Rabbit has loose stools

[astra]

Rabbit help is needed: http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?p=735102#post735102

[Mrs Skul]

:wave123 CL
Do you have any Adult Bunnies around your Place? The Vet Had me take some fresh Pooh and add water. (Make it Liquidly.)
Then feed it to the Babies. Are you feeding Yogurt? Do you have anything for Diarrhea for the Baby Squirrels?

[Rhapsody]

When we say a baby rabbit with diarrhea - what age are we talking about?
Is it old enough to eat timothy hay that might help if this is not due to illness?

[Chickenlegs]

There's a Yahoo chat group--Wildbuns. Maybe they would have some answers. I'll send a post and see what comes up. Baby rabbits are born with almost no microorganisims at all in their digestive tract. They get it from Mom's milk and by eating cecotropes--night stool from their moms. It's not regular poop but a tight cluster of little dark mucus covered poops that have the bacteria that will populate the baby's gut. Some folks have domestic rabbits and collect the cecotropes from them but they have to be fresh and there's always a chance bad bacteria can be introduced.

This from "First 48 Hours":
Dr Anne Hiss recommends placing baby bunnies on Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) 25mg/kg po q 12 hours on admission to duplicate the antimicrobial action of the fatty acids in the mother's milk.
Because bunnies are susceptible to diseases in the gut, many rehabilitators will place the bunnies on antibiotics to prevent and treat toxemia caused by coccidia, e coli, etc. Antibiotics which are safe for bunnies include Enrofloxacin 5-15 mg/kg po sc q 12-24 hours and Metronidazole 20mg/kg po q 12 hrs.
Provide probiotics daily to populate the gut with beneficial bacteria--1/2 ml daily until release. The probiotic can be mixed with water to form a paste. Dr Hiss recommends lactobacillus rather than yogurt

under "health issues":

diarrhea: Overfeeding (too many feedings in a day or too much at one feeding) can disrupt normal gastrointestinal activity and cause diarrhea.
Weaning onset diarrhea can develop when the bunnies start eating solids. Bunnies can't vomit or pass gas.
Treat diarrhea with enrofloxacin (broad spectrum antibiotic) and metronidazole (which kills giardia and other GI pathogens) these medicines are given at the same time.
Bunnies dehydrate easily. Any bunny with diarrhea should be given fluid therapy
Do NOT treat rabbits with any antibiotics ending in cillin.

I understand wild bunnies are very fragile and hard to raise. They need to be kept quiet, dim light, and in a place with no traffic. They stress VERY easily.

OK--so that's all I have right now. Hope somebody with real hands on knowledge is here soon. Be strong sweet baby. Are you tube feeding the little guy?

Hi Mrs. Skul!!!!!

[MiriamS]

Farm Mom just went through this with her buns. I'll forward this to some people that might be able to help. Good luck :grouphug

[Chickenlegs]

You got a good dose of info in the other thread.
This from The head of "Wildbuns"
I would start the baby on neomycin sulfate (brand names Biosol and DriTail or sometimes WetTail). The latter two brands can be found at PetSmart...just make sure the antibiotic in there is neomycin sulfate. The dropper lists dose by drops and depending on the size of the rabbit, 4-6 drops is a good starting point. The bunny probably is dehydrated as well and could use some fluids. Orally Pedialyte is good. You can also use LRS. Then the bun needs to be gradually weaned onto formula. 25% strength up to 50%, 75% and then 100%

It's something you can do right away and figure out where the diarrhea comes from later. It could be the change from mom's milk to formula, or if older, from formula to solid food, or just from stress. Little wild rabbits are HARD! Good luck!