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Grass Sickness

BinkyBun

Wise Old Thumper
Hi has anyone else have or had a bunny with Grass Sickness? My Annie has been diagnosed with it :cry: My vet is a rabbit specialist and has been consulting with Frances Harcourt-Brown about Annie. She is home after several days at vets. Lovely Purplebumble gave me a link to a 2010 thread on this which is helpful but the links inside it are no longer working. If anyone can help or give me advice on care for my Annie I would be so grateful xxx

Annie is 9 years old next week. She has had gas through her entire intestines which has slowly been going down with treatments (I have X-rays). She is being syringe fed, peeing on herself, doing squishy poop and very lethargic. :(

This is the 2010 thread http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?251682-Grass-Sickness-In-Rabbits
 
We've had a couple of lectures about it in horses but never in rabbits - I think our lectures said they aren't certain of a definite cause but think it might be due to a bacteria like clostridium in the soil. Rabbits and horses are very similar so I'm guessing that symptoms etc. are probably very similar.

I know if it's the "chronic" form in horses they do a lot of supportive treatment (fluids, hand feeding etc.) and there are some that recover really well.

Really sorry I can't be of much use but just wanted to send Annie and you loads of vibes xx
 
I am sorry to hear that Annie is not well :cry:

These links may be useful to read

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Miscellaneous/Leporine_Dysautonomia.htm

http://www.researchgate.net/publica...vidence_that_hares_suffer_from_grass_sickness

You would need to purchase this article,

http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/156/24/778.full.pdf+html

Katherine Whitwell, an Equine Pathology Specialist Vet, has done a considerable amount of research into Equine Grass Sickness, she also looked at the condition in Rabbits. Maybe your Vet could contact her ?

http://www.rossdales.com/laboratories/our-team.htm
 
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I'm interested to find out what it is that is causing your rabbit to be sick because I feed a lot of grass and hope it doesn't happen to mine. Normally feeding grass is supposed to be a good thing.

I've never heard the term "grass sickness before" but on some forums I go to I have heard of people having problems. One was young flemish giant rabbit who ate too much very green spring grass and the vet said it was sick from too many nitrates— nitrate poisoning, which evidently is something that happens to other grazing animals like cows as well. I've also heard that grass can have mycotoxins from a sort of fungus (endophytes) that lives on most grasses. The mycotoxins can sometimes can cause what they call "staggers" in cattle, sheep and horses, and some people believe their rabbits have gotten sick from it too. I think both of these things are rare and only occur under certain weather conditions. Maybe your vet was thinks its something like that?
 
I'm so sorry to hear that Annie is not well :-( Some of the best vets in the country are on the case which gives her the best possible chance, but it must be so frustrating not to have a firm diagnosis and therefore treatment plan. I do hope that she can be helped.

The only time I've ever experienced anything like this was when one of my buns many years ago stuffed himself on a load of grass which had a lot of buttercup in it. He was so swollen my vet thought it was his liver but when ultrasound/x-rayed it was a load of gas throughout his system - although oddly he carried on eating and didn't show any signs of being in pain. Long shot, but is there a lot of buttercup leaf around where she grazes, by any chance? Has any testing been done for coccidiosis? (Although hepatic cocci often gives false negatives in my experience).

Big hugs, hope you get to the bottom of it x
 
I'm interested to find out what it is that is causing your rabbit to be sick because I feed a lot of grass and hope it doesn't happen to mine. Normally feeding grass is supposed to be a good thing.

The only thing I could find on the internet about "grass sickness" was that the cause was unknown but some believe it is caused by clostridium, and the symptoms for horses sound a lot like GI stasis in rabbits, gut slowdown, bloat, death. I have heard of rabbits getting sick from clostridium getting in their system before but never heard it called "grass sickness". There is information on clostridium in rabbits here http://www.sawneeanimalclinic.com/downloads/clostridial_enterotoxicosis_in_rabbits.pdf

On some forums I go to I have heard of people having problems related to feeding grass. One was young flemish giant rabbit who ate too much very green spring grass and the vet said it was sick from too many nitrates— nitrate poisoning, which evidently is something that happens to other grazing animals like cows as well. I've also heard that grass can have mycotoxins from a sort of fungus (endophytes) that lives on most grasses. The mycotoxins can sometimes can cause what they call "staggers" in cattle, sheep and horses, and some people believe their rabbits have gotten sick from it too. I think both of these things are rare and only occur under certain weather conditions. Maybe your vet was thinks its something like that?
 
sorry she has this.

it's an interesting topic though because so many seem to struggle with grass. so many tummy issues are posted about this time of year.

my only experience with it is bisc being sensitive tummy wise and alot of the time he chooses not to eat much grass. the other experience with soil causing issues was with matt and his respiratory problems. he was found to have an opportunist bacteria in his nose, which is most commonly found in soil. it always made me wonder if these bacteria could affect them in other ways, obviously the main one being digestive wise from eating grass.
 
Hi has anyone else have or had a bunny with Grass Sickness? My Annie has been diagnosed with it :cry: My vet is a rabbit specialist and has been consulting with Frances Harcourt-Brown about Annie. She is home after several days at vets. Lovely Purplebumble gave me a link to a 2010 thread on this which is helpful but the links inside it are no longer working. If anyone can help or give me advice on care for my Annie I would be so grateful xxx

Annie is 9 years old next week. She has had gas through her entire intestines which has slowly been going down with treatments (I have X-rays). She is being syringe fed, peeing on herself, doing squishy poop and very lethargic. :(

This is the 2010 thread http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?251682-Grass-Sickness-In-Rabbits

I'm so sorry you have this issue now with Annie. But so glad you have a good vet on the case ...

Thinking of you both right now ... I remember how helpful you were to me when my bunny was in dire straits and I can't thank you enough for that :D
 
Thank you so very much for all your replies. Jane thank you so much for those links thats really helpful. I can't seem to find anyone who has had a rabbit recover from this :cry: She is very lethargic and sad :cry: The X-rays have shown that the gas in her intestines has gone down while in hospital for several days. I just keep hoping that the meds will help it keep moving out of her.

There are no buttercups in my garden. Its odd as she is the only one of my 6 bunnies to come down with this (please god paws crossed). My vet said my garden's grass and dandelions should be fine to keep feeding and playing on but I'm too scared at the moment to let any of them.
 
I should say she also now has chronic kidney failure believed to be because of this Grass Sickness. Before she was diagnosed with this she needed a dental (her very first dental in her life as always good teeth until now) and not long after that she became sick with what they thought was EC and then she got pasturella. She started to improve until this hit her this week :cry: She is 9 years old next week x
 
Poor little soul :cry: I am wondering if the CRF is in fact related to the EC (EC effects the Kidneys too) and the GI tract issues are secondary to the CRF ? Not that I am questioning the diagnosis made by two Specialist Vets. I'm just 'thinking out loud' so-to-speak.

It's just that Leporine Dysautonomia ('Hare/Rabbit Grass Sickness') cannot be accurately diagnosed until after the passing on of the effected animal :cry: Treatment is only ever a case of addressing symptoms and as your Vet has no doubt explained treatment cannot 'cure' Dysautonomia. I do hope that Annie responds to treatment and her symptoms can be controlled, she does sound to be very poorly :cry:

Do you know what medication she is on ? Are any of the drugs called 'Domperidone' ?

Sending millions more vibes for Annie xx
 
Poor little soul :cry: I am wondering if the CRF is in fact related to the EC (EC effects the Kidneys too) and the GI tract issues are secondary to the CRF ? Not that I am questioning the diagnosis made by two Specialist Vets. I'm just 'thinking out loud' so-to-speak.

It's just that Leporine Dysautonomia ('Hare/Rabbit Grass Sickness') cannot be accurately diagnosed until after the passing on of the effected animal :cry: Treatment is only ever a case of addressing symptoms and as your Vet has no doubt explained treatment cannot 'cure' Dysautonomia. I do hope that Annie responds to treatment and her symptoms can be controlled, she does sound to be very poorly :cry:

Do you know what medication she is on ? Are any of the drugs called 'Domperidone' ?

Sending millions more vibes for Annie xx

Thank you Jane xxx

Annie is very poorly this morning its breaking my heart :cry: The only poop she does is little mini cowpats but the vet warned me she was doing this in hospital too and its a symptom. I gave her a gentle wash and dry this morning as she was covered in pee and other smelly stains poor sweet baby :cry: She is on Emperid, Ronaxon, Metacam and Panacur. She is on Emperid 3x daily; Metacam and Ronaxon twice daily, and Panacur once (42 day course). She is on critical care syringe feeds as not eating on her own. She is so thin and has been losing weight so fast. She is all bony and thin. She only weighs 1.6kg when she is usually at least 3kg :( Vet said there was no cure and can only treat symptoms but couldn't say if she'd recover or how long survive. He didn't suggest pts yet as said as her gas is going down its hopeful. Its horrible seeing her so depressed like this. Even Darcy in his last days was never this depressed and he was always eating and interested. I'm seriously questioning myself on her quality of life right now but am scared to give up in case she has a turn around too. Its so bloody hard hard to know :(
 
Thank you Jane xxx

Annie is very poorly this morning its breaking my heart :cry: The only poop she does is little mini cowpats but the vet warned me she was doing this in hospital too and its a symptom. I gave her a gentle wash and dry this morning as she was covered in pee and other smelly stains poor sweet baby :cry: She is on Emperid, Ronaxon, Metacam and Panacur. She is on Emperid 3x daily; Metacam and Ronaxon twice daily, and Panacur once (42 day course). She is on critical care syringe feeds as not eating on her own. She is so thin and has been losing weight so fast. She is all bony and thin. She only weighs 1.6kg when she is usually at least 3kg :( Vet said there was no cure and can only treat symptoms but couldn't say if she'd recover or how long survive. He didn't suggest pts yet as said as her gas is going down its hopeful. Its horrible seeing her so depressed like this. Even Darcy in his last days was never this depressed and he was always eating and interested. I'm seriously questioning myself on her quality of life right now but am scared to give up in case she has a turn around too. Its so bloody hard hard to know :(

Is she on IV fluids, given how poorly she is and the fact she is known to be in CRF I think IV fluids are pretty essential. Otherwise the toxins will continue to build up, she'll become dehydrated and she will feel even more poorly :cry: How long has she been out of Hospital ? I can imagine how upsetting it is for you to see her so unwell :cry:
 
She was on IV fluids constantly in hospital from Tuesday until she came home Thursday. He said the fluid should have flushed it out. :( I've been putting avipro plus in her water to help. I asked about syringe feeding water but he said the water in the cc feeds should be enough. I tried calling them just now but they're closed for the weekend :(
 
She was on IV fluids constantly in hospital from Tuesday until she came home Thursday. He said the fluid should have flushed it out. :( I've been putting avipro plus in her water to help. I asked about syringe feeding water but he said the water in the cc feeds should be enough. I tried calling them just now but they're closed for the weekend :(

There should be a message on their a/phone giving contact details of their out of hours cover. Personally I would want her seen again today as the fact that she has been off IV fluids for 48 hours and she appears to be deteriorating does give cause for concern. As her kidneys are not working efficiently she may well need IV fluids again now :cry:
 
She was on IV fluids constantly in hospital from Tuesday until she came home Thursday. He said the fluid should have flushed it out. :( I've been putting avipro plus in her water to help. I asked about syringe feeding water but he said the water in the cc feeds should be enough. I tried calling them just now but they're closed for the weekend :(

It's so difficult for you, I'm so sorry. I have nursed a bun with Chronic Renal Failure ... Grass sickness is a complicated issue, lots currently unproven.

My vet advocated three days of continuous IV fluids to flush out, and as you say, anything should then be flushed out. What damage there is, remains thereafter.

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for her x
 
Sending healing vibes. As Jane said, Fluids are very important and she needs more than what is in her feedings. In my eyes, fluids are as important as the pain/anti-inflammatory.
 
I have a bunny with dysautonomia, which the vet said was the name for it in bunnies. Although I don't know if that's what your girlie has, as obviously you've been given a different diagnosis. If you're interested in happy to share but his sounds very different from hers.
 
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