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Small poos

Henry_Dixie

Henry_Dixie

Young Bun
I noticed my rabbit had small poos on Sunday afternoon despite eating and drinking fine, he was also acting quite lethargic so I immediately thought GI stasis.

We rushed him to the ooh vets and he was given a concoction of injections and sent home with zantac, metaclopromide, fibrepaste and some high fibre puree food. He improved immediately. He's been fine in himself over the past few days (he is 9 and has ongoing unknown upper resp problems including white discharge constantly from one eye and nose) but his poos still remain intermittently small. Obviously this is quite concerning for me. What should I be doing?

Please find poo picture attached!

 
Henry_Dixie said:
I noticed my rabbit had small poos on Sunday afternoon despite eating and drinking fine, he was also acting quite lethargic so I immediately thought GI stasis.

We rushed him to the ooh vets and he was given a concoction of injections and sent home with zantac, metaclopromide, fibrepaste and some high fibre puree food. He improved immediately. He's been fine in himself over the past few days (he is 9 and has ongoing unknown upper resp problems including white discharge constantly from one eye and nose) but his poos still remain intermittently small. Obviously this is quite concerning for me. What should I be doing?

Please find poo picture attached!

Click to expand...

Those poos do look a bit small.

Firstly, how big is your rabbit? Are the poos usually significantly bigger?

Is he eating hay/ grass/ readigrass?

How much is he drinking?

Does he have dental problems?

Sorry for the questions ..... beginning to sound like a vet myself :shock:
 
He's a nethie x and yes his poos are usually quite a bit bigger. He's eating all his usual food. He had a mixture of hay and redi grass with a handful of pellets and veggies, he seems to be drinking and eating as he always has. He's recently had a check up with no dental issues and hes willing to eat. the poos are hydrated not hard at all and not soft just tiny!
 
Henry_Dixie said:
He's a nethie x and yes his poos are usually quite a bit bigger. He's eating all his usual food. He had a mixture of hay and redi grass with a handful of pellets and veggies, he seems to be drinking and eating as he always has. He's recently had a check up with no dental issues and hes willing to eat. the poos are hydrated not hard at all and not soft just tiny!
Click to expand...

He sounds like the picture of good health :D

I sometimes find that giving readigrass (or fresh grass) instead of hay makes the poos considerably smaller and darker.
You could keep a diary of what you feed, and what the poos are like and you'll have something to go on if you *do* have to take him to the vet. (which I sincerely hope you do not!)
 
Henry_Dixie said:
He's a nethie x and yes his poos are usually quite a bit bigger. He's eating all his usual food. He had a mixture of hay and redi grass with a handful of pellets and veggies, he seems to be drinking and eating as he always has. He's recently had a check up with no dental issues and hes willing to eat. the poos are hydrated not hard at all and not soft just tiny!
Click to expand...

Is he less mobile than usual ? Due to age related arthritis for example ? If so this can significantly effect gut motility.

Is he on any medication for his respiratory tract issues and if so what is he on ?
 
He's no less mobile than usual and he's on no meds. Nothing makes a difference to the resp issues so we don't think it's any sort of infection.
 
Henry_Dixie said:
He's no less mobile than usual and he's on no meds. Nothing makes a difference to the resp issues so we don't think it's any sort of infection.
Click to expand...

How long was he on gut motility medication for after seeing the Vet last Sunday ? Whilst on it did his poos go back to normal and the small poos only start again once the gut motility meds were stopped ?
 
We stopped his meds on Wednesday. His poos haven't changed size since last Sunday. I'm not convinced it was actually GI stasis. I acted as quick as I could after seeing the small poos. We had this happen about 5 years ago after an op so I know how quickly they can go down hill! Some of his poos are large and then they go small again.
 
Henry_Dixie said:
We stopped his meds on Wednesday. His poos haven't changed size since last Sunday. I'm not convinced it was actually GI stasis. I acted as quick as I could after seeing the small poos. We had this happen about 5 years ago after an op so I know how quickly they can go down hill! Some of his poos are large and then they go small again.
Click to expand...

Did the Vet he saw on Sunday comment on any findings after examining him ?

Is he now bright within himself, or is he still lethargic at times ?

With regards to his eye/nasal discharge, has he had any diagnostics such as skull radiographs ? Sorry if you have already mentioned this on another thread, it's hard to keep track of everything at times !!
 
The vet examined him on Sunday and said he appeared ok, couldn't feel anything in his stomach. His temp was slightly low and the thermometer was a little hard to get in.

He's had cultures, X-rays and investigations under GA for this sinus problem but everything came back fine. It's a complete mystery! No antibiotics or anti-inflammatories make any difference.

I did wonder if he might have cancer? Not sure what's made me think it but it crossed my mind that he could have a tumour in his sinuses and gut causing these problems?
 
Henry_Dixie said:
The vet examined him on Sunday and said he appeared ok, couldn't feel anything in his stomach. His temp was slightly low and the thermometer was a little hard to get in.

He's had cultures, X-rays and investigations under GA for this sinus problem but everything came back fine. It's a complete mystery! No antibiotics or anti-inflammatories make any difference.

I did wonder if he might have cancer? Not sure what's made me think it but it crossed my mind that he could have a tumour in his sinuses and gut causing these problems?
Click to expand...

Is his weight stable ? I suspect the eye/nose problem and the reduced gut motility problem may be related, but not necessarily due to a malignancy. Perhaps it would be a good idea to have another chat with the Vet next week ?

Do you actually see him munching on hay a lot of the time, or does he just pick at a few bits occasionally ?
 
His sinus thing has been going on for over a year but he did have pneumonia in November and his weight went from something like 1.84kg-1.60kg. He stabled out again at 1.74kg but on his weigh on Sunday he was 1.72kg

I always see him eating and he will willingly take bits and treats from your hand. He's quite a good bug!
 
Henry_Dixie said:
His sinus thing has been going on for over a year but he did have pneumonia in November and his weight went from something like 1.84kg-1.60kg. He stabled out again at 1.74kg but on his weigh on Sunday he was 1.72kg

I always see him eating and he will willingly take bits and treats from your hand. He's quite a good bug!
Click to expand...

Bless him, he sounds to be a real sweetheart :love:

I do think that there probably is some sort of chronic bacterial infection going on. It may be that the bacteria involved are resistant to the antibiotics he has had thus far. Pneumonia can become chronic and over time will bring about a generalised malaise and this would definitely effect gut motility.

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/Pasteurellosis_lagomorphs.htm

If he were my Rabbit I would take him back to the Vet to discuss things again. I assume that you have full confidence in the 'Rabbit Savviness' of your Vet and if he/she felt to be out of his/her depth he/she would suggest referring your Rabbit on to a more Specialist Vet ? Obviously if you have total confidence in your current Vet then that's great. Just wanted to highlight the fact that requesting a second opinion is always an option.
 
We are awaiting advice from Francis harcourt-brown. All of the apparent rabbits specialists near me are rubbish!
 
Henry_Dixie said:
We are awaiting advice from Francis harcourt-brown. All of the apparent rabbits specialists near me are rubbish!
Click to expand...

That's great - what a fab specialist she is!

I'm sorry you think your little one may have cancer. I had to say that you must have some marvellous nursing skills to bring him back from pneumonia. That's a tough one ... Bless you for all your care of him :love:
 
Henry_Dixie said:
We are awaiting advice from Francis harcourt-brown. All of the apparent rabbits specialists near me are rubbish!
Click to expand...

I know that FHB is 'sort of retired' now in that she is taking on very much less in the way of referrals/telephone referrals etc. She is a lot more 'active' in other ways though !!

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/

If your Vet is having problems hearing back from her Practice (they have been suggesting people seek advice elsewhere) then you could suggest that your Vet contacts the Rabbit Clinic up in sunny (hopefully!) Edinburgh
I am sure they would be of some help

http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departm...ic-animal-and-wildlife/rabbit-clinic/overview
 
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