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Flo bunny - a very Bertie accident.

2pm update. We rang the vets at 12:30. Spoke to a lovely nurse who knows flo. They've tweaked her meds as they thought that there may be a conflict with one of the pain meds working against the gut meds. Shes on iv fluids and meds. Flo still isn't eating independently but she has passed 5 poops and is being fed via syringe. She's had some greens during the night but not an appetite.
The nurse said flo is going the right way. I don't know the biology - I know there are loads of wonderful people here who do, but I'm assuming poops mean that the gi tract is working. We will ring at tea time and get an update. If flo needs to stay in overnight again then that's fine. Its important that the medical team continue to do what they are doing to give flo the best chance of recovery. I will update at tea time.
Craig x
 
It is always good to see poo. I means gut is starting to move. Syringe feeds will help keep it moving.
Some pain meds do slow the gut more than others yet a bunny in pain will not eat and eating stimulates gut movement, so it is a balance.
Sending her more vibes.
 
Thank you every bun for the vibes. We went along to the hospital this afternoon to take flo some fresh herbs, treats, cranberries and her favorite dried food and her favorite snuffle mat. I figured it might help with her mental wellbeing and familiarization with food and treats. The vet looking after her is the former exotic specialist and was a great support when we had Lillian. So I was heartened to see her there as an out of hours vet. She said flo had passed a few more poops and drunk some water - something flo never does. But she wasn't eating much. Pain meds have been amended to paracetamol based rather than opiates which she felt were hindering mobility. Flo had a heavy ear bandage on for the canular but I think sge knew us. I gave her some gentle nose rubs and got her favorite treats out and she couldn't wait to take them. I sorted out the snuffle mat and she was also very keen to eat food from the mat. You could see the excitement in her eyes. It was very special as she connected with it and it must have given her memories of home.
We said our goodbyes knowing she was being looked after by a bunny expert. The vet said that she would like flo to spend another night at the hospital because she's not pooping properly or eating as well as they would like, and that's fine. She is in the best place for the care she needs. I'm sure the food and mat will help her tonight and sge certainly enjoys the treats so hopefully this will help her.
All being well I should get an update in the morning and I'll update you all then.
Craig x
 
Thanks for the update, Craig. Sending Flo lots more vibes and I hope she improves during the night.
 
Thanks for updating Craig, good to know how she's progressing, and lovely that she got excited at snuffle mat bless her. She sounds in really capable hands, so fingers and paws crossed here that shes home soon xx
 
If the accident involved enough force to cause such a big wound then it’s likely that there was also some trauma to Flo’s spine. That would mean she could still be very uncomfortable and causing her to eat less and her GI tract to have slowed down. The GA will have reduced gut motility too. Also, if she is now on abx, which I would have thought would be needed with a wound the size you describe that had started to go necrotic, then the abx can cause a reduced appetite.

Hopefully the treatment she has now received will lead to a full restoration of normal gut function and she will be able to return home soon :)
 
Itis good she has interest in her snuffle mat and treats. Sending more vibes for your lovely Flo, and some for you too.
 
InspectorMorse said:
If the accident involved enough force to cause such a big wound then it’s likely that there was also some trauma to Flo’s spine. That would mean she could still be very uncomfortable and causing her to eat less and her GI tract to have slowed down. The GA will have reduced gut motility too. Also, if she is now on abx, which I would have thought would be needed with a wound the size you describe that had started to go necrotic, then the abx can cause a reduced appetite.

Hopefully the treatment she has now received will lead to a full restoration of normal gut function and she will be able to return home soon :)
Click to expand...

Thanks jane. I will mention these extremely vital observations to the vet when they ring me this morning. I hadn't considered any internal complications like possible fractures and spinal injuries so that's an amazing assessment. I'll also ask about abx in relation to the necrosis issue. Thank you so much.
Craig x
 
Craig 1965 said:
Thanks jane. I will mention these extremely vital observations to the vet when they ring me this morning. I hadn't considered any internal complications like possible fractures and spinal injuries so that's an amazing assessment. I'll also ask about abx in relation to the necrosis issue. Thank you so much.
Craig x
Click to expand...

Abx must be prescribed mindfully so not as a prophylactic. But with a large wound that presented with established necrosis I think many Vets would consider it to be necessary to prescribe a broad spectrum abx. Especially given how prone Rabbits are to developing abscesses and how problematic abscesses can be.

I wasn’t thinking that there could be a significant spinal injury, but possibly some bruising. The discomfort from that would take a few days to settle.

The most recent update gives the impression that Flo is responding to treatment, I expect you will be able to bring her home today :)
 
Vet rang. Not the exotic specialist. Flo not pooped since yesterday afternoon and not eaten since we left her. I suggested they do another glucose test since they have a benchmark number of 12 from Saturday teatime. I'm a bit puzzled they've not considered doing that. Still on meds. Still getting critical care via syringe. Jan on her way to vets to try to encourage flo with a bag of treats and dried dandelion. Vetvstill feels she's brighter and going the right way. Will update once I've heard from Jan as she'll interrogate the staff there.
Craig x
 
If she will eat / take syringe feeds from you and the wound looks OK, I would think about bringing her home. She may do better in a familiar environment and where she can be more active. She can always go back if it's not working.
 
Shimmer said:
If she will eat / take syringe feeds from you and the wound looks OK, I would think about bringing her home. She may do better in a familiar environment and where she can be more active. She can always go back if it's not working.
Click to expand...

I agree with this but do what you feel is best. Hope Flo is feeling better soon.xx
 
Craig 1965 said:
Vet rang. Not the exotic specialist. Flo not pooped since yesterday afternoon and not eaten since we left her. I suggested they do another glucose test since they have a benchmark number of 12 from Saturday teatime.
Craig x
Click to expand...

I would not be happy with this. If there has been no output for 12+ hours then continuing to force feed could be doing more harm than good unless a full obstruction has been ruled out from diagnostics

Have they done an abdominal X-ray?

Are you 100% certain that she sustained the injury due to Bertie ?

Are they allowing Flo to hop about ? She might be holding on to poo if confined to a cage

I would ask Jan to take in a litter tray from home,preferably one that has some soiling from Bertie. This might encourage Flo to poo.
 
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