So after my last post I thought I would do some about health and diet and care.
Did you know that Rabbits should be wormed regularly 2 to 4 times a year?There are all sorts of parasites that a Rabbit can get:
1: Pin worms-are about a cm long and look like little pieces of thread like white cotton in the poops of Bunny's the major symptoms other than seeing them in the poops is the fact they produce chemicals the make the skin go reddy pink and makes the skin itch like crazy.
2: E.cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) is a small protozoan that lives in the body cells of its host and is absorbed by the intestines where it heads of to other organs especially the kidneys and the brain where it causes lesions called granulomas these can also develop in the liver as well.Infected Bunny's as they get older can develop neurological problems showing as head tilt ,convulsions(fits),tremors,hind limb weakness,incontinence,loss of balance and coma.And some times lesions in the eyes.
3: Cocccidia is a manycelled organism which after infection hatch out of their shell and attack the intestines causing weight loss diarrhoea and dehydration affecting young rabbits how ever there is one species Eimeria stiedae which will travel to the liver and cause damage to the liver and bile duct.
4: tape worms though rare in rabbits is spread by mites and ants on grass can cause weight loss.
5: Flukes like the liver fluke spread by snail on grass which can cause liver problems too.
I worm Speedy with Panacur (rabbit wormer)paste every 3 months or so just to be sure as when we brought him home he was infected with pin worms and after my last bunny was very poorly with E.cuniculi for the last couple of years and eventually he did die.
Did you know that Rabbits should be wormed regularly 2 to 4 times a year?There are all sorts of parasites that a Rabbit can get:
1: Pin worms-are about a cm long and look like little pieces of thread like white cotton in the poops of Bunny's the major symptoms other than seeing them in the poops is the fact they produce chemicals the make the skin go reddy pink and makes the skin itch like crazy.
2: E.cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) is a small protozoan that lives in the body cells of its host and is absorbed by the intestines where it heads of to other organs especially the kidneys and the brain where it causes lesions called granulomas these can also develop in the liver as well.Infected Bunny's as they get older can develop neurological problems showing as head tilt ,convulsions(fits),tremors,hind limb weakness,incontinence,loss of balance and coma.And some times lesions in the eyes.
3: Cocccidia is a manycelled organism which after infection hatch out of their shell and attack the intestines causing weight loss diarrhoea and dehydration affecting young rabbits how ever there is one species Eimeria stiedae which will travel to the liver and cause damage to the liver and bile duct.
4: tape worms though rare in rabbits is spread by mites and ants on grass can cause weight loss.
5: Flukes like the liver fluke spread by snail on grass which can cause liver problems too.
I worm Speedy with Panacur (rabbit wormer)paste every 3 months or so just to be sure as when we brought him home he was infected with pin worms and after my last bunny was very poorly with E.cuniculi for the last couple of years and eventually he did die.
Wow, learning more and more. Rachel, can these infect bunny servitors? AJ
ReplyDeleteTapeworms and pin worms so after clean away poops you have to wash your hands and you have to keep the housing clean and hover up a lot until the infection is cleared as you can inhale the eggs too but I shall cover cleaning in a later post,xx Rachel
DeleteWe love learning more about you Speedy and all the other bunnies!
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian there's more to come,xx Speedy
DeleteI need to get Myra D. dewormed since she was a feral bunny.
ReplyDeleteI'm Glad I reminded you!xx Rachel
DeleteWOW---I had no idea!!
ReplyDeleteI just posted my question on Facebook, asking if anyone has pet bunnies...one friend in California said he used to have one. He said they can be aggressive and have chewing issues. His is the only response so far.
I think mostly they have "stupid human issues". People never do enough research before deciding to get a pet or have children. Hard to believe we are the dominant race on earth.
DeleteAll rabbits have to chew chew chew to wear their constantly growing teeth down or they develop serious dental issues. Their teeth and their guts have to be in constant motion.
Rabbits only get agressive when they haven't been spayed or neutered and if they don't get handled and played with Lee.And as for chewing well if they get enough hay they don't chew that much maybe nibble a bit and if they have enough stuff to nibble on like willow toys and apple wood sticks it isn't to much of a problem,xx Rachel
DeleteBrilliant, such great information for people who have and want bunnies :) Have a great week Speedy xx00xx
ReplyDeleteMollie and Alfie
Thanks Mollie and Alfie
DeleteManny (only Whisky, Cosmo and Ling knew him) had head tilt for over a year before he passed away. It was uncomfortable to watch, but it never slowed Manny down. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up with these articles, Speedy!
Not so nice for Manny but we will keep on with these posts,xx Speedy and mum
DeleteGreat information - we don't know much about taking care of bunnies so this is great for people who are interested!
ReplyDeletePiggy kisses,
Katie and Coccolino the mini pig
Thanks Katie and Cocco,xx Speedy
DeleteWowza you learn something new everyday!! Mummy feels bad because she used to have a bunny called sooty and she only wormed him once a year!!!! Glad he didn't catch anything!
ReplyDeleteLove Milo :)
but at lest she did worm him most people don't even do that,so tell her not to feel to bad,xx Speedy
DeleteUmm wow! I had no idea that there were so many different types of parasites. My Smoosh had a micro parasite when he was a pup that caused all sorts of issues until diagnosed. It was such a nightmare!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Jules of Canines & Couture
www.caninesandcouture.com
horrible little things,xx Rachel
Deletewow, we had not idea bunnies could have so many wormy problems...you keep my pal Speedy eating that worming paste stuff..
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Savannah I will,xx Speedy's mum
DeleteRachel, one of a pair of our beloved shelter bunns died last night from some kind of poisonous bite. Do you have any ideas? What could bite a bunny and not be seen by us. This bunn has been with us for a good while and was a large Californian. She was such a sweetheart - very healthy, friendly and completed devoted to her companion, another large Californian.
ReplyDeleteSpiders are coming out now, and scorpions, too. Snakes are coming out to warm in the sun. It could be anything, Jane.
DeleteYou're right. It is so frustrating not to mention incredibly worrisome not to be able to know for sure. They were inside bunnies. Their cage is lifted off the floor and it wasn't their time to be in one of the big inside time-share play areas we have. I think we are having some tests done by the vet, and I wish I'd had a good chance to see the bite and how it affected her. She deserved better. Well, thanks, and take care, Juana
DeleteHi Jane I only just saw this I have been doing a little research the most likely culprit is a snake and It would be 1 of 3 snakes that live in Texas Broad banded copper head,diamond back rattle snake or a coral snake the other species I have ruled out as it lives in water and the coral snake is brightly coloured so it is probably either the the Broad banded copper head or the diamond back rattle snake as they would be better camoflage,but if it is a spider then it would be the Black widow or the brown recluse but it is unlikely as that would be as a rabbit would be to big for a spiders prey and scorpion stings probably wouldn't kill it may hurt and make the bun feel poorly but that's all the only thing that would actively hunt is a snake and rabbits are one of their natural prey and a snake could still get into a cage even if it was lifted off the floor.I'm so sorry about the poor bunny the shelter will need to get somebody in to check to see if the snake is still around and that it hasn't decided to hang around other wise more bunnies could be killed of even one of you volunteers or staff could be at risk the test by the vet will confirm if it was a snake,xx Rachel
DeleteRachel, thank you for your research. I'm afraid you are probably right. It sounds crazy, but we think you are right. Thanks again. Needless to say, I'll keep you posted. AJ
DeleteThanks Jane We would like to know,xx Speedy and Rachel
DeleteWow! Speedy'd Mommy, THANKS YOUS! We loves learningmore about other animal pets. We (well Mommy) has though about getting a bunny a few times. Her best friend growing up had a pet bunny (and a dog and a cat and a skunk and a bird) and they all gots along.
ReplyDeleteKisses
Nellie
Thank you Nellie Rabbits are fun pets and can bet intergrated into a home with other pets like dogs and kitties quite well,xx Rachel
DeleteI had no idea about the worms! Thank you for educating us on the proper care of bunnies! People think that cause you guys aren't that big that you are super easy to care for - but you require work as well and you are doing a great thing by letting everyone know about proper bunny rabbit care!
ReplyDeleteThanks Blueberry,can't weight to do the next post,xxSpeedy and mum
DeleteAgain, a wonderful job. It's wonderful to have friends spreading the word on bunnies.
ReplyDeletexx
Thanks Shell,xxRachel
DeleteI have never wormed my babies! I will call the vet and ask if we can! Thanks, Speedy and Speedy's Mum!
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome Sixbunnies,xx Speedy and mum
DeleteOh Speedy... I feel for you, buddy. You have to take pills that often? Icky. But then, havin' worms is icky, too, so... I guess... it's all for the best. purrs
ReplyDeleteyuk not pills it a paste in a huge syringe and you have to take a dose from it every day till its all gone like I am now,xxSpeedy
DeleteHad no idea rabbits got worms too!
ReplyDeleteyup icky things worms!xx Speedy
DeleteOh wow, I knew about all the other things you mentioned rabbits could get, but I didn't know they could get tape worms too! Looks like both you and Kirby will be getting medication to prevent these nasty buggers this year! Hugs Leah and Kirby
ReplyDeleteI've just had the last dose of my wormer so that's done for a little while,xx Speedy
Delete