coccidia

[piperknitsRN]

Just wondering if any one on the boards is familiar with it in their own pet rabbits.  I’m assuming she got it at the breeder’s since she’s been in contact with no other bunnies since I picked her up a couple of weeks ago.  She isn’t presenting with any clinical symptomology at all, so I’m hoping the course of Albon will clear things up (though I’m definitely not looking forward to giving it to her for ten days).  Here’s for praying she’ll take it mushed up in banana…

[piperknitsRN]

p.s. Also wondering if I should drop a note to the breeder telling her about the coccidia.  This is a reputable breeder and I wouldn’t take an accusatory tone, just a “I thought you might like to know…”  What do list members think?

[Sarita]

Yes, dealt with it a few times from rabbits I rescued from shelters. The albon will clear it up.

It won’t hurt to tell her – not sure she will treat the rabbits, but I think you should do your due diligence and just let her know – it’s up to her to decide what to do with the information.

[piperknitsRN]

Oh, that’s good to know.  They said there was a stronger drug out there if this fails… what I’m worried about most is having to syringe feed her meds.  The vet tech made it look soooooo easy, and I’m betting anything Olive will fight me on it.  Maybe we can compromise over medicated banana mush.

I did send off a nice, brief email to the breeder to let her know my bun has coccidia and hasn’t been in contact with any other animals including rabbits.  I imagine testing and treating all of her bunnies would be quite expensive, and she has a very small rabbitry; can’t imagine what it would cost with some of the larger rabbitries.

[KatnipCrzy]

I got Griff from a breeder and he was positive for coccidia- the Albon treatment cleared it right up (you have to have another fecal checked so many weeks after treatment). Coccidia is not usually passed with the cecals they eat- so fortunately that does not keep it as an unending cycle.
Just keep the litterbox pretty clean to prevent recontamination- grooming feet after being in litterbox can reinfect the bunny with coccidia if they are passing the coccidia during treatment.
Unfortunately in large rabbitries- coccidia can run rampant and be difficult to eliminate as wood is a problem and the coccidia gets into the environment- other porous materials like cement, the ground, etc- it is not easy to eliminate. I have noticed that rabbitries sometimes tend to treat with a large animal treatment drug in the bunnies water- but it really only “knocks back” the population as opposed to what you are doing for your bunny by the goal of completely eliminating it.
But- yes, it is actually very common and bunnies can pick it up from shows, fairs, breeding, environment where it is present- so it is common to even have good breeders have their bunnies test positive. But your bunny did NOT get it from your environment from what it sounds.

[KatnipCrzy]

coccidia is most dangerous in young bunnies as it can actually destroy intestinal lining- so it is great that you caught it early and are treating it- and there should be no complications. Adult bunnies can have coccidia and it can cause problems- but their immune systems are usually more developed to fight off this parasite- so it is not usually as fatal in adults.

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