Fiver - ranitidine and decreased appetite?

I've been very concerned about Fiver and his wavering appetite for hay. He still eats greens, mint and canned pumpkin but his hay intake seems to be dropping.

He's been taking ranitidine for almost a month now. I wonder if it has anything to do with this weight loss or if he's just never recovered from his stasis related loss before he had his teeth trimmed a few months ago?

He's also going through a huge moult which has left him looking very thin indeed. You can feel all his bones and without the fur his body just looks fragile as hell.



I am worried about him since I can't give him things like oat hay or alfalfa (bladder stones), does anyone have any idea how I could get him to a healthier weight or is this just the beginning of a downhill slide I'm not going to pull him out of?

Many TIA for all replies.

Sorry I have no idea regarding weight. My specialist recommended alfalfa hay which is ruled out for you. What about little bits of banana?
Regarding the weight loss doughnuts been on ranitidine for two years twice a day and hasn't lost weight on it. So I haven't experienced that.
good luck. Inge you're able to fatten him up

Sorry this will be a rushed reply, but is Fiver less mobile now due to his arthritis ? If so this can cause loss of muscle mass. So his boneyness may be due to muscle loss rather than fat loss.

Has he had a recent full blood profile run ?

Again, very sorry for rushed response x

Thank you cpayne and Jane.
Maybe he is not getting quite the coverage from the ranitidine as he was with the famotidine. I've been dosing him conservatively at 0.15 mls once a day in the morning, half an hour before feeding him his greens and metacam. He can have as much as 0.1-0.2 mls once or twice a day instead of just the one 0.15 mls famotidine. :?

No he hasn't had bloods run in awhile. I really can't afford a panel at the moment. Do you think it's the metacam taking a toll? He kind of can't give that up in his condition.

He's full of spunk, no doubt about that, but then so was Pip right before the end, so I don't count that in his favour particularly.

He isn't very mobile though, admittedly. He gets time to run about but I think the small amount he does exhausts him. Or it's too painful, maybe.

Between him and Mimzy, I am not certain how much longer I have with either of them. I'd rather what time they have left is enjoyable.

MimzMum said:

Thank you cpayne and Jane.
Maybe he is not getting quite the coverage from the ranitidine as he was with the famotidine. I've been dosing him conservatively at 0.15 mls once a day in the morning, half an hour before feeding him his greens and metacam. He can have as much as 0.1-0.2 mls once or twice a day instead of just the one 0.15 mls famotidine. :?

No he hasn't had bloods run in awhile. I really can't afford a panel at the moment. Do you think it's the metacam taking a toll? He kind of can't give that up in his condition.

He's full of spunk, no doubt about that, but then so was Pip right before the end, so I don't count that in his favour particularly.

He isn't very mobile though, admittedly. He gets time to run about but I think the small amount he does exhausts him. Or it's too painful, maybe.

Between him and Mimzy, I am not certain how much longer I have with either of them. I'd rather what time they have left is enjoyable.

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It sounds as though muscle wastage secondary to arthritis may be an issue and the cause of his change of body shape. I hope both Fiver and Mimzy will remain comfortable for as long as possible

Wow that's a low dose. Doughnut is 1.2 kg and she is on 0.3m twice a day permanently. She could have it three times a day if necessary. Also metacam she's on 0 5 twice a day. Could you ask if it's appropriate to up it to get him out of pain and more mobile.
Hope you get it sorted and have a lot longer with both of them

Jack's-Jane said:

It sounds as though muscle wastage secondary to arthritis may be an issue and the cause of his change of body shape. I hope both Fiver and Mimzy will remain comfortable for as long as possible

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My thoughts too.

Would he accept something such a physiotherapy to help reduce the muscle wastage?
Could you feed him fresh grass instead of hay? (He may prefer the grass to hay).

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Thanks Jane, cpayne and dp
Ah, I didn't realize Fiver could have more of the ranitidine. I'll ask the vet about it. He is so very thin though, I don't think he's even 3 pounds anymore...probably less than the 2.5 pounds he weighed last last year when he got his teeth trimmed. If he's lost more weight, then I'd have to take him in to get a better idea of where he's at now, I don't want to overdose him with either drug.

He is not really a hands on bunny. I think it would be a stretch to get him physio. Fresh grass is out because although we have a lawn now, I have no idea what's been sprayed on it, if anything. There is a huge bug/vermin presence here and the neighbors routinely put pesticides out. Plus the dogs use it for their bathroom. I'd be afraid they'd got something toxic from it.

I miss the clean, wild forage we had in Alaska (which wouldn't be showing up now anyway, but still.) We had such lovely dandelion leaves and plantain and wild hayseed, etc. They loved all that stuff.

New symptom

Hey guys...new symptom tonight. Ears very red and feel almost hot to the touch. He is eating and drinking okay. No lethargy. Poos and wee normal. But he's also kinda cranky, almost angry, while I tried grooming him earlier. Something to worry about or no? TIA.

Could you grow some grass etc in trays? Just normal grass seed works - they normally write "pet safe" and you can grow it indoors?

As for the new symptom, I've no idea. My guess would possibly be pain and/or infection of some type.
Hopefully someone else will be along to offer more help on the symptom front.

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I have no idea about the ears but pleased he's eating and pooping normally.

Thanks cpayne I know, I'd be out of my mind today if he wasn't doing his other dailies correctly.
This morning his ears were normal colour and cool. :? Is a puzzlement.

He really doesn't seem to want the ranitidine and now he's balking at his metacam too, so not certain how to proceed. I think I'll just keep watching him...with a moult like this he is going to be irritable. I know I would be! :shock:

dp, would wheat grass do? The kind you find in supermarkets? I see my local grocery has little pots of it for sale. I know it's good for kitties to chew, but can bunnies eat it?

Wheat grass is fine
It's easy to grow indoors too

I'm glad his ears were better today - hopefully it's just due to his moult and he'll be back to normal soon x

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MimzMum said:

Hey guys...new symptom tonight. Ears very red and feel almost hot to the touch. He is eating and drinking okay. No lethargy. Poos and wee normal. But he's also kinda cranky, almost angry, while I tried grooming him earlier. Something to worry about or no? TIA.

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I am so sorry M, I completely missed this yesterday. Very hot red ears can indicate that the Rabbit is overheated. But by the sounds of it Fiver is OK within himself ?

Can you have a look in his ears ? As you know, arthritic Bunnies can be prone to getting gunky ears and that can sometimes cause the outer ear to look inflamed and feel hot to the touch.

daphnephoebe said:

Wheat grass is fine
It's easy to grow indoors too

I'm glad his ears were better today - hopefully it's just due to his moult and he'll be back to normal soon x

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Wheat grass is yummy and nutritious

More vibes today xx