Clostridium/Enteritis

Question
I have experienced many deaths in my rabbitry. I did change feed and many does died. It seems clostridium has overgrown the other bacteria. I have changed to a higher fiber diet,but I keep seeing my rabbit get bloated,go off feed ,develop dlosse stool-sometimes clear mucus,then die. Generally about6-12 weeks of age. How can I get out of this?

Answer
Dear Kevin,

Clostridium overgrowth is not common in healthy rabbits raised in a stress-free environment.  These harmful bacteria generally overgrow and displace the normal intestinal flora only when the rabbit suffers from ileus or GI tract slowdown:

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

If these deaths began when you changed the feed the rabbits were getting, then consider the possiblity of contamination of the pellets with mycotoxins or other poison.  Fungal toxins can kill off normal bacteria, allowing the harmful species to overgrow, cause enteritis, liver damage, and death.

Clostridium can be treated with metronidazole from a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

but because this opportunistic pathogen is usually not a killer unless circumstances of stress or incorrect husbandry are an issue, this will be treating the symptom instead of addressing the cause.  I think you can understand my meaning, and will take stock of the conditions in which your rabbits live (which I cannot see).  

Are they overcrowded?  Is their bedding always clean and dry?  Do they always have enough clean water constantly available?  Is their feed clean, dry, free of mold or other contaminants?  Is their temperature comfortable?  Do they get enough mental and emotional stimulation?

Answers to these will ultimately be the solutions to your problem.

Dana