**URGENT- HELP ASAP DANA PLEASE***

Question
Hi Dana, We are in a world of trouble here. We have had to syringe feed Patch, Snowy and Nikko and have arrested weight loss although a mission. The asymptomatic 5 rabbits started treatment 3 doses/days ago. The doses have been checked so they are right per weight at 20mg/kg fenbendazole and 50mg/kg toltrazuril. Their weights were good and had been consistently stable, appetite and behaviour normal until now. All bar Mica and PK lost weight on the first dose. After the second dose, food consumed reduced drastically all round and all have lost between 30 and 100g (100g is 0.22lb)each over the 3 days. They are quiet and subdued and not themselves at all, haven't come to visit us once (usually visit around 5-10 times in an evening). We had to syringe feed everyone last night- total treatment/feeding yesterday 4 hours. I am scared out of my mind. The vets here use Panacur so I don't think it's that. Could it be the Baycox (toltrazuril)? I am giving 50mg/kg- would 20mg/kg be better or quit it? If I quit it or both after 3 doses, what is the likelyhood of a resistent E.C causing problems later? Is fenbendazole enough on its own in any case? If I try to stagger the treatments, will the completely treated rabbits be immediately reinfected by the untreated ones because not treated concurrently? What do I do? I am absolutely desperately worried, I feel caught between two untenable options here. Don't treat and possibly lose them later, treat them and they feel awful (and who knows what else). Please, please help, Dana, I'm going out of my mind. Thankyou as always

Answer
Dear Nerida

If you suspect it might be the toltrazuril, stop giving it and see if the bunnies improve.  I have never had problems with it, but I don't know if the formulation you get in your area is the same as ours, so it would be wise to try this.  I don't think there will be a lasting problem.

Don't worry about resistant E. cuniculi.  The parasites are not actively reproducing, so it's really not an issue.  You'll kill off the susceptible individuals, and if there are any resistant ones, they will just remain.  But there's no knowing that while the bunny is still alive...and let's hope that stays that way.

Please remember that you are doing all you can.  That means you have to give yourself a break and while you have every right to be worried about your babies, please don't let it cripple you.  Take a deep breath and know that sometimes things have to work out on their own, and we are not always in complete control.

Hang in there.

Dana