Rocco 2 year old blue dwarf lop cociddia/pneumonia/bloat/colic

Hi guys I need to tell you rabbit lovers out there a story of my dear rabbit ROCCO.

I have a 2 year old dwarf lop male rabbit, he was castrated when he was 8 months old, he is a house bunny, litter trained and loved very very much. The love and affection myself and my husband have for Rocco shows in everything he does, the affection he gives back, his cheekiness, the playfulness, his appetite and until two weeks ago his health.

I have always worried about having a rabbit due to the sensitivity of their nature and health but decided to get one 2 years ago, from a brilliant breeder in cater ham.

He is beautiful. self blue in colour, I bread from him as he was so gorgeous, he even has grand Children now....... he got coccidia when he was just 9 weeks old and survived, my vets in rochford Essex in addition to my after care saved his life from this horrid bacteria that preys on young rabbits, I had only had him a few days when this happened, but the warning signs were there even only after a few hours, so straight to the vets I went. He was hot, lethargic, had gungy mucus poo (not like a bowl disorder you may get in older rabbits) it looks like jelly all over the poos, The vets gave me antibiotics and pain killer and then less in a week he was back to his normal baby self and we could carry on getting to know each other. So many rabbits die at a really young age, as soon as you see a different behaviour, get straight to the vet, there is never any time to waste, no matter how significant it is.

Rocco is now two, happy, great appetite, loved everything about his life. I get up each morning and he is waiting for me in his indoor house in the spare room, ready for action, what ever the day will bring, he roams around as if the house is his!...... last Tuesday morning I went to his house as usual, expecting for him to be waiting, but no he was laying on his side at the back of his house, breathing laboured, had not eaten a thing all night nor touched his water, no poops either, listened to his tummy and no noises either..... I called my vet, who knowing how rabbits work took him in immediately.

I left him with the vets who advised that at the current time it was possible he had bloat/colic. They gave him gut mover injection and pain killer, also asked me for some of the food I give him to avoid 'new food' that may upset him any more. (He was staying at the vets until showed signs of improvement or otherwise he could go on a drip, which would save his life)

A day passed and no improvement so an x-ray was done on his tummy, including his heart and lungs. It was a shock to learn from the x-ray that Rocco had pneumonia in addition to colic. His x-ray showed light patches on this lungs where it should have been black (clear), looking back he proberly did sneeze a few times a day but thought this was normal?..... it obviously was not, the vet prescribed zithromax 1ml a day and advised me to buy a humidifier to loosen up my poor bunnys lungs. I used the humidifyer by his house and put a towel over to get full benefit, he kinda knew it was helping him and even leaving the door open he stayed in for the full session. I did 3, 2 hour sessions a day for the 48 hours before he had to go back for another x ray to make sure he was responding. He was, the x ray showed a 90% improvement, I saw the before and after shots myself. the vets explained, rabbits pus is hard, they cant cough it up like we can the warm steam helps break it down, that’s a fact the x ray proved it.

Rocks now been on zithromax for a week, the first 2 days were spent steaming him and syringe him fireplex and water, even through the night (ever two hours). He ate a few fresh spring greens but not that much. Once he got a bit stronger he started eating more fresh stuff, I gave him carrot tops, radish tops, spring greens, bok choy, kale. He did not want any pellets and did not force him, just offered veggies. Still no poos, but due to the greens he was eating I knew there had to be some soon. Did not drink much either, this is due to water content of veggies, I did offer water and he took it when he wanted it. (Only forced a couple of times when I thought he needed fluid)

on the third day got some poo, the first batch had mucus on them and they were tiny, when I spoke to the vets, they said this is normal considering the circumstances and if no better output of poo in next 24 hours to take him back.

I fed him consistently, all the above greens and water & fiberplex and his medicine , he got stronger each day.

on the 4th day from starting the zithromax, he started to eat a few hard foods, I gave him a hobnob biscuit, he loved it, a small piece of who meal bread, loved it, with this mixed in with all them veggies, he was starting to get his appetite back.

On day 5 still taking antibiotic and feeding him fibreplex twice a day, he then just went to his food bowl and started eating, thankfully he is now making a great recovery.

I still don’t understand why my friend got this illness, it happens and when rabbits are ill and in pain, they simply don’t eat, this is enough in its self to get to a vet....the rest is up to us to ensure the get back to normal no matter what it takes.

I nearly lost my best friend, with the aftercare I gave him and the vet’s help it ensured his precious life was saved. I wanted to post this information coz when I was looking for advice there didn’t appear to be any on that fitted, so here goes....

Symptoms Rocco had

Temperature
Not eating or drinking for more than 6 hours
Refusing even his most loved treats
No poop's
Snuffles/sneezing
Laboured breathing
Laying with head up or neck stretched out (trying to get more oxygen)
Lethargic

If you get any of these above, get to a rabbit savvy vet quick. doesnt mean that your bunzy has what rocco had, but any of the above is a vet trip, belive me please x

thanks for reading guys hope this may help xxxxx

Thank you for sharing Rocco's story with us I'm really glad he's getting better, and hope he improves day by day

I have no experience with Colic, Phemonia or Coccidia in rabbits but am aware of them. With regards the eating, GI Stasis is a very common occurrence and often an indication that another underlying illness is present, as you yourself found out. I can't understand why they are so delicate, but perhaps that is part of the reason their often brief lives with us are so special and it makes them so endearing and beautiful creatures in our eyes But their whole existence seems very closely bound by their tummy process and it can only be a matter of days until not eating proves fatal Unfortunately they are not like us, and they do not know that eating, no matter how uncomfortable, can save their little lives

RU is a wealth of information There are many very experienced members on here that on a daily basis give other members who are in desperate need, often bunny saving advice. I'm sure that one of them will be able to shed some light on your bun's illness

Welcome to the forum

corr you must have been out of your mind with worry but thanks for sharing as it doesnt make me feel such a fool for wanting to rush off to the vets if something isnt right

Thanks for sharing your story. I had a pneumonia bun called Folly - infact she had several bouts of it throughout the later stages of her life. With lots of care and attention, she came through it each time but every episode left her with a little more scarring on her lungs. She'd never suffered pasteurella (or any obvious clinical symptoms anyway) and was otherwise fit and healthy but it was hard watching her get more and more breathless as time progressed (although she still enjoyed life). Folly was such a fighter and still lived to be eight and a half. Her final tribute was being named Rabbiting On's Rabbit of the Year 2007. The photo was taken when she was eight and is in my avatar.

I'm so glad your little chap is making a good recovery. You sound like a great bunny mum.

what a moving story and such loving bunny parents really pleased your bunny is on the mend an thanks for posting such useful information too *Get Well Soon Bunny*

Thanks for telling us Rocco's story. My bunny, Pickle, had coccidia when I got him, and I didnt know he was ill. It was only after a few days that I thought his poos were not right and took him to my vet. I just thought it was his new environment/food etc that made him a bit "loose". I am glad to say he survived and now has a cast iron stomach :lol:

Bunny tummys are very delicate and I worry every day one of my bunnies will get ill.. but I know the warning signs thanks to all the info on this site.

Hope your bunny continues to get better.

My rabbit lola had coccodia and i took her to the vets straight away i had to give her the medicine by syringe for 2 weeks. She the got poorley on her last day of medicine so i took her in again and she had to stay overnight but they couldn't find anything wrong with her.

She came home she would only eat little hay but drank loads. I took her back again on sunday 20th july which was her birthday and then they gave her a painkiller told me she would be fine. She then died in my boyfriends arms at home later that night. She was only 2 years i think it could have been coccodia that took my little bunny but i'm not to sure. The vets over here in Germany i think aren't that good i'm just glad your Rocco is on the mend.

Thank you for sharing your story..

I am currently going through the not eating stage with my rabbit, it is very worrying.. She has been to the vets everyday for 7 days for a combination of blood tests, dental check and lots of medication.

She is gradually starting to drink again and is eating few spinach leaves and bits of Hay.

Am about to try the digestive and wholemeal bread...!

There is so much good advice on here. Thank you.