Worried about Winston yet again :( Update HE'S HOME :D

I don't seem to be doing very well at this bunny ownership thing. Winston is behaving very strangely. In the last 20 minutes or so he has been bunny flopping, but then a few seconds later he has been getting up, walking round in circles, flopping again, then getting up and wandering around and then flopping etc etc. It is like he can't get comfortable and I'm worried it's his tummy? Am I being paranoid?

In the past hour or so he has had a couple of handfuls of fresh grass, a coltsfoot leaf and some fresh dandelion. The grass and coltsfoot are fairly new additions to his diet but he only had a fairly small amount.

Ever since the arum nightmare I'm just extra wary when I give him newish food so I just wanted to check to see if it's a vet call or not.

He is currently flopped in his carrier, which is unusual because he normally loafs in it or doesn't bother venturing in there at all!

I'm sorry I keep posting all the time

Walking in circles and flopping down may be a sign of an ear infection/problem, even if he does not have any head tilt yet. This is only one possibility, as he can also have early signs of EC; and you may even be correct about it being his tummy.
If he was my bunny I would get him to the vet for a check since early treatment is usually more cost effective and better success.

Hmm. It does sound like he might be a bit uncomfortable. Maybe call the vets to see what they'd advise? I'd be tempted to take him in if it was me, but then again I am slightly paranoid! I'd rather take him in early than take him in later and have a rather large vet bill and a poorlier rabbit, though!

Off to the vets!

Good luck, hope Winston will be ok :wave:

Back from the vets….vet didn't think it was EC. He had a feel of his stomach and said it felt a little dilated. He gave Winston 3 injections; 0.3mg/ml buprecare, 2ml vial zantac and metoclopramide ampoule (quantity not said on the receipt). The buprecare is the painkiller (apparently metacam isn't appropriate for this sort of pain) and after some googling I think both the last two are gut stimulants? The vet did tell me but I was quite stressed so can't remember what he said :/

He also sent me home with some zantac/ranitidine syrup and said I should give Winston 0.5ml tomorrow morning and evening, but if he deteriorates or doesn't produce any poos and doesn't eat then to bring him in first thing in the morning. He also said to only feed hay and some pellets, and stay away from greens until he's better.

Winston is currently facing the back of his carrier and hasn't moved since we've been back Do you think the medication may have made him lethargic?

Poor bunny - I hope he feels better very soon xx

Oh poor Winston Really hope he feels better soon. I know that zantac is a gut stimulant, Scrappy has been prescribed it a couple of times before after GA and sedation. I found that it worked well to get everything moving. Not sure about the other one or whether the medication he's been given have made him a bit lethargic.

Oh and I just wanted to say, please don't think that you're a bad bunny owner. From my own experience and from reading posts on here I've learnt that even with the best care in the world bunnies can get ill very easily. You acted as soon as you noticed something wasn't right and IMO that makes you a brilliant bunny owner and Winston is lucky to have you :thumb:

ImoT said:

Back from the vets….vet didn't think it was EC. He had a feel of his stomach and said it felt a little dilated. He gave Winston 3 injections; 0.3mg/ml buprecare, 2ml vial zantac and metoclopramide ampoule (quantity not said on the receipt). The buprecare is the painkiller (apparently metacam isn't appropriate for this sort of pain) and after some googling I think both the last two are gut stimulants? The vet did tell me but I was quite stressed so can't remember what he said :/

He also sent me home with some zantac/ranitidine syrup and said I should give Winston 0.5ml tomorrow morning and evening, but if he deteriorates or doesn't produce any poos and doesn't eat then to bring him in first thing in the morning. He also said to only feed hay and some pellets, and stay away from greens until he's better.

Winston is currently facing the back of his carrier and hasn't moved since we've been back Do you think the medication may have made him lethargic?

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Buprecare is an opiate analgesic which can cause marked sedation. This should wear off over 6-8 hours.

How is Winston now ? Any poo output overnight ? Any eating ?

Jack's-Jane said:

Buprecare is an opiate analgesic which can cause marked sedation. This should wear off over 6-8 hours.

How is Winston now ? Any poo output overnight ? Any eating ?

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No poos or wees, he has barely eaten although he is currently munching on a little bit of kale and basil. The vet said no greens but basil was the only way to get Zantac into him (I tried syringing it directly) and he had barely touched his hay. I'm concerned about the lack of output but need to go to work in half an hour and have no idea what on earth to do

ImoT said:

No poos or wees, he has barely eaten although he is currently munching on a little bit of kale and basil. The vet said no greens but basil was the only way to get Zantac into him (I tried syringing it directly) and he had barely touched his hay. I'm concerned about the lack of output but need to go to work in half an hour and have no idea what on earth to do

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Can you drop him in to your vets to look after him for the day?
I hope he is feeling better soon. I have been having similar issues with Rambo lately but you can only keep trying to tempt him and leave plenty of food around to try to tempt him and water of course (can you leave a bowl of water)

bunny babe said:

Can you drop him in to your vets to look after him for the day?
I hope he is feeling better soon. I have been having similar issues with Rambo lately but you can only keep trying to tempt him and leave plenty of food around to try to tempt him and water of course (can you leave a bowl of water)

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I phoned work to explain the situation and they were understanding. I'm going to take him to the vets. He is however now munching on more herbs and some readigrass! Still no output so I'm going to phone the vets and ask their opinion but probably still take him in anyways. I'm worried there is a blockage!

He's been admitted to the small animal hospital to be put on a drip and have further tests. The vet said his stomach felt better than yesterday but still a bit doughy. The house feels so empty without him

Oh Winston!! Im so sorry to hear this. Lots of nose rubs.


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Poor Winston I hope that he feels better soon xx

I am so glad he is at the vets where they can watch him, give him more painkiller, and give him hand feedings/fluids, as needed.

Complete obstructions are not very common. My vets will not even prescribe gut stimulants if a complete obstruction is suspected. The fluids will help him a lot, as will the pain meds.
In September 2013, my bunny Amigo had a very serious case of stasis (he was 12.5 years old at the time). My vet was not optimistic and I was losing my faith too. He got oral fluids, sub Q fluids, and as a lost resort fluids via an enema (the last item resulted in his turn around and recovery). I also had fed him some critical care, and yes, I let him have some carrot tops just to keep his system moving. He was on Medicam for inflammation and pain.

Amigo did not have a lot of gas, and we did not suspect any sort of overgrowth of 'bad' bacteria.

ImoT said:

He's been admitted to the small animal hospital to be put on a drip and have further tests. The vet said his stomach felt better than yesterday but still a bit doughy. The house feels so empty without him

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Oh I'm sorry to read this

I do hope he improves soon xxx I know all too well the empty feeling when they aren't there ......

Thank you everyone. I haven't been able to get on the forum all day because for some reason it hasn't been working for me?!

He is being kept at the hospital overnight. They tested his blood glucose and it was sky high, but then they tested it a few hours later and it was within normal range so they think the stress of being at the vets/in and out of the car etc elevated his level. They also tested for something to do with his liver and said it was a little higher than normal but not completely outside of normal range. I am a bit concerned his elevated liver levels (not exactly sure what specifically) is to do with the fact I have been feeding him groundsel and some people say groundsel can negatively effect the liver :-/ Does anyone think this could be the case?

I just spoke to the nurse on duty overnight and she said he is still on a drip but he has been eating a few greens and has been taking his syringes of critical care, and even more excitingly he has done some wees and poos! So he seems to be on the mend and I am really hoping he will be able to come home tomorrow!!

I have also decided to move vets, because for this emergency I have been using my local vet and I have been so impressed with the care he has received that I think I am going to move him permanently once he has been neutered at my other vets (because that's already booked and things). I know I received some slightly unsatisfactory advice last friday with the arum disaster, but for this emergency Winston has been under a different person who is their rabbit specialist and when I asked him questions about the fact he is described as their rabbit specialist he seemed very clued up and said he takes a special interest in them and things. Also it's useful having the animal hospital linked with them which is open 24 hours a day and is staffed overnight. My other vet isn't staffed overnight and you actually have to take them to a totally different vet for out of hours care.

sorry, ive only just seen this but I really hope Winston improves.

I changed vets too, so even though my new one is 10 minutes away instead of 2, today it made it much less stressful for Lance because he didn't have to be moved anywhere and he is being kept there overnight too I think it's definitely a massive advantage if they do OOH and overnight care so it sounds like you have made a good decision :thumb: xx

Given that he is just recovering, I would consider postphoning his neuter until he has regained all of his strength. Please ask your new vet if a neuter so soon after this scary situation is recommended.