Vet visit & now coccidia? Pls help

[HaruBun]

Hi! My 8 week old lop just had her (found out it’s not a boy like i was told) first vet visit and while her physical exam went great, her stool test did not. They said they found bacteria in her stool and that she needed to take medication which is SMZ TMP and probiotics. I think they said what was in her poop was coccidia. They said she most likely got it from where she was living at (lived in the countryside) and that it could have come from other feces there.

Is this contagious to cats because I have pet cats who don’t exactly have direct contact with the bun bc they’re separated from a pen and a cage. Should I disinfect the rug the bunny plays on and what can I use to disinfect it? Same as her cage/sleeping area, should I just use half vinegar and half water or should i go out and buy something else.

I just want to make sure that while she’s getting her meds, that I’m also doing what I can to prevent any more of the coccidia from coming back or staying. She’s been acting the same since I got her a week ago, eating a lot, pooping, drinking etc.

Also, any advice on giving her her liquid medicine. She is quite small and definitely does not want to keep still.

Thank you in advanced for the help. I want her to be healthy and get rid of this thing.

[DanaNM]

Coccidia is pretty common. My vet said almost all bunnies from shelters have it, but it’s usually at very low levels. It is very host specific, so you don’t need to worry about your cat getting it. Does she have diarrhea or a very high number of coccidia? Many rabbits are asymptomatic carriers of the parasite, but young rabbits usually need treatment as they can have symptoms.

You can help the treatment by keeping her litter box and area very clean and disinfected, as it is spread through feces. Vinegar probably won’t be strong enough….This info is from medirabbit (http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm):
“Treatment of the environment is important (e.g. 10% ammonia). Water crocks and feed hoppers should be disinfected and remain free of rabbit feces. When treating a carpet, vacuum first in order to further penetration of the anticoccidial product. During treatment of the environment, rabbits should be kept in another part of the home to avoid the danger of contact with the products and possible intoxication.”

As for the medicine, I will usually put the bunny on my lap on a towel, with their head facing away from me. Use your non-dominant hand to hold their head (thumb behind the ears, fingers under the jaw). With your dominant hand, stick the syringe under their upper lip, right behind the incisors. There is a pocket behind the incisors but before the molars. Aim for that pocket. Dispense the medicine slowly so she has time to swallow.

This video gives good tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaHtUy4EX5s
They use a different option for holding the bunny, but it’s basically the same.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[HaruBun]

No she doesn’t have an diarrhea and from what I remember, the vet said they only found traces of it from her feces.

But I will definitely keep her cage clean as usual and disinfect everything until her 2 weeks of medication is over and she gets see again.

Thank you!

[DanaNM]

That’s good that she isn’t showing symptoms. Your vet is likely treating it as a precaution because she is so young.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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