Getting rid of coccidia??

Question
Hi Dana.

I have a male and female rabbit who are a tad over one year old.  When I first got them, the vet told me they have coccidia.  Since then, I have almost lost them both twice because they just all of a sudden stop eating and then that turns to diarrhea.  Sometimes, if I catch it early enough, I give them Baby GasX (simethicone)which sometimes helps to get them eating again.  But when it doesn't, I start force feeding them critical care and water, and the vet gives me albon.

I guess my question is, is there any way to cure this coccidia??  I've read that it's always present in a rabbit, it just remains dormant until something triggers it.  I really don't know how much longer I can take the stress of  worrying about these rabbits when they get sick.  I've kept their cage clean, give them fresh water, unlimited hay, etc.  All the things I'm supposed to do for a rabbit, but they just keep getting sick!  

Please help!!

Answer
Dear Nicole,

Adult rabbits usually don't get serious problems from coccidia, but it's best to get rid of them.  And thank goodness there is a fantastic new drug that will kill all of your bunnies' coccidia for good in only 3 doses (we dose for five days, just to be safe).

In the old days, vets would prescribe Albon or a potentiated sulfa antibiotics.  Not only are most coccidia resistant to these now, but the dosing would go on for weeks.  

Ponazuril (brand name Marquis from Bayer) is a drug developed to treat a microsporidian parasite in horses, but we've found it extremely effective for permanently removing coccidia.  If you are in the UK or Australia, then you can get Baycox (toltrazuril), which is similarly effective, and a lot cheaper.  (Unfortunately, Ponazuril is not cheap, and you have to get a horse dose.  But if your vet is amenable to buying some to have on hand to treat coccidia, I can give you the information for diluting to a usable suspension for rabbits, cats, dogs, etc.)

There is no reason for your bunnies to live with coccidia any more.  The parasites can be killed.  It's important, though, to thoroughly disinfect their housing, bedding, carpet, etc. where coccidial spores might be lurking, so they don't become reinfected.

The runny stool might also not be coccidial in origin, so please see:

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

But if you are *sure* your bunnies have coccidia (not just yeast, which some inexperienced vets misidentify as coccidia), then Ponazuril or toltrazuril will do the trick.

If you're not sure your vet is experienced with rabbits, then find another here for a second opinion:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.

Dana