Big question-worms??

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ok I have a couple of questions…Can rabbits get worms. If yes, from where and what type. What can you deworm them with and how often should they be dewormed?

 

Just wanting to cover all the health basis with the rescue/shelter buns! Thanks all!

[BinkyBunny]

This is something that is not a huge problem here – more parasitic stuff like coccidia, e.cuniculi, but as far as “worms” go, my understanding is it is possible to for bunnies to get ring and tapeworm, however it has not been something that has been a huge worry for the the shelters. I know in other countries though, they do go through the deworming process and that may be because bunnies are outside more often.

I was able to find a similar question that was asked on allexperts.com (answered by Dana Krempels)

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Rabbit-deworming.htm

I think that if you take in a rescue who lived outside and exercised alot outside where other wild rabbits and raccoons roamed, then you could talk to your vet about the best thing to do.

 

Here, one of the most common contagious parasites that can spread through shelters is coccidia. You’ll notice it via large icky messy poos that don’t clear up within a few days of  a bunny adjusting to the shelters new diet.       It’s easily treated, but  it can be easily spread in a shelter setting. 

I know at SaveABunny, even when they are vacuuming out cages, the nozzle is disinfected between cages.   You also have to be careful with litterscoops.  It might be a good idea to have several scoops that you can rotate.  That way you can have one sitting in disinfectant, one in a rinse bucket full of water, and the third to scoop, so you can just rotate them all. 

[Sarita]

I have gotten a bunny from a shelter with pinworms before and we treated him with panacur successfully.

I agree that Coccidia is definitely a concern with rabbits from shelters and unsanitary situations – I’ve treated rabbits for this as well with I think it was Albon.

[osprey]

We basically treat all of our bunnies that come in as strays with a week’s worth of Albon to treat for Coccidia. Ringworm is actually a fungus, and bunnies can get it, as well as transmit it to people. Like Sarita said, I have heard of bunnies with pinworms, which I think come from living outside too.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Osprey could I bother you about what the dose would be? I think we’d like to start doing that.

The reason I’m asking about worms is I want a list of all the ailiments rabbits can get, signs and symptoms, if there’s anything at home you can do (ie. sore hocks) or what you should be monitoring the vet to do. I’m at the shelter between three and five days a week but obviously not every day so I want it all posted so that the other girls who are caring for the rabbits know EXACTLY what to look for and do.

Worms I’m more concerned about as in most animals there aren’t any signs or symptoms but can cause a lot of problems…so I want to know about that too!

[osprey]

I’ll ask our medical specialists what the dosage/duration of the Albon treatment is and post it here.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Thanks Osprey! I’m just looking online to price it out and it has different doses….

[osprey]

Best place for rabbit dosage calculator http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rx/drugcalc.html

[bunnytowne]

well thats a good website to have for emergencies.

[BinkyBunny]

Oh! This is something for me to keep in mind!

[Sarita]

I’ve used this dosage calculator before however…

1. Some medications come in different formulations and different strengths so I’m not sure that this gives the proper dosage for the formulation or dosage that you may have;

2. Some dosages are given in ranges…hard to know which dosage you really need.

3. Some dosages are just very confusing in my opinion;

4. This does not tell you how often or for how long to give the medication.

So it MIGHT be good for emergencies but then again it MIGHT NOT.

[Author]

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