English Spots

[Blaze_Amita]

I was just checking over Nessa, my english spot doe with a 4 week old litter, I wanted to check her teats, nails and teeth (after a horrifying trip with Blaze and his teeth) and Noticed she's developing Mastitis. Normally I won't wean a litter until 6 weeks, and her's is only 4 weeks old. Only under emergency situations will I wean early, but I've never had a momma develop mastitis this early with a litter. Could it be from being a first time momma and her body's not sure what's going on and she had a LARGE litter of 9, not losing a single one, or being a bit overweight from the extra food available for the babiesor what?

I've never had a problem at all with Mastitis not clearing itself up in a day or two after weaning a litter but I don't want to wean that litter that early, and the vet said to give her an antibioticand she'll clear right up. I'm not so sure with this vet, leaves me weary- any antibiotics do. Any English Spot Breeders out there have this problem?

That's a picture of her from today. She wasn't so amused with me picking her up.

 

[massie777]

I had a mother California rabbit that came into my rescue with two week old babies. When they turned 3 1/2 weeks she started getting mastitis and I had to ween her babies. all of them made it but I did suppliment for a week with milk.

I do not know what causes it.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

Do you think I should wean off the babies? They are all eating solid foods and drinking water, Momma doesn't let them anywhere near her. I'm just afraid to give her antibiotics because I know some rabbits build a tolerance for it faster.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

I would wean the babies. If they're 4 weeks and eating solids they should be fine.

And I'll get back to you about the disease. Going to look in a book and re reply

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

in the book 'raising better rabbits and cavies' the one the ARBA deals with it states:

Treat for 3 consecutive days with Penecillian (injectable) it then says to strip the infected glands of milk and to apply hot packs for 3-4 times dailey for 15 minutes.


I'm going to post this on another site and see how they deal with it. Will re reply.

 

[GorbyJobRabbits]

I put it on the other site like I said I would and this is what they sent back:


What are the mastitis symptoms? Did the vet diagonose the mastitis?
You would think that with 9 hungry babies she wouldn't have this problem.
Are the babies healthy? Could you have inspected her when she was very full of milk? and this is normal for her?

Just asking questions since I can't see what you saw.

We breed english spots and haven't had any cases of mastitis. The does with large litters do get enlarged breasts (that area seems to hang down quite a bit). We generally free feed our english spot does with litters, especially at the age yours are. Usually at that age, we're close to 1 full adult ration per animal (with your 9, that might be 10 adult rations). Although we free feed, we try to feed only what they'll eat.

We do have an occasional doe that gets fat on all that feed. We have one creep feeder that we can use to feed the babies without the mom eating too much. Actually, we only had 1 doe with that problem!

if the only symptom was heavy breasts, I might be tempted to let things go for a few days and watch her and the litter. Maybe not increase the feed for a few days, or cut back a little.

Good Luck.
Mandy

 

[iluvdutchrabbbits90]

I would wean them. I once bought a lionhead buck he was 9 onces and a little over 3 weeks old.The breeder weaned him way to early and wanted them gone. He didnt eat well the first 2 days,but then did great! I know its a diffent breed tho.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

I didn't actually take her to the vet, but I did a phone cosultation since I've had mastitis in a doe that I had rescued long time ago. Her teats are highly sensative, so it was a tad difficult to pick her up(i usually pick up under the belly, but she bit me a couple times) but I managed to wean her off and I put the babies in one big cage next to her but they didn't seem to care in the slightest that momma was gone, I put them in a play area a little while later with my Velveteen lop babies and they were all for playing with the others, big mass of 15 baby rabbits running, jumping was cute to see-sorry no pics there, it was too cold for the camera to tolerate.

Nessa also enjoyed some outside time she hopped around cleaned her belly, hopped a little more and then flopped over and started to clean herself while she was laying down. SHe's much calmer this evening when i went and checked on her again. I go to pick up the injectable antibiotic tomorrow from the vets.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

well turns out it was a penicillian shot and she looks great now. I'll have to get a new picture of her now. I only lost one baby, naturally the only showably marked doe.
Oh well. But I still ahve momma and the other 8 babies all alive and healthy

 

[woahlookitsme]

Heres what I found in the Merck Veterinary Manual

Mastitis is common in commercial rabbitries and is occasionally seen in smaller units. Poor sanitation enhances spread throughout the rabbitry. Mastitis affects lactating does and may progress to a septicemia that rapidly kills the doe. Generally, it is caused by staphylococci, but streptococci and other bacteria have been isolated. Initially, the mammary glands become hot, reddened, and swollen. Later, they may become cyanotic, hence the common name, “blue bag.” The doe will not eat but may crave water. Fever ≥105°F (40.5°C) is often noted. If antibiotic treatment is started early (the first day the doe goes off feed), the rabbit may be saved and damage limited to 1-2 mammary glands. If >2 glands are lost, keeping the doe may not be economical. Because penicillin often causes diarrhea in rabbits, does should be treated only after the pelleted ration has been replaced with hay or some other high-fiber diet (see enterotoxemia, Intestinal Diseases). Kits should not be fostered to another doe because they will spread the infection to the foster mother. Handrearing of infected young may be attempted but is difficult. The incidence of mastitis can be reduced if nest boxes are maintained without rough edges to the entrance, which can traumatize the teats when the doe jumps in and out of the nest box. It is essential for the nest box to be sanitized both before and after use. Vaccines have not proved to be beneficial in preventing mastitis.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171320.htm&word=rabbit%2cmastitis