Poorly rabbit, losing weight, can anyone help!

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any idea what could be wrong with my rabbit.

Barney is 2 and has always been a happy healthy rabbit, he has all his jabs etc, has the best food and veg. But he has lost so much weight recently, from 2.2 kilos to 1.6 kilos in 3 weeks. I took him to the vet and they decided to sedate him and check his teeth, they did blood tests and his kidneys were fine but his liver reading was slightly high. She wasn’t too concerned and she filed his teeth down. I took him home and he still wasn’t eating that much, just veg and hay but no pellets. He lost more weight and yesterday he had brown stuff in his mouth. I made an appointment with the vet but when I got home from work he seemed wobbly so I rushed him to the vet earlier. She said he had a distinctive smell (can’t remember what it was) in his mouth and said she feared he has liver disease.

We decided to let her keep him in and put him on a drip and try antibiotics, she said this morning he is still holding his own, and has eaten a tiny bit of greens but still looks dull. It’s a bit of a mystery really but she is going to call me this afternoon after he has been with her for 24 hours. I’m so worried she will say that he should be put to sleep.

His poor girlfriend is miserable without him.

Has anyone else had this happen to a rabbit, any ideas what could be wrong?

Thanks

Hollie

Sending get better soon vibes for your bunny

I'm sorry to hear about your bun... Did the vet not notice this when they did the dental? I have no idea what the brown stuff can be - as they can't regurgitate so is it food that is stuck around his teeth? Or could it be dried blood?

Anorexia is a serious thing in buns and you ned to get some food into him by syringe... is he drinking, pooping, peeing normally?

I am sure that fatty liver is connected to anorexia and stasis episodes... perhaps Jacksjane will be of more help, she has an excellent knowledge of all things veterinary / medical...

I hope your rabbit gets well soon x x

Thanks for all the replies.

The brown stuff in his mouth only appeared yesterday morning, he was absolutely fine the night before. She said it's to do with something being broken down too quickly. I can't remember, it was all so much to take in and a shock! It looked like brown fluid or something.

He has been pooping and peeing fine, the vet said he had done quite a few pellets last night and he is less wobbley.

I prey so much he gets better, he is my original bunny, I only got Rosie to keep him company and she adores him. She's always washing him. Poor little girl.

xxx

I have a book that I downloaded of t'internet.. it was linked on here but the site removed the book (copyright I think!)

If you have a personal email address, I can get it sent over to you now.. it has a lot of info on liver problems etc

PM me if you want to to email the book to you.

I have no advice, but I hope your boy gets better soon.

Is he on any pain meds?

Your vet could consider consulting with other rabbit specialists to see what it is, like my vet Jason Burgess (Longlevens, Gloucester) or Frances Harcourt-Brown?-( I think she's in York?)

Jacks-Jane has extensive experience of unusual rabbit problems so you could try a pm to her- she may have experienced the same?

I hope Barney gets better soon -Sue:wave:

I am sorry your Rabbit is so poorly

The first thought that comes to mind is Hepatic Coccidiosis. Here is some information about the condition and its treatment

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171332.htm

Perhaps you could suggest this to your Vet ?

An abdominal Ultrasound may be useful to see it there is any sign of abscessation/tumours in the Liver or if the organ is abnormally large.

A liver biopsy is also possible but it is of course an invasive proceedure and would require a GA.

There are numerous possibilities as to the cause of Liver Disease and so more diagnostics are likely to be needed.

Thank you very much everyone.

My vet did mention Coccidiosis, but said it's usually common in wild rabbits that live in big colonies. My rabbits are so well cared for too, they are well trained and only use a litter tray to poo and wee in, so they are very clean.

My vet seems to be pretty knowledgable, she always has a good listen to his insides and chest etc, and feels his tummy well. There are a lot of things she said it could be but he's not showing the typical signs of anything and it's the brown stuff and the smell that most concerns her with his liver.

It's horrible to not know, and I don't understand why he has got sick, he's only young and his girlfriend is fine.

Have they checked for EC?

What is EC? Is it something that effects the kidneys? As they were perfect in the blood test.

We have other members who have similar wt. loss situation and turned out it's cancer. Is there any check on cancer?

Poor Barney has gone to heaven.

The vet phoned me at 5.30 saying he hadn't improved and now wasn't even eating anything. We agreed to keep trying and syringe feeding etc till the morning, and she would call me to discuss how he was.

As the vet is only 10 mins away I decided to take some of his favourite veg to tempt him, I was so surprised to see how much he had deteriorated in 24 hours, he was slumped down on his tummy and couldn't even lift his head. The vet nurse said he had started to go down hill after they phoned me. I gave him a tickle and in the 5 mins I got there his breathing got bad. The vet was just about to come and put him to sleep and he passed away peacefully on his own. I think maybe he was waiting to say goodbye to me.

Now I have poor Rosie to worry about as she adored him and she is really sad on her own. Hate the thought of replacing Barney but she will need a friend. How long do I leave it before I find her a mate? Is it better sooner or later?

Thanks for all your help.

Life is very unfair sometimes!

Hollie

Hollie's Ark said:

he passed away peacefully on his own. I think maybe he was waiting to say goodbye to me.

Now I have poor Rosie to worry about as she adored him and she is really sad on her own. Hate the thought of replacing Barney but she will need a friend. How long do I leave it before I find her a mate? Is it better sooner or later?

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I'm so sorry that he passed away. In a small way, it's good that he passed away on his own.

you need to get her to smell the body of Barney for about 1/2 hr., then look around in one of the rescue centers in your area, and get him a new bunny companion. This should be done as soon as possible.

here's a list of rescue center in UK

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/centres.asp

or go to the Rabbit In NEED section and see who's available

Or post in the rabbit in need section, many members w/ rescue centers will response to you

If you can't find a rescue center in your area, some members here wiil do a bunny run and deliver to your place.

If you can find members here who run a rescue center, they can recommend a male that is tame in personality to make Rosie happy.

Do I really have to let her smell Barney? It seems so sad, will she not except a new friend unless I do this?

I know it may sound off to us sweetie but if at all possible it is best if Rosie can see Barney, though it will break your heart to watch her say goodbye.

I'm so sorry you lost your bun, I have a bun called Barney too

Hugs to you and Rosie.

xx

Hollie's Ark said:

Do I really have to let her smell Barney? It seems so sad, will she not except a new friend unless I do this?

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You don't have to do this. Some people feel that it helps the remaining rabbit understand.

I have shown the remaining rabbit twice their partner and neither time did they show any interest. This is not always the case from what I have read on here.

With regard to a new friend (you will never replace Barney), you will know when it is right. I got Homer within a week as I only went into farm for some food and he looked just like the one we had lost and he licked me and he just had to come home, they were not bonded until Homer was a bit older and had been "done" bur could smell each other through wire.

You will know when the time is right. I am vey sorry for your loss. Does the vet recommend you give Rosie any medication as a precaution e.g. Panacur?

Thanks everyone, I couldn't bear to show Rosie. Was worried it would frighten her or that she would think I had killed Barney, as he was taken away from her alive a couple of days ago, I couldn't just bring back a dead bunny.

We have just burried him in the garden next to out cat, who knew him.

The vet didn't say about giving Rosie anything as she is very healthy and what Barney died from was not contagious, she did say maybe wait a week before I get her a friend just to be sure she is fine.

Thanks everyone so much for all your support!

Hollie xxx

Hollie's Ark said:

Do I really have to let her smell Barney? It seems so sad, will she not except a new friend unless I do this?

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YOu have to do it because if you don't, Rosie will wonder what happened to Barney. By letting Rosie smell Barney, her animal instinct would know Barney passed away due to sickness (because there is no blood or body being torn apart), in other words, it brings closure to Rosie.

we have threads from other members that their rabbit were wandering around looking for their partner as they don't know what happened to her/him. They are social creature, it's no difference than human.

Hollie's Ark said:

Thanks everyone, I couldn't bear to show Rosie. Was worried it would frighten her or that she would think I had killed Barney, as he was taken away from her alive a couple of days ago, I couldn't just bring back a dead bunny.

We have just burried him in the garden next to out cat, who knew him.

The vet didn't say about giving Rosie anything as she is very healthy and what Barney died from was not contagious, she did say maybe wait a week before I get her a friend just to be sure she is fine.

Thanks everyone so much for all your support!

Hollie xxx

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So they got a definite diagnosis of what it was? Sorry for your sad news...