Wee Wabbits
Well-Known Member
Hey guys,
I know it's been a while since I've posted. Been a lot happening. Not sure whether to post this in the breeder section or the infirmary, but here goes.
Here's the situation.
I have a litter of rabbits (Mini Lops) that I am supplementing with formula because the mother is refusing to feed them. I think she is drying up but I still get them to drink from her as much as they can. They are 18 days old. I've tried to get them to start in on pellets but they are too hard so been soaking them in formula and feeding them a little of the mush as well. Gave them some formula soaked bread as well. They chew on it a little bit but not much.
I had a couple die because I didn't notice at first that they weren't getting enough milk and have been supplementing the last couple days. I actually provide most of the milk at this point in time, cause the mother will only feed them once a day. She literally growls at them and thrashes and won't sit in the nest no matter what enticing piece of food I put there, or pet her head, etc. Done it many times with many does so I know what I'm doing in that regard.
The ones that have made it so far (5) are hopping around and looking great. The problem is that last night when I got home from work I noticed that one of the babies has a really bad urinary tract infection. Very sudden onset, was fine that morning, or at least I didn't notice and like I've said I've been hand feeding them so I would have noticed it being as inflamed as it was last night. Very swollen, red and bleeding a little bit.
I immediately fed it some sulfamethazine (sulmet) and I'm planning on using Oxytetracycline as well if I can double dose like that, (thinking once a day for each dose, one type in the morning and one type in th evening) I would do a Pen G injection and sulmet instead of the Oxytetracycline but it's so small that I'm afraid an IM shot would cause it harm cause I don't have much experience (I give cows shots not little baby rabbits). Plus the dose would have to be miniscule, and I also worry bout it getting in the bloodstream.
I'm just wondering does anyone have any advice (breeders mainly) on what they do when they have a baby with this? It's very surprising cause the nest box has been pretty clean and never had this before although I know it's common with some breeders. Been breeding for years myself and never had it. It is so swollen that I question if it can relieve itself properly.... But on a rabbit that size a cathater I would think would be near impossible. It did poop last night and in a way that would be harder to pass in my opinion because it's bigger and harder, but at the same time it's not the part that's infected. I don't know if it's able to pee or not but hard to tell in a nest box. Just need advice. It's running around and acting very healthy otherwise.
Ideas?
I know it's been a while since I've posted. Been a lot happening. Not sure whether to post this in the breeder section or the infirmary, but here goes.
Here's the situation.I have a litter of rabbits (Mini Lops) that I am supplementing with formula because the mother is refusing to feed them. I think she is drying up but I still get them to drink from her as much as they can. They are 18 days old. I've tried to get them to start in on pellets but they are too hard so been soaking them in formula and feeding them a little of the mush as well. Gave them some formula soaked bread as well. They chew on it a little bit but not much.
I had a couple die because I didn't notice at first that they weren't getting enough milk and have been supplementing the last couple days. I actually provide most of the milk at this point in time, cause the mother will only feed them once a day. She literally growls at them and thrashes and won't sit in the nest no matter what enticing piece of food I put there, or pet her head, etc. Done it many times with many does so I know what I'm doing in that regard.
The ones that have made it so far (5) are hopping around and looking great. The problem is that last night when I got home from work I noticed that one of the babies has a really bad urinary tract infection. Very sudden onset, was fine that morning, or at least I didn't notice and like I've said I've been hand feeding them so I would have noticed it being as inflamed as it was last night. Very swollen, red and bleeding a little bit.
I immediately fed it some sulfamethazine (sulmet) and I'm planning on using Oxytetracycline as well if I can double dose like that, (thinking once a day for each dose, one type in the morning and one type in th evening) I would do a Pen G injection and sulmet instead of the Oxytetracycline but it's so small that I'm afraid an IM shot would cause it harm cause I don't have much experience (I give cows shots not little baby rabbits). Plus the dose would have to be miniscule, and I also worry bout it getting in the bloodstream.
I'm just wondering does anyone have any advice (breeders mainly) on what they do when they have a baby with this? It's very surprising cause the nest box has been pretty clean and never had this before although I know it's common with some breeders. Been breeding for years myself and never had it. It is so swollen that I question if it can relieve itself properly.... But on a rabbit that size a cathater I would think would be near impossible. It did poop last night and in a way that would be harder to pass in my opinion because it's bigger and harder, but at the same time it's not the part that's infected. I don't know if it's able to pee or not but hard to tell in a nest box. Just need advice. It's running around and acting very healthy otherwise.
Ideas?
