What is wrong with Norris?

Norris is a neutered male elder housebun. He is a nethie dwarf cross and at between 9 and 10 years old very much a senior citizen. He was a fiesty little article binkying daily and guarding his food until Tuesday evening when I came home from work to find him very quiet. He has been to the vets who thought it was probably just his time but that terminal decline would likely involve peaks and troughs in how he felt. His heart rate was normal and she could not feel any gut blockage. His teeth were in great condition for a dwarf of his age.

He is still eating greens, peeing and pooping, although his poops have been small and sometimes very dry since Tuesday. Yesterday he did lots of poops, today less but they are bigger. Since this morning he has been lying by the patio doors (very unusual for a bun as it is the most vulnerable position in the room). He is mainly flopped but repeats this curious behaviour. I am feeing him washed greens to boost his water intake. He starts to eat and then does a big wee. Then he flops as if exhausted or in pain. Before I took him to the vets on Thursday, I wondered whether he had GI stasis or if he had had a heart attack which had left him very weak. I reported this to the vet and asked her to check him specifically for those things.

Does this ring any bells with anyone? Does anyone have any experience of a rabbit who had a heart attack and survived? I ask this because I have seen the symptoms in humans and think that Norris might be experiencing the same thing. I will be taking him back to the vet on Monday, but I want to have some more clues as to what might be wrong.

I have tried to find articles on caring for rabbits of this age, but have not found anything very informative. Can anyone point me to some resources?

Im sorruy your old boy is not feeling well.
It really could be anything.
Is h eating hay?
In all honesty from your description I think he needs to see a vet tonight.

Thanks for your reply. He has already seen the vets who have given him a general checkover and not found anything wrong.

He is not really showing any symptoms that point to a specific problem.

He is still eating hay but not as much as usual. It seems as if it is too much effort for him at the moment.

Is he on painkillers? He definitely needs to be if he's exhibiting any signs of pain, however minor. By the time a bunny displays any signs of pain he'll be quite far along in his pain, so it's best to get him on something.

Is your vet an exotic specialist? Unless a vet is an exotic specialist, or has taken additional professional qualifications in exotics, they're unlikely to be good enough for complex rabbit problems. Rabbits are classed as an exotic, so they need an exotic vet. Whereabouts are you located? It'd be a good idea to post in 'rabbit chat' for a 'rabbit savvy vet' in your area. Alternatively, you can search for exotics specialist practices near you.

Unless your vet sent you away with painkillers I would be massively concerned about his knowledge in rabbits, and I wouldn't trust his advice. 10 is getting on a bit in rabbit years, but he's not right up there on the scale yet so there's no reason to give up on him unless a specialist vet agrees

Is his urine very dilute, more like water than wee ?

Did the Vet check for any signs of arthritic pain, especially in his hips and spine ?

Pain relief would be something I would expect to have been suggested too, so I would get back in touch with your Vet if he/she has not prescribed any. Or seek a second opinion from another Vet.

Good luck xx

Thanks for your suggestions. I am quite confident with the vets practice, but I hadn't seen that vet before, so I think I will be going back tomorrow morning.

Thanks for suggesting painkillers, I think I'll insist on them.

His urine does seem pale now I think of it. What would this mean?

Did the vet not give him any kind of gut stimulant either?

I suggest you take him to a rabbit savvy vet, as the one your saw seems pretty useless.

Yes, this was the first time that I was not offered gut stimulant, painkillers and sub cut fluids for a poorly small furry. I will discuss all of these when I return tomorrow.

Hope the vet can find the cause. Sending lots of vibes for Norris xx