So worried Bunny wont eat vet dosent seem to know whats wrong

Please has someone got any advice for me, I am so very worried. My Lolly is a female spayed Lionhead of nearly 7, she has always been in good health and had a healthy appetite, apart from one instance of Gas stasis a year ago now, but has had watery eyes on and off for some months now, and has never needed a dental thus far. She has always been a lively bunny and lives with her hubby peanuts. I noticed a week ago that the food was not being eaten as much, then realised that she was gradually going off her food, by saturday afternoon she seemed in discomfort was drinking excessively and not eating at all, and not herself. I started syringe feeding her, and my mum rushed her into the vets for me this morning, as I am disabled and cannot go out currently. I thought is might be her teeth, but apparently the vet was not convinced, and said she didnt want to put her under the anesthetic without being certain. She also said she couldnt feel a blockage in her tummy, she checked her mouth, stomach, took her temperature, gave her a gut motility drug and a pain killer and sent her home, saying she thought she might pick up, and if she still isnt eating to return in 3 or 4 days for blood tests and perhaps a dental. 15 hours later and Lolly still isnt eating properly, she was a massive hay eater before, the only thing I managed to get her to eat on her own accord earlier was some fresh greens, but obviously I cant give her to much of that, so I am still syringe feeding her. So worried, she gets very stressed being syringe fed, and hates it, also not knowing for certain whats wrong is driving me nuts. I love my Lolly with all my heart, she is so cherished and cared for, and has always had the best of care, I am so worried, I would be devastated if I lost her. Any ideas please anyone?

Also

Also just to add, that tonight I have noticed that her poo's are very small and odd shaped, and some are stringed together, would this indicate that it might have been a blockage or hair ball issue, or is this as a result of the gut motility drug? She does groom Peanuts a lot, even though I brush them daily, she could still ingest his hair. Any advice would be very appreciated.

Hi there. It sounds a though Lolly is seriously ill and should probably be admitted to the vets for care. She needs lots of painkillers and fluids to help her deal with what is going on in her tummy. When the vet checked her mouth did he look at the back teeth with an otoscope, the thing Drs use to check ears and throats? I would make sure the vet had a look with this to give a good idea of whether a dental is needed.

I hope Lolly is feeling better soon, I would get her back to the vet now though and not wait another day. She is very sick and needs supportive care.

Hi

Hi thankyou for your response. Yes the vet checked her teeth with an otoscope, although she said she cannot see the very back ones, she felt that everything she could see looked fine. Lolly is drinking plenty of water, I am really giving her round the clock care, feeding her, and massagin her tummy gently, and I will call the vets in the morning to get her straight in, I am too worried to wait 3 to 4 days as the vet has suggested.

I would def go back the vet with her in the morning. Sounds like you are doing everything you can for her tonight. Do you have a hot water bottle (with cover)? Or a heat pad? If you do (as long as it is covered) place it under her tummy. It will give her some comfort and also help try and keep her temp warm.

thankyou

Hi thankyou for your response.
She lives in a huge open heated bunny house, and roams free, it is lovely and cosey over there as Ive kept the heating on constantly since she has been unwell, the flooring is a fitted cushioned non slip wood grain lino, also I have been with her all night on and off, and right now she seems quite lively and has picked up, she has even been eating a bit of hay, and regularly chomping on her mineral stones, she seems really comfortable at the moment, so things are looking up, phew! There are plenty of little droppings on the floor to, and she is urinating as normal. Fingers crossed that she is picking up, she really does seem to be! will get her back to the vets in the morning, and keep you posted, thankyou again

Joannesbunnies said:

Hi thankyou for your response.
She lives in a huge open heated bunny house, and roams free, it is lovely and cosey over there as Ive kept the heating on constantly since she has been unwell, the flooring is a fitted cushioned non slip wood grain lino, also I have been with her all night on and off, and right now she seems quite lively and has picked up, she has even been eating a bit of hay, and regularly chomping on her mineral stones, she seems really comfortable at the moment, so things are looking up, phew! There are plenty of little droppings on the floor to, and she is urinating as normal. Fingers crossed that she is picking up, she really does seem to be! will get her back to the vets in the morning, and keep you posted, thankyou again

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That's great, I hope she is making her way back to normal!

I assume the painkillers and gut stimulant were given by injection? Have you been given fibreplex to give her?

Are you sure your vet is rabbit savvy? Not eating at all is so serious, and to suggest to leave it for 3 or 4 days before doing more seems odd. Are there any exotic vets in the area you can ask for a referral too? Time is of the essence with stasis.

The stringed together poops are hair yes, its because her gut is moving so slowly its not pushing it through properly.

I hope she's eating this morning!

Hiya, glad to hear your bun is on the mend now

I had the exact same situation with my bun Charlotte in January. My vet gave her gut stimulant and told me to report back in the morning. She still wasnt right by the morning, although she was eating hay but not her pellets and her poos were small, so I went back to the vet and he gave me 2 days worth of gut stimulant to give her at home. After a day she was back to normal

Charlotte also passes stringy poos and was moulting heavily, so Im almost positive that excess fir was the problem.

Shes moulting again now so Im keeping a very close eye on her poos!

Hope your little lady continues to improve :wave:

Hi

Thankyou for your responses. Lolly has just gotten back from the local vets, she saw a different vet this time, she has been given another gut stimulant injection and pain killer injection, and also booked into have a dental on Thursday as he felt her teeth were long at the back. They didnt have fibreplex but have given us a liquid recovery feed. Very worried about the dental and how she will cope with the anaesthetic, and really want her stomach to be right to cope with it all. No rabbit savvy vets here unfortunately and none as I can find close, as I live out in the middle of nowhere, I am disabled and cannot travel for hours as I dont have the transport unfortunately.

That's a shame you're not near anyone good. I was referred on to a specialist who is one of only two people in the UK who holds an advanced award on exotic animals. She was brilliant as I had lots of questions for her! Glassy/runny eyes apparently does mean dental issues as well as dribbling so hopefully after her teeth are fixed she'll be fine.

Doughnut has bad teeth apparently as she's so small and is a mini loip so breed to have a cute flat face but need to get her eating lots of hay which will help and grass when she's outside.

You can order fibreplex online as I did when I had to treat her with it and just wanted some in my medicine cabinet in case of emergency as she loves it and it gets her gut going.

Funnily enough I asked the specialist about giving pineapple to help with moult as I read that helped break up the mucus or an enzyme. It's an old wives tale but no doubt your rabbit will enjoy the pineapple!

If her teeth are long and causing pain this might be why she stopped eating properly to begin with. The not eating would have caused her gut to slow down. If the vet feels her teeth need doing then this will be the best thing to get her back to eating properly.

I really hope everything goes okay for her. Make sure she eats regularly. Did you have pain killers to give her at home until Thursday? I think this would really help to keep her eating on her own. Also make sure you get some to take home after the dental as it can be very painful, just like going to the dentist for us.

You're doing a great job with her, lots of luck and vibes.

cpayne said:

That's a shame you're not near anyone good. I was referred on to a specialist who is one of only two people in the UK who holds an advanced award on exotic animals. She was brilliant as I had lots of questions for her! Glassy/runny eyes apparently does mean dental issues as well as dribbling so hopefully after her teeth are fixed she'll be fine.

Doughnut has bad teeth apparently as she's so small and is a mini loip so breed to have a cute flat face but need to get her eating lots of hay which will help and grass when she's outside.

You can order fibreplex online as I did when I had to treat her with it and just wanted some in my medicine cabinet in case of emergency as she loves it and it gets her gut going.

Funnily enough I asked the specialist about giving pineapple to help with moult as I read that helped break up the mucus or an enzyme. It's an old wives tale but no doubt your rabbit will enjoy the pineapple!

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It's NOT a good idea to give a rabbit who isn't eating pineapple as it's very high in sugar so can cause more problems.

Best to stick to hay, pellets and recovery food. Herbs are also a good thing to try. :wave:

An xray to check her tooth roots may also help. If her eyes have been watery for some time it could be that.

Sorry I didn't mean to give your rabbit pineapple, was just letting everyone know apparently it's an old wives tale.

My rabbit loves dill, I think that would always getting her eating and bramble leaves.

cpayne said:

Sorry I didn't mean to give your rabbit pineapple, was just letting everyone know apparently it's an old wives tale.

My rabbit loves dill, I think that would always getting her eating and bramble leaves.

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Didn't want to sound mean but things get easily misinterpreted on the internet. :wave:

Bramble leaves are a great idea.

They do, at least I knew what I meant

Thankyou

Hello everyone, thankyou for your responses they are very much appreciated. She seems in good spirits right now, when I put her back in the shed she did a sprint round it twice, kicking her back legs then started sorting through the hay and actually eating on her own accord, she seems fiesty and lively right now, she gave me a good boot when I picked her up, and was back to her nosey old self watching my other two bunnies through the fence, now shes cuddled up to her bunny hubby, and seems content. So it is looking like it may have been her teeth after all, which has caused all this, fingers crossed she will be okay after the dental, and back to her old self. I will make sure she gets some pain killers, and I will keep feeding her the recovery feed until i see her food intake has improved greatly, will keep you updated, thankyou


















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Thats good that they have diagnosed the problem. You can buy fibreplex online here, I'd reccommend getting some: http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-suppl...ibreplex-for-rabbits-and-small-rodents-p-1180 Its very useful stuff. Not sure if it willl get there before Thursday though, might be worth ringing them? Your vets really should have it, can they not order it in before Thursday for you?

Unfortunately the pain and the anesthetic from a dental can cause the gut to slow down/stop, so its important to get it moving again after asap, so getting some extra recovery food might be a good idea as well as metacam of course.

Good to hear she is on the mend!

Thankyou

:wave:Thankyou I have ordered the fibreplex, as the vets are not sure when they will be able to get it in, unfortunately I cant find a phone number on the website of the link you gave me, but I have ordered it anyway, just keep my fingers crossed they are a fast delivery service. I have a big box full of the recovery liquid feed so that will last a while, and I will make sure we get some more on Thursday also along with the metacam. Will keep you updated