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Severe weight loss

Hi Limit

Yes, absolutely I would think the snuffles is the cause. For that I would suggest echinacea as being great for boosting the immune system.

Trying to keep/put weight on a rabbit where there's no diagnosed cause is tricky I agree. I know it's not a solution, but can you give a pinch of oats twice daily? Can you switch to higher calorie pellets for baby rabbits? Sorry if you know this, or I've suggested it already ...

Again, sorry if you've covered this, but if I'm suspecting teeth then he wouldn't eating so much hay? How is he at eating that?

Hello Mighty, he has oats and the baby/dwarf food for the higher calories. He eats hay a lot, he has a big pile in his big tray and you can tell that it goes down considerably (not from being sat on). He eats a heck of a lot and that's where we're stumped as to what's going on!
 
Hello Mighty, he has oats and the baby/dwarf food for the higher calories. He eats hay a lot, he has a big pile in his big tray and you can tell that it goes down considerably (not from being sat on). He eats a heck of a lot and that's where we're stumped as to what's going on!


Hi Limit :)

Is his snuffles being treated at the moment? Does he have discharge?

Does your vet have any ideas at all?
 
Hi Limit :)

Is his snuffles being treated at the moment? Does he have discharge?

Does your vet have any ideas at all?

It's being treated with antibiotics, he rarely has discharge since being on it but he still gets white muck sometimes. She has no idea, but we're going to see if it was his snuffles bringing him down and then get his teeth checked just in case.
 
It's being treated with antibiotics, he rarely has discharge since being on it but he still gets white muck sometimes. She has no idea, but we're going to see if it was his snuffles bringing him down and then get his teeth checked just in case.


I have had snuffles buns (where EC hasn't been the primary diagnosis) who have lost weight and it's been impossible to keep weight on them. I am seeing my vet specialist again in a few days time, so I am going to bring this up with her as it's an interesting subject.

How often is he on antibiotics? Could they be affecting his gut long term?

It's a shame to have to knock him out again for his teeth ... I know I had a problem with one of mine, but fortunately the teeth could be examined without anaesthesia and were shown to be fine by two separate specialist vets.

I hope you move forward on this one x
 
I have had snuffles buns (where EC hasn't been the primary diagnosis) who have lost weight and it's been impossible to keep weight on them. I am seeing my vet specialist again in a few days time, so I am going to bring this up with her as it's an interesting subject.

How often is he on antibiotics? Could they be affecting his gut long term?

It's a shame to have to knock him out again for his teeth ... I know I had a problem with one of mine, but fortunately the teeth could be examined without anaesthesia and were shown to be fine by two separate specialist vets.

I hope you move forward on this one x

Regarding EC, I lost my last bun to it which is why we adopted another... I do hope it isn't this. He's been on antibiotics twice since we've had him, 10 day courses with two weeks in between (not long started the second course) It's not for long term but we wanted to see if it was the snuffles or something we're missing. We'll keep trying to put weight on and see if the vet can come up with anything else. Seems like a lost cause at the minute and I'm honestly baffled by it...
 
Regarding EC, I lost my last bun to it which is why we adopted another... I do hope it isn't this. He's been on antibiotics twice since we've had him, 10 day courses with two weeks in between (not long started the second course) It's not for long term but we wanted to see if it was the snuffles or something we're missing. We'll keep trying to put weight on and see if the vet can come up with anything else. Seems like a lost cause at the minute and I'm honestly baffled by it...


Did the antibiotics make any difference? They are very short courses. Also, a deep swab may be a consideration to identify the bacteria.

May I ask how you lost your last bun to EC .. What were the symptoms?
 
The antibiotics only make his snuffles lessen, he doesn't produce the white muck that he usually does. His ears were checked but they can be rechecked and we'll ask about EC.

Smudge's symptoms were head tilt and severe rolling, his eyes constantly moved for different time periods too. It was awful, it was like watching him have constant seizures. We got him to the vet and they gave us panacur and he had pain meds and I believe some fluids. He was eating and drinking for the first few days, we thought he'd come through as he seemed to be getting better, but then he began rolling constantly again. He stopped eating, drinking and moving - no matter how much I tried to syringe feed him, he had given up and we faced the decision. He was never one to feel sorry for himself, I felt it was time. He was 6, I'd had him since he was 8 weeks.

Long essay, sorry, haha.. gets me tearful talking about it again.
 
The antibiotics only make his snuffles lessen, he doesn't produce the white muck that he usually does. His ears were checked but they can be rechecked and we'll ask about EC.

Smudge's symptoms were head tilt and severe rolling, his eyes constantly moved for different time periods too. It was awful, it was like watching him have constant seizures. We got him to the vet and they gave us panacur and he had pain meds and I believe some fluids. He was eating and drinking for the first few days, we thought he'd come through as he seemed to be getting better, but then he began rolling constantly again. He stopped eating, drinking and moving - no matter how much I tried to syringe feed him, he had given up and we faced the decision. He was never one to feel sorry for himself, I felt it was time. He was 6, I'd had him since he was 8 weeks.

Long essay, sorry, haha.. gets me tearful talking about it again.


Oh Limit that's so sad :(

I'm sorry. Smudge sounds like he was a real fighter, and wouldn't have given up if there was any alternative. You fought along with him.

I can see why Monte is so precious to you x
 
That's understandable. Im sorry about Smudge. Your bond must have been very strong with him.

Did you mention he was in less then ideal circumstances before he came into the RSPCA? Or am I confusing him with another rabbit?!!
Has your vet checked heart health? Him being a Conti, I believe I read they can have a susceptibility to some heart issues so it may be worth having tests run regardless.
 
Thank you both xx His heart was checked and seemed perfectly fine, he's only a year and a half at the moment so we will have to check as he gets older. His circumstances weren't nice at all where he came from and he's an ex breeder rabbit.

I had the pick of two Conti's at the RSPCA and even though Monte was the quiet, sniffly bun in the corner of his pen, I just couldn't resist.
 
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