Adding syrup to water?

My bunny, Circle, isn't drinking water. He usually drinks from the water bottle but he stopped drinking from it. I also tried using a bowl for him to drink from but it doesn't work either. I've heard that you can put syrup in the water to add a taste to attract him but I'm wondering if there are special kinds of syrups or are any type you find in the market fine?

P.S. I'm kinda new to the forum, so I'm not sure if this this is the right place to post

Josephine_TEA said:

My bunny, Circle, isn't drinking water. He usually drinks from the water bottle but he stopped drinking from it. I also tried using a bowl for him to drink from but it doesn't work either. I've heard that you can put syrup in the water to add a taste to attract him but I'm wondering if there are special kinds of syrups or are any type you find in the market fine?

P.S. I'm kinda new to the forum, so I'm not sure if this this is the right place to post

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Is your bunny drinking at all? Is he peeing? Is he very elderly or has he been poorly recently?:wave:

:wave: What is your bun's normal diet like? Does he eat a lot of grass and/or vegetables?

I have read of people putting small amounts of pineapple juice or apple juice in water to encourage rabbits to drink. I would think it would have to be pure juice, no additives etc.

You can give them wet veg to increase water intake too.

Pretty lupin's questions are very pertinent.
No, I wouldn't put syrup in water. It's pure sugar & could easily cause a nasty problem with your bunny's bowel.
I feel that this dramatic change in behaviour warrants a trip to the vet.
Although it's unusual to have drinking problems, I'd also have Circle's teeth checked for molar spurs, or any painful mouth condition.

Circle is only about 4 months old, but is recently diagnosed with teeth/jaw abscesses and is already on 3 different antibiotics daily. He is only on wet pellets diet now and I have also noted the vet that he is not drinking and they said adding syrup would help.

So I'm guessing syrup might be ok for him? Or do you think the vet has special kinds of syrup which we cannot buy in markets?

Also, what kind of veg. is best for him? Especially now that he has difficulties chewing and requires really soft food.

Also, another quick question. Circle occassionally sneezes and has heavy breathings following that, is that a sign that he is cold?

Josephine_TEA said:

Circle is only about 4 months old, but is recently diagnosed with teeth/jaw abscesses and is already on 3 different antibiotics daily. He is only on wet pellets diet now and I have also noted the vet that he is not drinking and they said adding syrup would help.

So I'm guessing syrup might be ok for him? Or do you think the vet has special kinds of syrup which we cannot buy in markets?

Also, what kind of veg. is best for him? Especially now that he has difficulties chewing and requires really soft food.

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Oh dear, it sounds like Circle is very poorly indeed and such a young bunny too :shock:. It sounds like an advanced dental disease, and with the sneezing and difficulty breathing after sneezing - this isn't a sign he is cold, it is a sign he 'has a cold' if you like. Often the bacteria that cause the jaw abcesses can also invade the upper respiratory tract and cause an upper respiratory infection also. Pastuerella is the most common but not the only bacteria so it's good that your vet is giving a broad range of antibiotics to try and deal with the underlying pathogens.

Has he had the jaw abcesses surgically removed? I think you need to discuss the sneezing with your vet - the difficulty breathing will be likely because of this, as rabbits only breathe through the nose unless they are very ill, pus in the nose can make this very hard to do. Does he have discharge from his nose at all?

Is he on any anti-inflammatory pain relief? Such as metacam/meloxicam? This would be helpful to reduce any inflammation, and because jaw abcesses are so painful. Bisolvon can help break down mucus in the nose which might make it easier for him to breathe, and sometimes a nebuliser can help to keep the nasal lining moist and more available to the antibiotics he is on.

As for the drinking, the syrup in water may be a veterinary product that your vet is referring to? Probiotics can be added to water to help protect bun's tummy whilst on so many antibiotics, but if bun is not drinking you may be better offering fibreplex by syringe, or syringing a probiotic in water daily.
If he's eating wet pellets - then he may already be getting enough fluid in his diet - it all depends on how much he is peeing? Is he peeing? Does the vet feel he is deyhdrated? A very sore mouth can sometimes put bunny off drinking altogether.

What are the probiotics you are referring to? Will the cold just go away naturally or is it something that must be dealt with because of the abscesses problem?

Yes, he is peeing and the vet says he is not dehydrated but not drinking water on the long-term seems to be asking for trouble.

The vet has suggested pain relief to me before too, but Circle appears to be eating lots of wet pellets, so the vet says he is fine in that factor. But I can't help but think that giving him pain relief may ease his pain enough for him to start eating hay again, is that possible?

not drinking water

Josephine_TEA said:

My bunny, Circle, isn't drinking water. He usually drinks from the water bottle but he stopped drinking from it. I also tried using a bowl for him to drink from but it doesn't work either. I've heard that you can put syrup in the water to add a taste to attract him but I'm wondering if there are special kinds of syrups or are any type you find in the market fine?

P.S. I'm kinda new to the forum, so I'm not sure if this this is the right place to post

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sounds like we need to entice our furry friend to drink water,,i have been known to offer a prepared fozen-apple juice-(unsweetened)-,and or choice weeds(wet)-please check the safe/toxic list http://www.medirabbit.com -,but always keep the bowl and bottle about,..sugars tend to upset the delicate balance of gitract flora,,please check also on medirabbit website..water is a must with grasses--sincerely james waller,:wave:

health problems

Josephine_TEA said:

Also, another quick question. Circle occassionally sneezes and has heavy breathings following that, is that a sign that he is cold?

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in reading through the posts,,we have more than a hydration problem,..the rabbit requires immediate medical attention from an exotic specialist,,cultures,facial and abdomenal radiograghs.//.sounds like the vet is treating symptoms--wrong--must treat what is causing the problems--if there are abscess,s-they must be dealt with--perhaps surgically,-,as well as dental problems--which may be a result of the abscess,s--without proper -diagnosis,,and,treatment-the future will be short,painful,grim...please keep informed,..sincerely james waller

Thanks for the link you provided and the advices you have given to me and Circle. I have already taken him to see the vet already and I understand that immediate surgery is best for him, but the high expense is a concern to me atm so he is currently on antibiotics to see how he reacts to them first and we will decide from there on. I have also tried to contact different bunny organizations to help with the surgery costs but doesn't seem to have much luck from them, perhaps I will have to start up a fundraising campaign myself. Thanks for all the tips!

If your rabbit has active abcesses then pain relief is essential in my opinion, use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as metacam/meloxicam/carprofen/ibuprofen etc would not only help daily with pain control and give your bun a better quality of life, and want to eat and drink and fight the infection - be aware that pain unmanaged, even low-grade, can have quite an adverse effect on the immune system and bun's ability to fight the infection. NSAID's also reduce inflammation - essential for the abcess site but also for the upper respiratory infection it appears that you are describing with the sneezing/breathing difficulties. Is there a discharge from the nose at all? Or is your bun wet around the nose?
No if it is a respiratory infection (cold of sorts) it will not go away on it's own and it is likely to be linked to the abcess/es in the jaw - the same bacteria can invade both nose/mouth etc and cause multiple problems.

It does depend on the site of the abcess/es but generally if surgical removal is possible it is usually advised as rabbit abcesses are very difficult to treat and removal gives bun a much better chance of recovery/remission.
I appreciate your financial issues but I would stress that it is important that bun sees a rabbit-savy vet or exotic specialist, or atleast that your vet contacts one for advice on a professional basis.

jewaller said:

in reading through the posts,,we have more than a hydration problem,..the rabbit requires immediate medical attention from an exotic specialist,,cultures,facial and abdomenal radiograghs.//.sounds like the vet is treating symptoms--wrong--must treat what is causing the problems--if there are abscess,s-they must be dealt with--perhaps surgically,-,as well as dental problems--which may be a result of the abscess,s--without proper -diagnosis,,and,treatment-the future will be short,painful,grim...please keep informed,..sincerely james waller

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I do agree with this re. further investigations and treatment to find the route cause of the infections.

prettylupin said:

If your rabbit has active abcesses then pain relief is essential in my opinion, use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as metacam/meloxicam/carprofen/ibuprofen etc would not only help daily with pain control and give your bun a better quality of life, and want to eat and drink and fight the infection - be aware that pain unmanaged, even low-grade, can have quite an adverse effect on the immune system and bun's ability to fight the infection. NSAID's also reduce inflammation - essential for the abcess site but also for the upper respiratory infection it appears that you are describing with the sneezing/breathing difficulties. Is there a discharge from the nose at all? Or is your bun wet around the nose?
No if it is a respiratory infection (cold of sorts) it will not go away on it's own and it is likely to be linked to the abcess/es in the jaw - the same bacteria can invade both nose/mouth etc and cause multiple problems.

It does depend on the site of the abcess/es but generally if surgical removal is possible it is usually advised as rabbit abcesses are very difficult to treat and removal gives bun a much better chance of recovery/remission.
I appreciate your financial issues but I would stress that it is important that bun sees a rabbit-savy vet or exotic specialist, or atleast that your vet contacts one for advice on a professional basis.

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I will talk to my vet about the pain relief and the variety of NSAIDs. Are there any specific ones which are better than others or do they pretty much give the same effects?

No but my bun's nose area does not get wet at all. But I notice that he always jerks when he is sneezing, perhaps he is coughing? I'm not too sure of the main reason of this as well. Does respiratory issues lead to wet discharge from the nose for sure?

I understand the importance of surgical removal for abcess, and the higher chance of recovery for my Circle, but the cost are really high that I couldn't afford it as a student. Seeing my little Circle suffering day by day, I really want the surgery can be done as soon as possible. I really don't know what to do now.

financial problems

Josephine_TEA said:

Thanks for the link you provided and the advices you have given to me and Circle. I have already taken him to see the vet already and I understand that immediate surgery is best for him, but the high expense is a concern to me atm so he is currently on antibiotics to see how he reacts to them first and we will decide from there on. I have also tried to contact different bunny organizations to help with the surgery costs but doesn't seem to have much luck from them, perhaps I will have to start up a fundraising campaign myself. Thanks for all the tips!

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yes,my heart goes out to you in this area,,as i too am stuggling on a fixed income,//.-i am not a certified exotic dvm,,but i practice medicine with the aid of people with phd,s--scientsts,etc.,my oldest rabbit(7 1/2)yrs, was just p.t.s. due to an overwelming condition(cancer).??-large mass over heart and in the lungs..i do not say this lightly as i am very depessed and in pain.//.the exotic dvm asked me how was i able to keep her alive the last 6 months-is nothing short of a miracle,,-the use of medication is an absolute must...sincerely james waller:wave:

what antibiotics is he on? My rabbit who has passed away now had an abcsess in his hock and the only antibotic that helped at all was Septrin, baytril did nothing. and metacam every day as he was in pain.

jewaller said:

yes,my heart goes out to you in this area,,as i too am stuggling on a fixed income,//.-i am not a certified exotic dvm,,but i practice medicine with the aid of people with phd,s--scientsts,etc.,my oldest rabbit(7 1/2)yrs, was just p.t.s. due to an overwelming condition(cancer).??-large mass over heart and in the lungs..i do not say this lightly as i am very depessed and in pain.//.the exotic dvm asked me how was i able to keep her alive the last 6 months-is nothing short of a miracle,,-the use of medication is an absolute must...sincerely james waller:wave:

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I'm sorry to hear that James, I'm going to stay put and really put all the effort and time I can with Circle. Just a quick question, did your bunny have surgery at that time or was antibiotics and painkillers the only medication he was on?

XMissySJx said:

what antibiotics is he on? My rabbit who has passed away now had an abcsess in his hock and the only antibotic that helped at all was Septrin, baytril did nothing. and metacam every day as he was in pain.

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The antibiotics Circle is currently on are Novo-Trimel Suspension and Metronidazole. He had Baytril before and I agreed, it wasn't very effective. So I believe I should suggest Septrin to my vet the next time I'm there? Thanks for your wonderful advice.