Blockage in tummy

[seniorcats]

pamnock wrote:

seniorcats wrote:

I have a question for Pam. Would the above statement be truefor other breeds as well? Are there any particularproblems - especially digestive problems - associated withBEW lops? I ask because a friend of mine recentlylost her BEW lop to what appeared to be GI stasis. He hadmassive and sudden diarrhea. He failed to respond tosubcutaneous fluids and antibiotics. The necroscopy showedslightly inflamed intestines but no blockage or mass. Myfriend had hi on a diet of pellets, unlimited timothy and a minimalamount of vegy's (rare sugary treats).

Thank you!

I have not read any specific genetic studies on how the vienna geneeffects the migration ofpigmentand the GI tract orwhether it just "shuts offs" the pigment cells.

In the case of the BEW, the signs you describe are those of a rabbitsuffering enterotoxemia -- the sudden and often fatal onset of massivediarrhea. This isoften aviral/bacterialcombinedillnessin cause.

Pam

Thanks for the response. I'll suggest she look up more information on enterotoxemia.

 

[pamnock]

From the online Merck Veterinary Manualhttp://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171107.htm

Enterotoxemia is an explosive diarrheal disease, primarily ofrabbits 4-8 wk old. It occasionally affects adults and junior stock.Signs are lethargy, rough coat, a perineal area covered with greenishbrown fecal material, and death within 48 hr. Often, a rabbit looksnormal in the evening and is dead the next morning. Necropsy revealsthe typical lesions of enterotoxemia, ie, a fluid-distended intestinewith hemorrhagic petechiae on the serosal surface. One recognized causeis Clostridium spiroforme , which produces an iotatoxin. Little is known about transmission of the organism; it isassumed to be a commensal that is normally present in low numbers. Thetype of diet seems to be a factor in development of the disease;enterotoxemia is seen less often when high-fiber diets are fed. Becauselincomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin induce Clostridium-related (eg, C difficile ) enterotoxemia due to theirselective effect on normal gram-positive bacteria, they arecontraindicated in rabbits. Enterotoxemia is a consideration for mostantibiotic therapy, and it has been seen after administration ofpenicillins and cephalosporins. The incidence rate is 40-80% after oralpenicillin therapy, which should therefore be consideredcontraindicated in rabbits. These diarrheas are remarkably similar tothose that occur naturally and that are described above asenterotoxemia. Treatment of colony rabbits is seldom attempted becauseof the rapidity of death. However, when population size permits,cholestyramine has been used with promising results, both as apreventive and a treatment. Reducing stress of the young rabbits(weaning, etc) and ad lib feeding of hay or straw are helpful inprevention. Adding 250 ppm of copper sulfate to the diet of youngrabbits also helps prevent enterotoxemia. Changing to a new brand offeed with different ingredients may help stop an outbreak. Diagnosisdepends on history, signs, lesions, and demonstration of the organism (C spiroforme ) by Gram's stain.



More info here:

http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/rabbits/rabbits.txt

 

[CMiska]

:angel:I am so sorry to hear about your bun. I to lost one a month ago. :angel:



My heart goes out to you, you did so much.