baby bunnies with diarrhea

Question
Dear Dana,

Thank you for your response regarding the protocol for the baby bunnies.  I will try to follow it to the teeth.

However, if the babies are still on KMR and Acidophilus, what should I feed them while they are on the meds you recommend.  I am afraid to give them KMR for it can cause the diarrhea again, or can it.

Today, out of all days, I was trying to keep this baby alive. The only meds I had were albon, metrodonizole, baytril, metacam, and subcutaneous fluids.  Still, she wouldn't take KMR and I felt bad giving her all this without any food.  She was going to go as I have seen many babies -- when it occurred to me to give her organic kefir. Don't know why, but that worked.  She probably took about 15 cc's throughout a day and diarrhea stopped. It's been 24 hrs that she's been fighting it. I also had her on a heating pad all day. I put a little botanical hay grass in the cage and alfalfa and she started nibbling. It's all a good sign. However, should I continue giving her kefir or go back to KMR and acidophilus?  I am really confused about what to feed these 2-3 week old babies when they get diarrhea.

Also, how soon should I offer them alfalfa hay and pellets? they seem to be very hungry but everywhere I read, it says that we should not give more than 15 - 25 cc's of KR for the 2 week babies?

Thank you for your kind help!
LEJLA  

Answer
Dear Lejla,

The babies can still have KMR and acidophilus while they are being medicated.  I wouldn't change that.

It's not the KMR that's causing the diarrhea.  It's bacterial overgrowth.  Of the meds you have, Baytril will probably be the most effective, but give it orally, if possible.  If you can get ciprofloxacin, that would be even better.  Be careful not to overdose, of course.  We use 15-20mg/kg twice a day.

If the baby is doing well on kefir, then keep that up.  I've not used it, but if it's soothing her, then maybe this is something that will help.  Sometimes, we just have to figure these things out by the seat of our pants.  :(

If the babies are 2-3 weeks old, they can be introduced to solid foods such as grass hay and pellets, and follow the general guidelines here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

You may still see some incidences of diarrhea.  But I hope the immodium, cipro and fluids will help. Perhaps the most critical is fluids, since it's dehydration that kills.  If you can get lactated ringer's solution, that is much better than saline, which could cause an imbalance of their electrolytes.  If the baby is already dehydrated from diarrhea, saline might make things worse.

Judge the amount of formula by the size of the baby's tummy.  If it's round and full, but gives a little, he's fine.  If the tummy still feels hollow and not round, he can have a little more.  Just don't overdo to the point where the tummy is hard and overfull.  That can cause problems.

I hope they will do fine.  Good luck!

Dana