Need help with some orphaned babies please.

[Moonshine]

I know what you mean. I'm really not the person to ask about vaccines. We don't do it around here unless something is sick. My grandpa is the rabbit man round here and that's his philosophy and he's raised rabbits his whole life. We used detramycin-10 once a week in the rabbits water. Its an antibiotic and Idk how good its doing them if any but its just mainly to keep.everything in good health and fight off anything coming along. Its not for rabbits, its used on swine, poultry, and cows I think but we use it. You might see what others have to say on that subject. That's just how we do things round herea lol

At best, this is useless, at worst, it is dangerous. A lot of a rabbit's digestion depends on beneficial bacteria in their digestive tract. Antibiotics aren't picky, they affect the good bacteria as well as the bad. Healthy immune systems are not helped in any way by constant exposure to antibiotics. Normal, healthy immune systems kill bacteria all the time. Antibiotics work by in some way inhibiting the ability of a bacterium to go through its normal process of growth. In a host that is actually sick, the action of the antibiotic slows the growth of the bacteria down enough that the host's immune system can catch up - the host's immune system is what defeats the infection, not the antibiotic. Constantly exposing the bacteria in a rabbit (and its environment) to an antibiotic will not kill off all of the bacteria, but it will ensure that the bacteria that can tolerate the antibiotic best will be the ones that reproduce fastest. Odds are that if an animal in such a system does get sick, that particular antibiotic and any from that "family" of antibiotics will not be effective against the infection.

A vaccine is a preparation made from a particular bacterium or virus, that when injected into a healthy animal, "teaches" its immune system to recognize and attack the invader without the usual means of exposure. It is only effective for the one disease that that particular virus or bacterium causes, and may not last as long as the immunity that actually catching the disease and fighting it off usually gives. Incidentally, there are no vaccines for any rabbit diseases at this time, so that is a moot point.

There are a number of parasites that rabbits can get, but I wouldn't stress these kits by hauling them to the vet just to find out if they have them. You should be able to see signs of most types of parasite infestation yourself (ear mites, fur mites, that sort of thing). I can understand that the vet is cautious about giving advice without actually seeing them, but do you really need to pay a vet bill just to satisfy him?

Well Mrs BunnyLady, I let my grandfather read what you had to say and he agrees with you absolutely 100%! We will stop the detramycin effective today. Good point! Thank you.

 

[kyrose]

I know what you mean. I'm really not the person to ask about vaccines. We don't do it around here unless something is sick. My grandpa is the rabbit man round here and that's his philosophy and he's raised rabbits his whole life. We used detramycin-10 once a week in the rabbits water. Its an antibiotic and Idk how good its doing them if any but its just mainly to keep.everything in good health and fight off anything coming along. Its not for rabbits, its used on swine, poultry, and cows I think but we use it. You might see what others have to say on that subject. That's just how we do things round herea lol

At best, this is useless, at worst, it is dangerous. A lot of a rabbit's digestion depends on beneficial bacteria in their digestive tract. Antibiotics aren't picky, they affect the good bacteria as well as the bad. Healthy immune systems are not helped in any way by constant exposure to antibiotics. Normal, healthy immune systems kill bacteria all the time. Antibiotics work by in some way inhibiting the ability of a bacterium to go through its normal process of growth. In a host that is actually sick, the action of the antibiotic slows the growth of the bacteria down enough that the host's immune system can catch up - the host's immune system is what defeats the infection, not the antibiotic. Constantly exposing the bacteria in a rabbit (and its environment) to an antibiotic will not kill off all of the bacteria, but it will ensure that the bacteria that can tolerate the antibiotic best will be the ones that reproduce fastest. Odds are that if an animal in such a system does get sick, that particular antibiotic and any from that "family" of antibiotics will not be effective against the infection.

A vaccine is a preparation made from a particular bacterium or virus, that when injected into a healthy animal, "teaches" its immune system to recognize and attack the invader without the usual means of exposure. It is only effective for the one disease that that particular virus or bacterium causes, and may not last as long as the immunity that actually catching the disease and fighting it off usually gives. Incidentally, there are no vaccines for any rabbit diseases at this time, so that is a moot point.

There are a number of parasites that rabbits can get, but I wouldn't stress these kits by hauling them to the vet just to find out if they have them. You should be able to see signs of most types of parasite infestation yourself (ear mites, fur mites, that sort of thing). I can understand that the vet is cautious about giving advice without actually seeing them, but do you really need to pay a vet bill just to satisfy him?

Well Mrs BunnyLady, I let my grandfather read what you had to say and he agrees with you absolutely 100%! We will stop the detramycin effective today. Good point! Thank you.

See another person helped.This site is great..

 

[Moonshine]

Lol yes it is! I love it here!

 

[kyrose]

Finally got around to getting a pic of the three.I think the runt may have something wrong with her back legs.She seems kinda stiff when she move,and i had to soak her little private parts in warm soapy water.Her fur was stiff back there and i couldnt see how she could go potty.Oh well i'll just continue to keep an eye on her.

You can see how much smaller the little runt is.She's outside of the bowl.

 

[animalmom]

KyRose;

Please keep us posted on the progress of your orphans. Pictures are always great, and reading your experience may prove helpful to some of us in the future.

On your "runt," you will need to keep its rear clear so it can piddle and poop. Warm water and a washcloth will work its magic on the dirty rump. I've gone so far as to bring in the dirty kit into the house to clean up so it wouldn't get chilled from a draft. Yeah I know, this time of year what is a chill... but it doesn't take much for something that small to get chilled. Wash until clean, wrap up in a towel and towel dry, wag your finger at the kit and say "now don't do that again" and put the kit back with the others.

I think you are doing great with the orphans.

 

[kyrose]

KyRose;

Please keep us posted on the progress of your orphans. Pictures are always great, and reading your experience may prove helpful to some of us in the future.

On your "runt," you will need to keep its rear clear so it can piddle and poop. Warm water and a washcloth will work its magic on the dirty rump. I've gone so far as to bring in the dirty kit into the house to clean up so it wouldn't get chilled from a draft. Yeah I know, this time of year what is a chill... but it doesn't take much for something that small to get chilled. Wash until clean, wrap up in a towel and towel dry, wag your finger at the kit and say "now don't do that again" and put the kit back with the others.

I think you are doing great with the orphans.

Thanks so much,i'm doing my best.It worried me because the one i did loose had some thick slimy stuff coming out of his privates when he died.This is what i thought it was and had dried.I will definately keep and eye on her privates and keep them clean.

 

[Moonshine]

A lot of them defecate when they die. Is that the water one is sitting it? You prolly should get a water with a ball to hang in the side of their cage. I hate them because some leak but its easier for them to learn to use and if it doesn't leak its not such a mess. 2x on the wash rag and warm water. This should be done just before feeding but since they are older prolly should just do it around meal time for humans. Sounds like they are doing good and you are doing a good job. You might want to put a cardboard box that is small and they can jump into to keep their bedding in. That's how our babies like it and they just get in and out as they please.

 

[kyrose]

A lot of them defecate when they die. Is that the water one is sitting it? You prolly should get a water with a ball to hang in the side of their cage. I hate them because some leak but its easier for them to learn to use and if it doesn't leak its not such a mess. 2x on the wash rag and warm water. This should be done just before feeding but since they are older prolly should just do it around meal time for humans. Sounds like they are doing good and you are doing a good job. You might want to put a cardboard box that is small and they can jump into to keep their bedding in. That's how our babies like it and they just get in and out as they please.

No,they like to sit in their food bowl.lol I have the waterer that hangs on the side.Before i put the litter in,i could see they were going potty.Just keeping an eye on the runt and crossing my fingers.

 

[kyrose]

Bad news everyone.I just lost the little runt.Poor little thing had such a rough start,but at least i no i did every thing i could.I think she went peacefully in her sleep. The other 2 seem to be going strong.

 

[Moonshine]

I'm so sorry! I know how it feels when you try so hard and hope for the best and lose 1 or 7. I lost 7 because a done orphaned them. It was hard for me as silly as it may seem. At least you tried and you did all you could for them. Just keep that in mind and your chin up. Your doing good.