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bunnies with runny tummy post-boarding ...should I worry?

Squishies

Warren Scout
Hi all, I wasn't sure whether to post this in diet, or health, so here goes...

My 4 (two mini lops, two nethies) all came back for 3 weeks boarding last week. And all 4 seem to have upset stomachs -- if I give them even so much as tiny corner (50 pence piece, size) bit of greens, there are sticky, smelly, 'cow pat' poops all over the place.

I put them all on hay and pellets only for a few days, but even now a sprig of parsley is too much and I'm getting worried.
...I used to feed them all a ton of greens and fresh forage every day, and I feel cruel for only giving them dry food.
More importantly though, is there anything they may have picked up, (a 'bug'?) and what should I be looking for?

All 4 seem fine in themselves, and certainly want to eat, but they have lost a fair bit of weight and I know this is important to watch.

Anyone have any clue? x x
 
Hi all, I wasn't sure whether to post this in diet, or health, so here goes...

My 4 (two mini lops, two nethies) all came back for 3 weeks boarding last week. And all 4 seem to have upset stomachs -- if I give them even so much as tiny corner (50 pence piece, size) bit of greens, there are sticky, smelly, 'cow pat' poops all over the place.

I put them all on hay and pellets only for a few days, but even now a sprig of parsley is too much and I'm getting worried.
...I used to feed them all a ton of greens and fresh forage every day, and I feel cruel for only giving them dry food.
More importantly though, is there anything they may have picked up, (a 'bug'?) and what should I be looking for?

All 4 seem fine in themselves, and certainly want to eat, but they have lost a fair bit of weight and I know this is important to watch.

Anyone have any clue? x x


Knowing a bit of the background here, you must be fuming to say the least, as well as rather upset ....

Get a faecal flotation done at the vet to rule out coccidiosis?

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm


Some info on poo in general:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/drop/Drp_en.htm



Just a few more links in case they contain anything useful for you ..

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...sis-All-Rabbit-Owners-Should-be-Aware-of-This

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Hepatic_coccidiosis_rabbits.htm


Definitely consult the vet (if you haven't already) and discuss this with them.

You know where I am :)
 
Yes, terrified actually... just really scared.

The links are great, thank you so much.

It's not full-on diarrhoea, but soft squidgy poops -- I think the only thing will be to call and take some samples in to the vets. (...you know which one my main vet is, do you think they will know what to do, or should I consider elsewhere?)

...lots of the info on coccidiosis mentions 'rough coat' and I am not sure what this really means -- 3 of mine are looking a bit straggly/raggedy (a bit like new fur post moult or post mite-treatment, but certainly not 'rough' to touch).

Hmmm. the poor things, I feel so mean depriving them of their favourite herbs and veg too :'(

Thanks again x x
 
It does sound like something they have caught :( what bio security did the boarder have in place?

Lots of vibes that you get to the bottom of this, how worrying :(
 
Yes, terrified actually... just really scared.

The links are great, thank you so much.

It's not full-on diarrhoea, but soft squidgy poops -- I think the only thing will be to call and take some samples in to the vets. (...you know which one my main vet is, do you think they will know what to do, or should I consider elsewhere?)

...lots of the info on coccidiosis mentions 'rough coat' and I am not sure what this really means -- 3 of mine are looking a bit straggly/raggedy (a bit like new fur post moult or post mite-treatment, but certainly not 'rough' to touch).

Hmmm. the poor things, I feel so mean depriving them of their favourite herbs and veg too :'(

Thanks again x x


Yes I am sure your vet will know what to do. Call in advance, and check (or get reception to check with the vet) that they will be able to take the sample and deal with it, and let them know what's happened. If there's a problem then I know where else you can try.

Rough coat doesn't necessarily mean coccidiosis. One of mine had a rough coat when very poorly and it righted itself the minute the rabbit was well again.

Yes, not being able to give forage or green stuff feels very mean, as it provides so much variety of taste and nutrients for them.
 
Thanks so much both, I have emailed the vets some basic details ahead of time and will call in the morning to see if I can chat about samples :( I just don't want them to be so poorly, and I don't like to think that it could have been prevented.

Catherine, thank you for the positive thoughts - fingers crossed that it is just different diet while they were away or something like readjusting to their normal pellets (they came back with pellets that were definitely not the ones that I had left them with). The boarder had previously told me that she disinfects with something that the vets use (I can't remember the name). I guess I just don't know how rigorously/frequently that is done in practise, plus, the rabbits were also out on grass, which is obviously not disinfect-able?

...off to see how they're doing and try giving a little parsley x x
 
Just to give an update...

The vets recommended a few days of Fibreplex to see if the pre/probiotics can help settle their tums.
...given the bank holiday, any samples would be sat in the post until Tuesday anyhow.

All 4 are on a hay + pellets /dry food only diet while we monitor.
...only issue with the whole plan is that the two nethies are impossible to get to take the fibreplex i) the tube point is too big for their tiny mouths; ii) they are masters at wriggling free and even when I got in in girl-nettie's mouth, she then spat it out in disgust :shock::lol:

sigh x x
 
I would also let the boarding place you used know about these health issues. I expect animals to come out of boarding to be as healthy as when they went in, and with rabbits, the specialist boarding establishment should be particularly vigilant with their care.

I hope they recover soon.
 
Just to give an update...

The vets recommended a few days of Fibreplex to see if the pre/probiotics can help settle their tums.
...given the bank holiday, any samples would be sat in the post until Tuesday anyhow.

All 4 are on a hay + pellets /dry food only diet while we monitor.
...only issue with the whole plan is that the two nethies are impossible to get to take the fibreplex i) the tube point is too big for their tiny mouths; ii) they are masters at wriggling free and even when I got in in girl-nettie's mouth, she then spat it out in disgust :shock::lol:

sigh x x


I was glad to hear from you that they are at least no worse. I wonder if your trick enabled the fibaplex to go down?

Did the vet say how 'fresh' the poo samples had to be when you take them in tomorrow (gross subject alert :shock:)
 
If anyone has any thoughts on this one, I'd be hugely appreciative - the fibreplex hasn't really solved the problem, and my mini-lop girlie is still very unwell from the bottom end!

MM is correct, this is a pretty grim subject, but the basics are, she has really loose, cow-pat like stools, which are stinky, and definitely not caecotrophs...
...only other info that may be relevant, is that she is drinking loads too.

I'd like my vet to take some samples, but they seem unclear about what to screen for, so I'm at a bit of a loss :( :(

Any help or ideas greatly received!
x x
 
If anyone has any thoughts on this one, I'd be hugely appreciative - the fibreplex hasn't really solved the problem, and my mini-lop girlie is still very unwell from the bottom end!

MM is correct, this is a pretty grim subject, but the basics are, she has really loose, cow-pat like stools, which are stinky, and definitely not caecotrophs...
...only other info that may be relevant, is that she is drinking loads too.

I'd like my vet to take some samples, but they seem unclear about what to screen for, so I'm at a bit of a loss :( :(

Any help or ideas greatly received!
x x

No help really sorry :( any ideas what could've caused it? Vets suggested anything it could be?

Seems weird they all got it... Are the others better now?


Sounds very similar to my bun who supposedly has mega colon, but again he developed the symptoms over night, and has never been the same since (I could be confusing things here but I've always kind of wondered if it was something my bun picked up on the grass or something, because he was fine and then he just wasn't)

I really hope you get some answers and things improve I wish I could be more helpful x

One thing have you tried giving apple sticks? They helped my bun it's something about fibre they get from them, doesn't fix, just helps day to day for mine xx

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Thanks Graciee, yes, the others are a bit better (but not 100%) - I have just looked at the RWAF leaflet on RMS (rabbit megacolon syndrome) and it does look exactly like that!
...I guess the issue is that they are describing a syndrome, and there does not appear to be a clear cause.

Thank you for the apple stick tip... I have a plum tree which they love, so will cut some boughs off that!

In the meantime, no, the vets are not really sure what 'poop profile' they should test for (i.e. what bacteria etc) so there's no point testing until that is clear?

Thanks again, I hope your little one is ok - the constant cleaning is exhausting!
x x
 
Thanks Graciee, yes, the others are a bit better (but not 100%) - I have just looked at the RWAF leaflet on RMS (rabbit megacolon syndrome) and it does look exactly like that!
...I guess the issue is that they are describing a syndrome, and there does not appear to be a clear cause.

Thank you for the apple stick tip... I have a plum tree which they love, so will cut some boughs off that!

In the meantime, no, the vets are not really sure what 'poop profile' they should test for (i.e. what bacteria etc) so there's no point testing until that is clear?

Thanks again, I hope your little one is ok - the constant cleaning is exhausting!
x x

Yes it's very frustrating not knowing the cause, I feel exactly the same - my vet is convinced mine has megacolon and it looks exactly like it - but he was absolutely fine... And then he just wasn't and its bugging me, I feel like there has to be something that caused it.

Glad to hear your others are a little better. My vet said just to feed hay for a bit and see if it helped, which admittedly it did, I have reintroduced pellets now though(slowly after a few weeks of just hay), and they also seem to be tolerated, but no forage, or veggies /herbs for my bun, he can't tolerate them (your bunny could be completely different though)

Not sure what mine tested the samples for, they said a parasite can cause something similar, but said there were no traces in my buns sample - maybe someone on here with more knowledge would know?

The cleaning isn't fun no, spend a lot of time doing that for him haha

Really hope things improve soon xx

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Thanks Graciee, yes, the others are a bit better (but not 100%) - I have just looked at the RWAF leaflet on RMS (rabbit megacolon syndrome) and it does look exactly like that!
...I guess the issue is that they are describing a syndrome, and there does not appear to be a clear cause.

Thank you for the apple stick tip... I have a plum tree which they love, so will cut some boughs off that!

In the meantime, no, the vets are not really sure what 'poop profile' they should test for (i.e. what bacteria etc) so there's no point testing until that is clear?

Thanks again, I hope your little one is ok - the constant cleaning is exhausting!
x x


Some info here:

https://www.vgr1.com/megacolon/

https://www.vgr1.com/megacolon/www_medirabbit_com_EN_GI_diseases_Differential_mega_differential.pdf


You might find what the vet tested for in the Medirabbit article Grace x
 
Thanks Graciee, yes, the others are a bit better (but not 100%) - I have just looked at the RWAF leaflet on RMS (rabbit megacolon syndrome) and it does look exactly like that!
...I guess the issue is that they are describing a syndrome, and there does not appear to be a clear cause.

Thank you for the apple stick tip... I have a plum tree which they love, so will cut some boughs off that!

In the meantime, no, the vets are not really sure what 'poop profile' they should test for (i.e. what bacteria etc) so there's no point testing until that is clear?

Thanks again, I hope your little one is ok - the constant cleaning is exhausting!
x x

Just a heads up that Plum tree twigs/leaves etc may not be great for Rabbits

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Food/Branch/Branch_en.htm

http://kanin.org/node/190

That said............

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/lant-toxicity-the-problem-with-lists

Regarding your Rabbit's problems, Megacolon is a rare condition and it would be very surprising if all of your Rabbits are effected. Has the Vet tested fecal samples and run blood profiles ? Sorry if you have already said, I have vision/dizziness problems atm and reading every post is tricky for me.
 
Ah thanks :)

I had a look, because I remember the vet last time gave me a print out of my whole history from the beginning by mistake so it's on there as 'lab in house exotic feacal microscopy' not sure if that's actually helpful though - but that's what they did - and I remember the vet saying about a parasite that can cause similar symptoms, but never named it, I'll do some googling when I'm home later xx

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Ah thanks :)

I had a look, because I remember the vet last time gave me a print out of my whole history from the beginning by mistake so it's on there as 'lab in house exotic feacal microscopy' not sure if that's actually helpful though - but that's what they did - and I remember the vet saying about a parasite that can cause similar symptoms, but never named it, I'll do some googling when I'm home later xx

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Coccidia ?

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Coccidiosis_Hedgehog.htm

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Parasitic/Hepatic_coccidiosis_rabbits.htm
 
Ah thanks :)

I had a look, because I remember the vet last time gave me a print out of my whole history from the beginning by mistake so it's on there as 'lab in house exotic feacal microscopy' not sure if that's actually helpful though - but that's what they did - and I remember the vet saying about a parasite that can cause similar symptoms, but never named it, I'll do some googling when I'm home later xx

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Squishies and I have talked at length concerning her bunnies, and my immediate thought (my first post on this thread) was Coccidiosis. This may or may not have any relevance to you though!


http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm
 
Squishies and I have talked at length concerning her bunnies, and my immediate thought (my first post on this thread) was Coccidiosis. This may or may not have any relevance to you though!


http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm
Yea I had a look at the link, I think that may have been what William was thinking was wrong with Atticus, but obviously found no evidence of it. Which was why I mentioned it for Squishies because as Jane said earlier 4 perfectly fine buns getting megacolon seems a bit mad [emoji38]

Very interesting though, could you mention this to your vet Squishies? Maybe they'd know what to look for to rule this out? xx

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Yea I had a look at the link, I think that may have been what William was thinking was wrong with Atticus, but obviously found no evidence of it. Which was why I mentioned it for Squishies because as Jane said earlier 4 perfectly fine buns getting megacolon seems a bit mad [emoji38]

Very interesting though, could you mention this to your vet Squishies? Maybe they'd know what to look for to rule this out? xx

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Yeah I agree :) But only one is now suffering I believe?
 
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