a fair bit of experience with them. They really do not mess about. You would have an initial 40 minute consultation and during that consultation they will go over everything with a fine tooth comb: symptoms, clinical history, diet, environment, etc in order to explore all possible causes. They will then book the bunnies in for any appropriate diagnostics, such as scans, blood tests, etc. They will get to the bottom of it very quickly, which will save you time and money in the long run. It will also be better for your bunnies if the issue can be diagnosed and they can be put on the right treatment as soon as possible.

If you can't arrange an appointment with the specialists at the RVC, you could try Goddards at Wanstead and ask specifically for Louise Worth. She is the head veterinary surgeon there and has a special interest in rabbits, although I don't think she is technically a rabbit specialist (happy to be corrected on that) I've also had a lot of contact with Louise and she is extremely thorough and conscientious when it comes to treating rabbits.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll make a note of the name and I'll call them first thing tomorrow although they might say there is a waiting list I'll just have to see what they say..
 
Hopefully I should be good to go because I need a vet who is thorough and everything gone through with a fine tooth comb, all I know is that there is an obvious issue with kidney filtration and the fact I lost baby rabbits could have been down to organ failure. The dehydration mixed with the constant peeing of water isn't making any sense other than one or two symptoms that point to coccidiosis, however coccidiosis isn't consistent to what I'm experiencing and only really strikes in dirty squalid environments.

I'm looking more on the lines of dietary cholesterol issues that could have contributed to the failure of kidneys possible GI stasis when the babies died... but again there are inconsistencies that suggest otherwise but not ruled out.

I would like to learn more in general about symptoms, rabbit illnesses and pretty much everything in great detail.
 
I've tried too convince myself that its not the hay. Every time I feed them on a certain type of hay they get sick from mycotoxins.

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring toxic substances which are produced by molds and fungi in your rabbits hay. Mycotoxins can cause negative effects in rabbits gastrointestinal upset, weight loss, feed withdrawal, immune suppression, I just can't win. The first lot I bought was good the second lot of hay and its bad. It only happens to me because I'm cursed with the worse luck. I don't expect anybody to understand as they are lucky enough for it not to happen to them and I know people are going to tell me its not the hay. .

Well its happened again...

Mycotoxins are invisible, highly corrosive, secondary metabolites of moulds which may persist in feed
and even hay, when the moulds that produced them are no longer present (Scott, 1990). Nearly all of
the mycotoxins are cytotoxic, disrupting various cellular structures such as membranes, and interfering
with vital cellular processes such as protein, RNA and DNA synthesis (Guerre et al., 2000).
Mycotoxins destroy the tissues by oxidizing proteins and most of them have immunosuppressive
effects. Some of them produce acute toxicity, evidenced by digestive disorders or dermatitis, but many
more are carcinogenic, resulting in genetic mutations, or causing deformities in developing embryos.
Mycotoxins can have very pervasive, yet sub-clinical, effects on the health of rabbits that more often
go unnoticed. When the clinical symptoms of mycotoxin poisoning are observed, significant damage
has occurred already. Improper harvesting, packaging and storage or prolonged shipping may enhance
the potential for mould growth. Dirty harvesting, manufacturing/pelleting equipment and storage bins
may contribute to mycotoxin contamination (Houssein and Brasel, 2001)

I'll get them to the vet in Camden recommended above but I think I'll have no option but to give up with rabbits because if I can't give them hay I can't feed them anything. There are always forces at work stopping me from having anything decent in my life. .
 
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The bunnies were very ill and they could have died. I knew what the problem was all along but people tried to tell me otherwise making me think the problem was something else like Coccidiosis. They had become unwell from the hay bale I bought which had mold, dark spots on some of the hay strands. The interesting thing was Lambchop never got ill because I was still feeding him on the previous hay which was good hay.

I've had to dump out a lot of hay all this waste for 10 pounds and I could have lost the rest of my rabbits. The vet has given them some medicine including some pain meds and advised me to check the hay properly before its fed to my bunnies.

I'm so annoyed about the whole situation not just that but the farm I bought the dodgy bale from they also lost a lot of there rabbits.
 
Lord Trellis said:
The bunnies were very ill and they could have died. I knew what the problem was all along but people tried to tell me otherwise making me think the problem was something else like Coccidiosis. They had become unwell from the hay bale I bought which had mold, dark spots on some of the hay strands. The interesting thing was Lambchop never got ill because I was still feeding him on the previous hay which was good hay.

I've had to dump out a lot of hay all this waste for 10 pounds and I could have lost the rest of my rabbits. The vet has given them some medicine including some pain meds and advised me to check the hay properly before its fed to my bunnies.

I'm so annoyed about the whole situation not just that but the farm I bought the dodgy bale from they also lost a lot of there rabbits.
Click to expand...


Was it The Beaumont Vets you opted for in the end ? They are excellent with Rabbits :D I’d be interested to know the name of the medicine prescribed for your three Rabbits. Did the Vet say you need to take them back for a check up after treatment ?

Hope that they are all doing a lot better now :)
 
Please know you are not the only one who has experienced this type of loss. Many years ago I lost three young bunnies and two adults over a period of five weeks to a mysterious illness that did not show on neither a post mortum or an exploratory surgery. A sixth bunny was ill and took a long time to recover. Two other adults did not exhibit signs of illness. The three babies were litter mates and they died between eight and thirteen weeks of age. The two deceased adults were five years old. One was the brother of the sixth bunny who was ill that recovered. Two rabbit specialists could not explain their illness. It happened after starting a new bag of pellets.
It is understandable why you are so stressed about your remaining bunnies. I hope the vet visit and meds have eased some of your fears.
Sending vibes your bunnies make a full recovery.
 
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bunny momma said:
Please know you are not the only one who has experienced this type of loss. Many years ago I lost three young bunnies and two adults over a period of five weeks to a mysterious illness that did not show on neither a post mortum or an exploratory surgery. A sixth bunny was ill and took a long time to recover. Two other adults did not exhibit signs of illness. The three babies were litter mates and they died between eight and thirteen weeks of age. The two deceased adults were five years old. One was the brother of the sixth bunny who was ill that recovered. Two rabbit specialists could not explain their illness. It happened after starting a new bag of pellets.
It is understandable why you are so stressed about your remaining bunnies. I hope the vet visit and meds have eased some of your fears.
Sending vibes your bunnies make a full recovery.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind words bunny momma. Sorry to hear that you also lost some bunnies its very sad and feels horrible losing rabbits or any animal for that matter. Its a horrible thing to go through. The bunnies are doing much better now but I don't want to get my hopes up too high. So far so good all is well
 
InspectorMorse said:
Was it The Beaumont Vets you opted for in the end ? They are excellent with Rabbits :D I’d be interested to know the name of the medicine prescribed for your three Rabbits. Did the Vet say you need to take them back for a check up after treatment ?

Hope that they are all doing a lot better now :)
Click to expand...

They are doing much better now. :)
 
Please try to stay hopeful. Having them seen by your vet has given them the best chance for recovery.
Sending vibes for continued improvement.
 
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