• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Thomas - advice needed

Rabcat

Mama Doe
Hi everyone

I'm feeling out of my depth trying to look after my little Thomas bun. He has urine scald - ashamed to say I missed it as my Suzi cat has been diagnosed with serious liver problems so my focus was on her :(

I always check my buns but missed this until last weekend when I managed to get hold of Thomas. Poor little mite had a damp bottom with red patches on his legs :(

I took him to the vet and they shaved him, prescribed baytril, metacam and a small tube of F10 cream.

The F10 is like petroleum jelly but hard to spread on his belly and legs. I have cleaned him with damp kitchen roll and then dried him as much as possible before using the F10. He obviously hates it and I'm not seeing much of an improvement. I run out of the F10 yesterday and got bepanthen today after reading Cara's post.

I feel awful as the poor little guy has a bald belly and legs but I am not seeing any real improvement. He is eating and playing as usual and he stops for a pee with his little legs apart. He is a mini lop so only has tiny little legs bless him.

I feel like I'm not helping him at all and really don't know what to do next :(

I'm already stressed about my Suzi and normally cope with everything but this with Thomas is really worrying me.

Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted xx
 
Hi sorry to hear about you little one. You really need to find out what is causing him to have this. Did the vet take any bloods to do tests? Are your vets rabbit savvy? It sounds like they thought it was a urine infection but the antibiotics haven't cleared it up. Normally with that they need to take them for two weeks also another antibiotic may be better at treating it. I think you need to take him back for further tests as it could be other things making him leak if it's been longer than two weeks or change the antibiotics.. Propalin is a good medicine for incontinence it helps them hold on to the urine better but you need to fame the cause before going down that route.
Well done for getting him shaved. When doughnut was wet I got her shaved close but she had nicks on where the wet fur had pulled on her skin. I felt terrible. Try not to beat yourself up about not noticing. You're helping him all you can now. Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Hi everyone

I'm feeling out of my depth trying to look after my little Thomas bun. He has urine scald - ashamed to say I missed it as my Suzi cat has been diagnosed with serious liver problems so my focus was on her :(

I always check my buns but missed this until last weekend when I managed to get hold of Thomas. Poor little mite had a damp bottom with red patches on his legs :(

I took him to the vet and they shaved him, prescribed baytril, metacam and a small tube of F10 cream.

The F10 is like petroleum jelly but hard to spread on his belly and legs. I have cleaned him with damp kitchen roll and then dried him as much as possible before using the F10. He obviously hates it and I'm not seeing much of an improvement. I run out of the F10 yesterday and got bepanthen today after reading Cara's post.

I feel awful as the poor little guy has a bald belly and legs but I am not seeing any real improvement. He is eating and playing as usual and he stops for a pee with his little legs apart. He is a mini lop so only has tiny little legs bless him.

I feel like I'm not helping him at all and really don't know what to do next :(

I'm already stressed about my Suzi and normally cope with everything but this with Thomas is really worrying me.

Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted xx


Rabcat, sorry to hear this - but you're doing really well! :wave:

Did the vet think he may have a urinary tract infection? How long is the course of Baytril? If you've run out of F10 then I assume you've been coping with it for a wee while already?

I think changing to the bepanthen is a good idea. I have seen far too many rabbits having their tender and delicate skin literally 'burned' by the F10 - causing a problem far worse than the urine scald. I'm glad the F10 seems to have worked for you though?

At the moment, I think you are doing brilliantly well :)

Don't forget, he can't see his tiny little legs and doesn't worry about this sort of thing. If you're keeping him comfortable until the antibiotics work, then you should be proud of yourself.

I am guessing that your vet will wait and see whether the Baytril works, and if not then change to another antibiotic? Also, bladder sludge can exacerbate the problem and if that's a factor it will need to be dealt with in due course.

In the meantime, keep him drinking lots (like us with cystitis) - perhaps even adding a bit of fruit juice (apple or such like) to the water if necessary. Lots of wet leafy green stuffs and perhaps grass and forage instead of hay? Keep the urine as dilute as possible to flush out any nasty bacteria.

Lots of luck for you and your little guy xx
 
Thank you for replying to me. I did see your post about little Doughnut and her pic with the collar on bless her :love:

I have my buns with Manor Vets and they have rabbit savvy vets - the lady that I saw was well stressed out though because of work load though.

No blood tests as yet but I am taking him back. His skin has gone scaly so have no idea what that is about.

It is lovely to see him go about his usual naughty business :D

I brought him and his sisters inside for the first few days that's he was shaved but they didn't like it.

Xxx
 
Yes she looked cute but it broke my heart that she must have been in additional pain with the fur pulling.
I think for a u t i they say try for two weeks on the antibiotics as they can take a while to work but it's worth going back to get advice on the scald anyway. It's easy to beat ourselves up on stuff we miss rather than all the good stuff you're doing for them. Sounds like you're having an awful time at the moment. Let us know how you get on and lots of virtual hugs. I know how upsetting it is when doughnut is unwell let alone your lovely cat as well
I think some bunnies love being out and others in. Doughnut loves going out in the garden if it's warm but if it turns a little colder I look out and she's looking at the conservatory for me. When I go out I put the carrier in her run and she jumps in.
I think your vets are treating it as most vets would. Hopefully it is a urinary infection and they may just change the antibiotics. At least since you have metacam little one isn't in any pain
 
Last edited:
Hiya MM

Thank you for replying to me about Thomas. The visit to the vet was the first one. I have no idea what will be suggested next so will see what they suggest. I was surprised that his skin went so scaly and didn't expect that. When I bring him in for his meds and to clean him etc he tends to wee which is okay as I can see that is it pretty much clear and not gritty. He had really bad sludge at one point and his wee was like toothpaste if you know what I mean - it is great to see that it is better bless him :D
 
Hiya MM

Thank you for replying to me about Thomas. The visit to the vet was the first one. I have no idea what will be suggested next so will see what they suggest. I was surprised that his skin went so scaly and didn't expect that. When I bring him in for his meds and to clean him etc he tends to wee which is okay as I can see that is it pretty much clear and not gritty. He had really bad sludge at one point and his wee was like toothpaste if you know what I mean - it is great to see that it is better bless him :D


You're welcome :D

How long has he been on Baytril?
 
Hiya MM

Thank you for replying to me about Thomas. The visit to the vet was the first one. I have no idea what will be suggested next so will see what they suggest. I was surprised that his skin went so scaly and didn't expect that. When I bring him in for his meds and to clean him etc he tends to wee which is okay as I can see that is it pretty much clear and not gritty. He had really bad sludge at one point and his wee was like toothpaste if you know what I mean - it is great to see that it is better bless him :D


The other thing to consider - which I personally would consider over a blood test - is a sample of the urine to send off to the lab. A urinalysis can be done with either a free flow sample or via cystocentesis. My specialist has done this both ways and found both to be equally reliable. A Cystocentesis is where a needle is placed into the bladder through the abdominal wall to collect a sample, so you can see it's far more invasive than taking a free flow sample!

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...div_TechniquesRabbit/Cystocentesis_Rabbit.htm

Your vet will be able to express his bladder to take the wee sample, so you don't need to catch it in his litter tray :)
 
I have my buns with Manor Vets and they have rabbit savvy vets - the lady that I saw was well stressed out though because of work load though.

I am sorry to hear about Thomas and also to hear that Suzi is poorly. You are obviously with a very Rabbit Savvy Vet Practice and I am sure they will do all they can to find out the cause of Thomas's problems.

I have found that Heal X Cream helps skin damaged by urine scald

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/veterinary-s.../healx-soother-plus-topical-cream-30ml-p-7773

Perhaps you could ask the Vets about this ?
 
I am sorry to hear about Thomas and also to hear that Suzi is poorly. You are obviously with a very Rabbit Savvy Vet Practice and I am sure they will do all they can to find out the cause of Thomas's problems.

I have found that Heal X Cream helps skin damaged by urine scald

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/veterinary-s.../healx-soother-plus-topical-cream-30ml-p-7773

Perhaps you could ask the Vets about this ?

Thanks very much Jane. I shall ask the vet about the Heal X Cream. At the mo Thomas' skin is not bleeding which is a relief - that scared me the most because of infection etc.

He is so funny and running around as if nothing is wrong with him, chining everything, eating stray bits of hay and chasing sparrows - I'm well stressed and he is the chilled one :D
 
The other thing to consider - which I personally would consider over a blood test - is a sample of the urine to send off to the lab. A urinalysis can be done with either a free flow sample or via cystocentesis. My specialist has done this both ways and found both to be equally reliable. A Cystocentesis is where a needle is placed into the bladder through the abdominal wall to collect a sample, so you can see it's far more invasive than taking a free flow sample!

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00...div_TechniquesRabbit/Cystocentesis_Rabbit.htm

Your vet will be able to express his bladder to take the wee sample, so you don't need to catch it in his litter tray :)

Hi again :wave:

Thomas has been on baytril for 9 days now. When I picked him up tonight I noted that his skin isn't bleeding and although still scaly is not as dry and prone to pulling when I put the ointment on him. He doesn't like it but is struggling less and then goes about his bunnying business as soon as I put him back on the ground.

I have noticed that he stops for a wee shortly after I put him down and doesn't just run and wee without control. He also has proper wet wee and not sludge like he has had in the past. He happily stamps his feet at me as well - as you would!

I am hoping that this is a good sign for him and that his inquisitive nature still showing is also a good thing.

He is eating well and is still the first to investigate the veg bowl whilst his sister's are still snoozing in the bed.

I am due to take him back for a check up but haven't been able to get an appointment today.

Thank you again for the advice and interest that you have given in respect of Thomas :D
 
Hi again :wave:

Thomas has been on baytril for 9 days now. When I picked him up tonight I noted that his skin isn't bleeding and although still scaly is not as dry and prone to pulling when I put the ointment on him. He doesn't like it but is struggling less and then goes about his bunnying business as soon as I put him back on the ground.

I have noticed that he stops for a wee shortly after I put him down and doesn't just run and wee without control. He also has proper wet wee and not sludge like he has had in the past. He happily stamps his feet at me as well - as you would!

I am hoping that this is a good sign for him and that his inquisitive nature still showing is also a good thing.

He is eating well and is still the first to investigate the veg bowl whilst his sister's are still snoozing in the bed.

I am due to take him back for a check up but haven't been able to get an appointment today.

Thank you again for the advice and interest that you have given in respect of Thomas :D


You're really welcome - he sounds like a super little guy :D

Glad to hear the update on the weeing - that sounds a bit better, doesn't it?

Perhaps you could find (if you think you might still need it) an ointment that doesn't pull the skin so much? Or even a spray?

Gill (vet at Windelsham) recommends Derbymed SCP Spray

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Derbymed-SCP-Spray-200ml/productinfo/DERBYMSCP/
 
He sounds cute have your got a photo? Sounds like he's not in any pain at all since he's stamping his foot and getting annoyed with you! Pleased the skin is healing.
 
Back
Top