Baby Flemish Giant issues

[SpaceLeporidae]

I took home a baby Flemish giant in late October, later found out he was weaned too early (5 weeks) and the mother had had a pretty horrible diet ("alfalfa pellets and grass.") A trip to the vet revealed ear mites and coccidia, both of which he's been treated for. There's some clear nasal discharge as well. I've got him on probiotics, I'm adding a bit of unprocessed apple cider vinegar to his water, and the vet prescribed Baytril to be taken after the first round of probiotics. Essentially we're trying to knock out any infections and infestations, then bolster his immune system. I knew he was going to be small (his parents are around 12-13 lbs,) which, although I'd have preferred mid-sized, is fine with me since they had such great temperaments. However, this baby is half the size he ought to be (9 weeks and 2.1 lbs.) Should I expect him to be significantly smaller than his parents? Should I expect him to survive at all? He seems pretty happy and inquisitive, but this is a lot of health problems.

Edit: This wasn't a breeder I got him from, this is just someone whose rabbits had babies.

 

[Hermelin]

I think when he gets better he will start growing normally. Giant breeds is fully grown around 1-1.5 year old. So your boy will have time to grow. Maybe he end up smaller or larger, it’s something you can’t know yet

I hope he will get better and the treatment works for him.

 

[majorv]

Actually, a doe raising kits should be on alfalfa pellets. Him being young, he should also be on the same pellets. You’ll just have to wait and see how he grows. He may hit a growth spurt when his other issues are resolved.

 

[SpaceLeporidae]

He is. My point was less about the pellets and more about the lack of hay, just grass from the yard.

 

[Milousmom]

Hay is just dried grass, so as long as she was getting enough of it, the grass is fine.

 

[JBun]

How is his eating, what food is he fed now? Does he eat a lot of grass hay? How does his urine and poop look?

Because of being weaned early, that can sometimes impact their immunity and growth. But it doesn't necessarily mean being small will be a problem, or even that he couldn't catch up in size. I had a runt that was half the size of her siblings. When I got her she was on a low quality pellet, no hay, and had a pot belly. I changed her diet, got her on a good pellet and a lot of grass hay. The pot belly went down and she eventually grew up to be a normal size for her breed, is 8 now and hasn't had any health issues.

 

[SpaceLeporidae]

How is his eating, what food is he fed now? Does he eat a lot of grass hay? How does his urine and poop look?

Because of being weaned early, that can sometimes impact their immunity and growth. But it doesn't necessarily mean being small will be a problem, or even that he couldn't catch up in size. I had a runt that was half the size of her siblings. When I got her she was on a low quality pellet, no hay, and had a pot belly. I changed her diet, got her on a good pellet and a lot of grass hay. The pot belly went down and she eventually grew up to be a normal size for her breed, is 8 now and hasn't had any health issues.

He's eating like a pig! Oxbow young rabbit pellets, timothy hay, and he seems to be tolerating occasional chicory greens well. I do notice he gets a pot belly easily after much of anything alfalfa, but the poop and pee both look normal.

 

[JBun]

Does he eat a lot of his hay, like a pile the size of his body each day?

 

[SpaceLeporidae]

Does he eat a lot of his hay, like a pile the size of his body each day?

Usually, yes, though I sometimes need to remove his pellets to convince him to do that. I've thought about mixing in the alfalfa-free adult rabbit diet in with his pellets and asking my vet about a supplement or treat recommendation instead of so much alfalfa.