Sick baby rabbits, what is it!? I need help!

[Chassie]

Hey there, I'm sort of new to raising rabbits.. I have a NZ doe that had her first litter, she was preg when I got her, and two have died! One other is sick today, and I'm not sure what's going on!

He is pooping water, clear not diarrhea! And also like clear round balls? One was green with clear around it. The babies are 4 weeks old and of course still with mom. The mom is aggressive to humans and seems like she is fighting the kits a little, unless she's weaning too early? I haven't changed anything in their pen or messed with them.

My dad sprayed fly poison but I don't know if he did it in the pen. He doesn't listen to me about this or actually care... I'm 20 but he lives with me. He sprays when I'm at work... He's phobic of flies.

Anyway they have plenty of fresh hay, fresh pellets and water everyday. There is no vet within 100 miles that does rabbits. We have one 20 miles away but they couldn't give me info, they're a horse vet. The vet said they could be too hot, but I don't think so. My buns are under shade.

I've heard of enteritis but I thought that was for rabbits weaned too early.

Is there anything I can do to save them? Thank yall in advance! Sorry for such a long post; Just wanted to make sure to give as much info as possible! Thanks!

 

[woahlookitsme]

They are right on time as far as weaning.

I'm thinking it may be mucoid enteritis because of the clear substance but if it is then it literally looks like clear jelly. Mucoid enteritis is not due to weaning early but more so is common with babies that are weaning. We have only had one real case of it with our Californians when I was in FFA and we lost only one luckily. Once they show the jelly in the stool then it's likely they can't be saved.

 

[majorv]

Sounds like enteritis to me also. It's very difficult to save them once they're showing symptoms. Young rabbits have immature digestive systems and if they're stressed, like if the cage is too crowded or they're too hot, it can trigger it. Sometimes you don't know what caused it, it could even be genetic. If mom isn't nursing them then put them in another cage but keep the one with symptoms away from the others. Go easy on the pellets and provide plenty of hay and water.

 

[Chassie]

Thank you all. I was afraid that's what it was.. I never seen it before, I thought it was worms at first. I thought enteritis was just watery diarrhea. I really need to start researching diseases, I reckon. I have him separated from the others. They are eating well (his siblings) so I am going towean them. I think she is a bad mother, none of my other does were aggressive to their babies like her.. She will pull their hair. Maybe this is why they are stressed?? I'm not really sure.. It's sad because the sick one, I was going to keep.

 

[JBun]

Mucoid enteritis is different than bacterial enteritis. Mucoid enteritis involves a clear jelly like substance which is produced by intestinal irritation, which can fill the intestinal tract and obstruct it. Bacterial enteritis is what you will see watery diarrhea with.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/Mucoid_EnteropathyRabbits.htm
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Generalities/Enteritis_en.htm

 

[BlazeBunnies]

Hope the siblings go okay. I would give you advice but what I was going to say has ready been said. Good luck keep us updated😊

 

[ladysown]

to help with entropathic illness...remove pellets, feed hay and rolled oats (like kitchen oatmeal uncooked) and fresh water. in a bowl as well as in a bottle. You might be able to save them. BUT do not keep any of the offspring as breeding animals.... and if selling them, advise them to not breed them either.

 

[Chassie]

Well I wasn't planning on breeding them anyway, but I'm glad you let me know. I only raise Chinchilla and Rex rabbits. My aunt gave me this rabbit because she couldn't handle her anymore. When you go to feed the doe, she will lunge at you and bite (Hard!!) It's because the person she bought it from didn't mess with them enough. I told my aunt wants a baby to keep as a pet.. Can they still be kept as pets? Also will they have to be quarantined from my other bunnies? They're away from my others now.

Thank you for the answers they have been very helpful

 

[Chassie]

So far he's still alive and drinking + eating hay pretty good. His pellets wasn't jelly-like this morning.. They were soft pellets, but not like normal poop.

 

[ladysown]

sure, keep one as a pets. and yes, I would keep them away from your other rabbits. little is truly known how entropathic illnesses spread as it pops up in unexpected places. I tend to think genetics play a huge factor in how a rabbit handles gut type illnesses.