Posted By lashkay on 07/28/2010 06:22 PM
I don't know if you know this already, but t's important that you disinfect the bunny's cage with a 10% ammonia solution so the oocysts will be killed and can't reinfect your bunny: I found this under coccidiosis in the Merck Veterinary Manual: http://www.merckvetmanual.com or http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171332.htm

Treatment will not be successful unless a sanitation program is instituted simultaneously. Elimination of fecal-oral transmission of infective oocysts is achieved by preventing feed hoppers and water crocks from becoming contaminated with feces. Hutches should be kept dry and the accumulated feces removed frequently. Wire cage bottoms should be brushed daily with a wire brush to help break the life cycle of the protozoa. Ammonia (10%) solution is lethal to oocysts and is the best choice to disinfect cages or ancillary equipment exposed to fecal material

Healing vibes to your bunny - Lashkay

Bunnymum16, we seem to have 2 similar posts going for you, so I copied Sarita's advice regarding the cage cleaning. I think it's helpful since you have so much on your plate with Micro Bunny that you know you can safely keep it clean simply and easily. Lashkay, thank you for the information above. I trust Sarita's experience here and wanted to share both your suggestions with Bunnymum so she can have all her options available.

Sarita said:
I think as long as you change the litterbox often and clean with vinegar and water you will be fine. I've treated rabbits with coccidia before and just kept their areas cleaned and medicated them and it cured them.

I agree with your boyfriend on this...keep it clean, change the litter often, medicate. It's always worked for me and I've never gone to extreme measures like the ammonia or disinfecting.

Some of the information that you find online can be not as relevant to treating house bunnies as what is ideal.   Some of the drugs that can be used to treat rabbit coccidia- and that are used in large rabbitries- are actually large animals (cattle, etc) medications.  And that is why you can worry about overdosing, side effects, etc- when you are using medicine developed for a 1000+ animal on a small, maybe a couple of pounds rabbit.

But following the recommendations by your vet and the prescribed meds is ideal for a pet bunny.  Just make sure (as others have mentioned) to keep the area cleaned daily to prevent recontamination (the bunny reinfesting itself) from poos and be sure to check a fecal AFTER treatment at the interval when the meds are done that your vet recommends.  You want to do this to make SURE that it is completely cleared up.

Griffin had coccidia when I got him- I treated him with the meds- and then had a fecal retest a few weeks later as negative.  Griffin was kept away from the other bunnies at first as a general precaution anyway- and I fed, handled the other bunnies first and THEN Griffin.  I am sure that Griffin was eating his cecals- but he was not reinfected with coccidia as the spores are rarely in the cecals.  So it was actually quite easy to treat and just took general, mild extra precautions when having other bunnies in the house and to prevent reinfestaion.

Having coccidia diagnosed before the bunny has runny, bloody diarrhea can make all the difference between life and death- that is why I recommend anyone with any bunny, young/adult/etc- have a fecal test done ASAP- especially if you have other bunnies in the house.  It is easier and cheaper to treat one bunny than to treat 2,3, etc......

Many of the websites from breeders may mention using large animal products that are added to the water- but this often only CONTROLS the parasite and does not treat it.  Controls means keeping the parasite to a manageeable level- often not ever eliminiating the parasite completely.  TREATING means giving a course of medication to eliminate the parasite.   Bunnies in rabbitries probably do quite weill with a schedule of treatment that keep the parasite under control- but what happens when the bunnies are then going to a pet store or a private home and not receiving their medication to "control" the parasite load?  The parasite can multiply and make the bunny ill.

Coccidia is a common parasite- but it is possible to eliminate the parasite completely.  Especially with house bunnies that are getting individual care and treatment.

Can I just say I'm so glad this bun has you?  You're doing a great job being so proactive about this.  Sending good vibes that microbunbun is in the fast lane to recovery!