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Sugar Rabbit has stopped eating and drinking...and pooing.....Do bunnies survive?

C

clairevidler

Young Bun
Hello everyone

My house bunny Sugar is very poorly. He hasn't eaten anything in a day and a half...and Sugar has a huge appetite. I took him to the vets last night after work when he hadnt eaten his breakfast. Vet asked me to monitor him and see if he has pooed or urinated. Nothing has happened. Tried feeding him all his favourite treats and keep getting fluid into him with a syringe - but its not impressed.

From what I've read it sounds like gut stasis, but to my knowledge he's not depressed or had a shock to make it happen. I know the next step is an X-Ray.

I wanted to know if anyone has gone through this with their bunny and were they ok in the end? How long did they not eat for?
As he's indoors with me all the time, I am so close to him. I dont know what I'll do if I lose him :(
 
clairevidler said:
Hello everyone

My house bunny Sugar is very poorly. He hasn't eaten anything in a day and a half...and Sugar has a huge appetite. I took him to the vets last night after work when he hadnt eaten his breakfast. Vet asked me to monitor him and see if he has pooed or urinated. Nothing has happened. Tried feeding him all his favourite treats and keep getting fluid into him with a syringe - but its not impressed.

From what I've read it sounds like gut stasis, but to my knowledge he's not depressed or had a shock to make it happen. I know the next step is an X-Ray.

I wanted to know if anyone has gone through this with their bunny and were they ok in the end? How long did they not eat for?
As he's indoors with me all the time, I am so close to him. I dont know what I'll do if I lose him :(
Click to expand...

Your bunny needs to a see a rabbit specialist vet. Stasis and not eating in buns is not good esepcially for that period of time. Stasis can lead to death, you bunny need gut stimulant and pain reliefand a vet to help you diagnose why Suagr as gone into stasis. Where are you based? Maybe someone can reccommend a rabbit savvy vet? xx
 
You need to take him back to the vets. Or a vet that knows more about rabbits.

He might die if he doesn't get the treatment he needs. I had this with one of my bunnies a couple of months ago. The vet gave him gut stimulant and fluids.

Please get him looked at asap.
 
I'm in Medway, Kent.

He had the pain relief and gut stimulant yesterday. I have the vets in 20mins. Hopefully they will give him some more :(
 
Hope he gets on OK at the vet.

There could be a number of reasons why he isn't eating. He could be in pain somewhere or have problems with his teeth, or be unwell in some other way. Was he given a thorough check over?

Have you tried offering him some herbs to get him eating? Basil or mint, as they smell quite strong.
 
He needs regular pain relief, a fairly high dose given through injection (as his gut has stopped moving oral painkillers wont work properly). Another gut stimulant injection as well. I'd also get some fibreplex and loads of recovery food - you'll have to force feed him.

But you need to find out whether he has a blockage, if he does it will need to be removed as force-feeding just makes this worse. He also needs his back and front teeth checked with an otoscope to check he doesnt have dental spurs.

If you dont feel confident force feeding him and you trust your vet, it may be an idea to leave him there so he can get around the clock care.

I hope he gets on well at the vets today.
 
Good luck at the vets. My rabbit has come through stasis, but only after emergency vet treatment and follow up care/visits.
 
Just got back from the Vets, and its not stasis. He thinks it’s a bacterial infection (name begins with E) that affects him neurologically because his pupil isn’t dilating properly and he was twitching. Was about to leave with loads of medicines and then he started doing this weird twitch with his head, and his breathing became really bad, so vet took him straight away and put him in an oxygen tent. They are going to do xrays to check his chest and give him drugs for the infection, if that’s it. They are keeping him in and calling me later :(
 
clairevidler said:
Just got back from the Vets, and its not stasis. He thinks it’s a bacterial infection (name begins with E) that affects him neurologically because his pupil isn’t dilating properly and he was twitching. Was about to leave with loads of medicines and then he started doing this weird twitch with his head, and his breathing became really bad, so vet took him straight away and put him in an oxygen tent. They are going to do xrays to check his chest and give him drugs for the infection, if that’s it. They are keeping him in and calling me later :(
Click to expand...

EC, encephalitazoon cuniculi. It doesn't present primarily with GI stasis but a severe acute onset can manifest with an associated GI stasis. I hope that they treat your boy accordingly for both. Not eating for more than 12 hours is a risk of Hepatic lipidosis and irreversible organ failure. However, i'm sure he is in good hands and will receive intensive care treatment. If you are in Kent you may be close enough for transfer/referral to the exotics specialist at Trinity Vets. Lots of vibes for your poorly boy x
 
Encephalitozoon Cuniculi, or EC. A symptom of it can be stasis.

Sending loads of vibes for your poorly little boy.
 
Adequate painkiller AND fluids are essential!!! I would ask for some subcut fluids as that is so much easier than having to syringe a lot of fluid. If he goes downhill quickly and goes floppy or non responsive he will need admitting and IV fluids and pain relief. Has your vet palpated him to see if he has a blockage? He should not be force fed or have gut stimulant if he has a blockage. Agressive fluid therapy can help break down some blockages. Some vets suggest liquid paraffin which is not recommended anymore as you need to be able to hydrate him properly.

If he has been quite lively and just not eating it might be teeth. One of my buns had a blockage and went hunched and not wanting to move and flopping over, the other was lively and would sniff the food or pick it up and drop it, he had a small spur which needed a dental.

Hope your little Sugar picks up soon! They don't always go for their favourite food first so try some tasty herbs like parsley!
 
I wondered if it was EC but didn't think that was a bacterial infection and have been wracking my brains wondering what bacterial infections begin with E :oops:

Good luck for Sugar - I hope he improves x
 
luvabun said:
I wondered if it was EC but didn't think that was a bacterial infection and have been wracking my brains wondering what bacterial infections begin with E :oops:

Good luck for Sugar - I hope he improves x
Click to expand...

It's a protozoan, for ease the vet may have referred to it as bacterial.
 
Thank you everybody :)

Hopefully the Vet will call me. I feel very confident with this vet, he felt all his organs and had a very good look at his teeth. The Vet yesterday was a locum and was much more relaxed. They will getting him to eat fibre paste (not sure of the name) and they are treating him for the infection, and giving him antibiotics just in case another infection occurs in his gut coz he's not pooing. Vet did say he feel pellets in the gut ready to come out, but everything slows down. Crossing my fingers the medication kicks in and he'll be back home with me tonight. xx
 
GrahamL said:
What vet have you been to see?

There is an EXCELLENT vet in Maidstone - Trinity Vets, the vet you want to see is Mark Rowland.

http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Been to my local vets in walderslade. My friend works there, so I trust them. The guy who's treating him seemed like he knew what he was talking about. I asked him if he had a lot of experience with rabbits, and he said he sees a lot of them, coz they are a popular pet round here. Just crossing my fingers x
 
If it is E. cuniculi I am not sure where he could have got it from. he's my only house bunny, so not exposed to other rabbits. Its also winter so theyre wont be any biting insects around. the only thing I can think of is that my sisters puppy had fleas and i got bitten, so I wonder if I brought a flea home with me, and it bit Sugar? Other thing the vet said was that he could have caught it when he was a baby and it has come on now because of stress...but for the life of me I dont know what it could have been. He was fine Monday evening, so something happened while I was in bed Monday?? Or maybe its delayed stress? But he's so content, and I always have my eye on him because he's indoors with me all the time, and I only live in a small flat. He just follows me around. Hopefully if it is EC the medication will kick in soon, coz prognosis doesnt look good to what I have been reading :(
 
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