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Sludge and potential abcess-- too much to treat?

Grasshopper

Young Bun
Anyone know of alternatives to a bladder flush? Any joy getting abscess in ears treated?

Am in a quandary about what to do with my only remaining bunny. About two months ago we took him to the vets to get a small tooth burr removed. He'd started to go off his food a couple of days before. After the general we couldn't get him eating properly again. I thought maybe he'd got a sore jaw after the dental. He even went back for an overnight stay at the vets, but nearly two months later he's still reliant on metacam, metoclopramide and zantac to keep him eating. He's been back to the vets since. He has sludgey bladder and possibly an abscess in his ear. I was really reluctant to get him treated because just the drive to the vets is sooo stressful, I didn't think he had much chance of pulling through. It seemed more humane. Especially as his teeth were getting long too...
Then we found science select and he's been gobbling it down. His poos are a good size and I finally found one species of grass he will eat. He's still very picky though and won't eat hay.
So now I wonder if he could cope with a bladder flush and check if he has got an abscess at the same time.
He seems happy in himself, lounges around in the middle of the room with a toddler roaming about. He's even started enjoying us stroking him having been aloof since we got him 2 years ago.
Oh, we have to move house, and vet, at the end of August....

Would you get him treated? Or stick with the painkillers till he stops looking comfortable and say good-bye? [emoji53]
Can't decide for the best...
Rachel

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Oh Rachel, you poor thing :(

I've been in a similar situation a couple of times over the years and it's so hard. I think I would look to my bunny for guidance. If he still seemed interested in life and pain was manageable I would probably press on. Ultimately though you must do what you feel is right and you know your bunny.

Sending vibes for you both, all the best xx
 
Anyone know of alternatives to a bladder flush? Any joy getting abscess in ears treated?

Am in a quandary about what to do with my only remaining bunny. About two months ago we took him to the vets to get a small tooth burr removed. He'd started to go off his food a couple of days before. After the general we couldn't get him eating properly again. I thought maybe he'd got a sore jaw after the dental. He even went back for an overnight stay at the vets, but nearly two months later he's still reliant on metacam, metoclopramide and zantac to keep him eating. He's been back to the vets since. He has sludgey bladder and possibly an abscess in his ear. I was really reluctant to get him treated because just the drive to the vets is sooo stressful, I didn't think he had much chance of pulling through. It seemed more humane. Especially as his teeth were getting long too...
Then we found science select and he's been gobbling it down. His poos are a good size and I finally found one species of grass he will eat. He's still very picky though and won't eat hay.
So now I wonder if he could cope with a bladder flush and check if he has got an abscess at the same time.
He seems happy in himself, lounges around in the middle of the room with a toddler roaming about. He's even started enjoying us stroking him having been aloof since we got him 2 years ago.
Oh, we have to move house, and vet, at the end of August....

Would you get him treated? Or stick with the painkillers till he stops looking comfortable and say good-bye? [emoji53]
Can't decide for the best...
Rachel

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

How old is he Rachel?

Why does the vet think he's still not eating properly? Are you happy and completely confident with your vet?

If this were my bunny then I would get him treated. Bladder sludge is painful, and in the long run he will dribble over carpets and himself and could get quite distressed. You've probably read up on it, but just in case it's helpful:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/generalities/Sludge.htm

http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/calcium.htm

... and I particularly like this article as it's so detailed ..

http://www.rabbit.org/health/urolith.html

His water intake is crucial, and you can source a low calcium water for him which should help.

Info about diet (pellets aren't recommended with sludge urine):

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/articles/free-food-for-rabbits/calcium-and-rabbit-food

https://www.harcourt-brown.co.uk/ar...t-for-rabbits-with-urinary-tract-disease/view
(click at bottom for a PDF of the article)

Sorry so much reading but hope something here is helpful :wave:

Good luck xx
 
Great, thanks. I'll have a good read. He's roughly 5. It's me that thinks he's not eating cos he's off so much of the stuff he'd normally have, and when I missed a dose of meds by mistake he dropped right back. He actually put on weight because I've been putting his meds on oats so I don't have to force them down him. I've cut them right down now though.
I take him to Cheshire pet where the amazing Molly varga used to work. The practice has strong rabbit experience.

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Great, thanks. I'll have a good read. He's roughly 5. It's me that thinks he's not eating cos he's off so much of the stuff he'd normally have, and when I missed a dose of meds by mistake he dropped right back. He actually put on weight because I've been putting his meds on oats so I don't have to force them down him. I've cut them right down now though.
I take him to Cheshire pet where the amazing Molly varga used to work. The practice has strong rabbit experience.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

When I posted that I thought maybe I'd given you too much info - glad it might be of help :wave:

So he's not very old then, and you have a fab vet practice.

Lots of fresh grass is good because it's fibre and moisture - does he like eating that?
 
Oh Rachel, you poor thing :(

I've been in a similar situation a couple of times over the years and it's so hard. I think I would look to my bunny for guidance. If he still seemed interested in life and pain was manageable I would probably press on. Ultimately though you must do what you feel is right and you know your bunny.

Sending vibes for you both, all the best xx
Thanks. He seems happy enough and now he's eating better I feel bad about leaving him untreated. When he was barely eating, just keeping him comfy seemed best...

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
When I posted that I thought maybe I'd given you too much info - glad it might be of help :wave:

So he's not very old then, and you have a fab vet practice.

Lots of fresh grass is good because it's fibre and moisture - does he like eating that?
I'd seen a couple of the articles before but good to be reassured they are a reliable source. Have read them more thorough thanks to your recommendation.
I was so relieved when I found a type of grass he would eat. But there's not much of it around... Seriously, I have picked him every edible hedgerow plant under the British sun, a whole meadows worth of different grasses and a good proportion of wild flowers besides. He'll be in to one one day then turn his nose up the next. If it had been winter he wouldn't have lasted a week. He seems to want to eat, just things don't seem palatable to him.


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Is it possible he is reliant on metacam because he's in pain from the absess/sludge and that pain is actually the cause of his drop in food intake? It may be that if these are treated his food issue may improve.

I think I would be tempted to attempt treatment as bunny seems to still be enjoying life with you.

Also if he is so reliant on pellets oxbow might be an option as they are timothy based rather than alfalfa like everything else so should be lower in calcium, or SS do a urinary stick version a bit like fiba first.
 
Anyone know of alternatives to a bladder flush? Any joy getting abscess in ears treated?

Am in a quandary about what to do with my only remaining bunny. About two months ago we took him to the vets to get a small tooth burr removed. He'd started to go off his food a couple of days before. After the general we couldn't get him eating properly again. I thought maybe he'd got a sore jaw after the dental. He even went back for an overnight stay at the vets, but nearly two months later he's still reliant on metacam, metoclopramide and zantac to keep him eating. He's been back to the vets since. He has sludgey bladder and possibly an abscess in his ear. I was really reluctant to get him treated because just the drive to the vets is sooo stressful, I didn't think he had much chance of pulling through. It seemed more humane. Especially as his teeth were getting long too...
Then we found science select and he's been gobbling it down. His poos are a good size and I finally found one species of grass he will eat. He's still very picky though and won't eat hay.
So now I wonder if he could cope with a bladder flush and check if he has got an abscess at the same time.
He seems happy in himself, lounges around in the middle of the room with a toddler roaming about. He's even started enjoying us stroking him having been aloof since we got him 2 years ago.
Oh, we have to move house, and vet, at the end of August....

Would you get him treated? Or stick with the painkillers till he stops looking comfortable and say good-bye? [emoji53]
Can't decide for the best...
Rachel

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
I read something saying liquid magnesium can help keep bladder sludge from building up. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone know if it only works once bladder has been flushed?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
I read something saying liquid magnesium can help keep bladder sludge from building up. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone know if it only works once bladder has been flushed?

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I have not had experience of it's use, the only non invasive treatment I have used is diuresis- ie fluid therapy and giving a diuretic as recommended by an Exotics Specialist Vet.

I assume that the article you are referring to is this one ?

http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/LiquidMg/Liquid_magnesium.htm
 
Yes, that was the one. I take it you managed diuresis with the flushing? Did you have to do injections yourself, or just give the diuretics when you got home?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
I read something saying liquid magnesium can help keep bladder sludge from building up. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone know if it only works once bladder has been flushed?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I have used an alternative therapy for bladder sludge, but not liquid magnesium. In a bladder sludge bunny I gave sub cut fluids and on vet's advice, a diuretic.

Hope that helps!
 
Today the vets nurse suggested pumpkin seeds for sludge too. Not come across that one on the internet yet. Off to search...

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I have used an alternative therapy for bladder sludge, but not liquid magnesium. In a bladder sludge bunny I gave sub cut fluids and on vet's advice, a diuretic.

Hope that helps!
OK, great. Am not sure why my vet hasn't suggested it.

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My vet gave me the equipment and showed me how to give sub cut fluids at home.
Much less stressful all round :D
OK. I will have to get over my anxiety of sticking needles in things for that then. Probably worth it. Thanks for helping me out with this.

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OK. I will have to get over my anxiety of sticking needles in things for that then. Probably worth it. Thanks for helping me out with this.


I don't enjoy it either, but I know it's the right thing to do. Fluids are essential in cases of bladder sludge.
Hope you're vet is amenable :D
 
Thanks to everyone on here who helped me out. As a result of your encouragement I got his bladder flushed. He didn't have an abscess but did have a wobbly tooth taken out. He was back on his food very quickly. Thanks again :)

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