Need Help Fast

[pfaubush]

A friend just called and asked if I knew what would cause a rabbit's front legs to stop working and get severe diarhea. Someone that she has been helping get started has a doe with this problem. The strange part is, is that it is the second rabbit in his barn to have this happen. They are adult rabbits from different lines (Cal Doe and Flemish Buck) and aren't housed near eachother. Any idea what could cause this? He has stopped pellets, is feeding grass hay and water and is going to give a couple of blackberry leaves. Thanks!

~Paula

[Pat Lamar]

Sounds similar to "Heads Down" syndrome.... caused by eating toxic milkweed which causes paralysis. Don't know the cure, but I think it's temporary. I would start forcing plenty of water to flush it out, if possible.

Pat Lamar

[arachyd]

Give plenty of water and dry oats (rolled, whole or kitchen oats) and the berry leaves. I'd normally say don't stop the hay but it is possible there is some type of toxic weed in it like Pat Lamar mentioned.

[Pat Lamar]

Here's an interesting article you may want to read:

http://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk...ndrome-t46.htm

Pat Lamar

[MaggieJ]

Very interesting article, Pat!

Paula, I'd definitely think that the Vitamin E is worth a try in this case.

[pfaubush]

Thank you, everyone! I passed along the info, but haven't heard anything back. I am very interested to know what it is, as my friend was in his barn helping him breed last weekend. She has a good size herd, so I'm hoping and praying that it isn't pasturella!

[Pat Lamar]

Pasteurella??? How did THAT get into this discussion? Wrong symptoms!

Pat Lamar

[pfaubush]

The last rabbit with the symptom recovered after being given vit. E. That made me feel better.

Pasturella was mentioned in another forum as a possible cause. It's symptoms weren't the usual snuffles and did include paralysis.

[MaggieJ]

Glad to hear that the Vitamin E worked for at least one of the rabbits.

Vitamin deficiencies are sometimes overlooked as possible causes of illness. I have a goose that developed weak legs last spring, to the point where she couldn't stand. I was sure we were going to lose her... but thanks to help on the Poultry Forum, she recovered fully after being given Vitamin B Complex for a couple of weeks. It was amazing how effective it was! No idea why one goose out of three developed the problem, but I was delighted at how well she recovered.

[pfaubush]

Strange, isn't it. I would have thought that if one was suffering a vitamin deficiency, they all would since they're all eating the same feed.

[MaggieJ]

Very strange... but that incident combined with your friend's recent experience with the rabbits is enough that I will be on the lookout for vitamin deficiency as a possible cause of other illnesses that may happen in the future. It's when you don't have a clue to the cause of a problem that it is so difficult to find an answer.

[Pat Lamar]

Ironically, I don't find it strange at all, simply because they're living, breathing animals and NOT "clones" of each other. Each one is different, just like humans. Hubby and I eat the same foods, but I have an iron and calcium deficiency and he doesn't. So, the same logic can be applied to other animals, too. Each creature is unique.

Pat Lamar

[MaggieJ]

Valid point, Pat! Thanks!

[pfaubush]

True, true!