Leo - not sure what’s wrong. U/D 8pm

[Craig 1965]

First post about Leo. We’ve had him a year exactly and he’s been right as rain. But the last couple of days I’m just getting a gut feeling which I hope I’m wrong. Thing is, I don’t exactly know what’s wrong so I’m putting this out here for everybun with far greater knowledge than me.
Main issue. Leo seems to be straying off his food. I noticed it yesterday. Normally he likes to tuck in and he’ll scoff his nuggets no bother - breakfast and tea time. He likes his greens and parsley - loves parsley. And he goes mad for parsley bakes. But the last day or so he’s not as interested as I would expect. He’ll eat the softer dried cranberries but not showing huge interest in other foods.
That’s the main issue.
Causes? Well, obviously we got flo a week ago and I wonder if that’s unsettled him? He’s been moved to the living room but I duplicated his set up so it was all familiar to him. He seems bright enough - not that lethargic. He’ll come for strokes and will sit happily grinding away with what I thought is contentment.
But he’s also been a bit on the grumpy side. He’ll turn away and be a tad out of chatacter. He vocalises a bit and he’s done the odd impatient nip if your leg or arm is in his way.
He went outside for a bit yesterday and has had a run round flo’s area today when she was outside.
He’s moulting but I’m brushing him regularly. His poops are a bit on the small side but he’s pooping and weeing.
As he’s a lion head I am wondering if he might have some spurs. He’s 6 years old and I think he had some spurs history before we adopted him.
I am going to take him to the vet tonight at about 6pm but obviously with covid protocol he’ll just be taken for consultation without me.
So I’m looking for your thoughts please on what you all think this could be. There’s nothing obvious externally.
I’m ruling out being unsettled from flo as he was eating ok up until yesterday.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Craig. X

 

[a reader of books]

Oh, poor Leo. Since he'll eat the softer dried cranberries but not isn't as interested in the rest my first thought would be a dental issue. That could explain the small poops as well, since he's not eating as much. But many bunnies also get tummy troubles when they're moulting, so it might be that, too, or maybe a combination of those. It's good that you're taking him to the vet. I hope they can figure out what's bothering him and help him get his appetite back. Sending Leo lots of vibes.

 

[mikek]

i agree with arob. also think you're doing the exact right thing getting him checked over at the vets. so good you have caught this early - or it may turn out to be nothing.
my best wishes to you and Leo xxx

 

[Omi]

Sounds as though teeth could be a possibility. Does he eat any hay?

I'm not sure whether the cold temperatures would produce the type of symptoms you're experiencing with him, but I would really be nervous about taking either of your rabbits outside when it's so cold, when they usually live indoors. Have a read through keletkezes' recent thread about Chibbs.

I hope that the vet can establish what the problem is. Sending lots of vibes for Leo.

 

[Craig 1965]

If it’s nothing then that’s a good result. I’d rather it was nothing but that he gets seen by a vet who can give him a proper check over. Thank you for your input. I do think dental is a possible.
He rarely eats hay so that’s a downside. He’s never been a hay eater Omi.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Sounds as though teeth could be a possibility. Does he eat any hay?

I'm not sure whether the cold temperatures would produce the type of symptoms you're experiencing with him, but I would really be nervous about taking either of your rabbits outside when it's so cold, when they usually live indoors. Have a read through keletkezes' recent thread about Chibbs.

I hope that the vet can establish what the problem is. Sending lots of vibes for Leo.

I agree re House Rabbits going out in sub zero temps

I also agree re the possibility of dental problems.

I would want him Vet checked ASAP

 

[Craig 1965]

Thanks Jane. I was hoping to have your expert opinion. I always feel more assured when you give a prognosis because your knowledge is extraordinary.
Just to update - wife says he’s now stuffing his face with pellets. That said, there’s too many other little changes that to me just mean something not quite right so he will see the vet today.
Thank you for your guidance and help.

 

[Zoobec]

I agree re House Rabbits going out in sub zero temps

I also agree re the possibility of dental problems.

I would want him Vet checked ASAP

I agree with this.

If he doesn’t eat hay I would think it’s highly likely to be dental. Hope the vet can help. I’d get samples of different hays and see if you can find some he likes.

 

[keletkezes]

My first thought with Chibbs was dental, although she wouldn't have soft food only crunchy food (but we all know they're all different in their presentations, don't we :roll, but she was interested in eating, just decided not to :roll: I've been very lucky with bad-teeth bunnies who tolerate their spurs well and eat hay like it's going out of fashion. So, my first thought with Leo (same age as Chibbs) would be teeth. But it might also be a cold reaction.

 

[AnjaSanja]

If he is taking in withouth you-weird with covid around it is weird. Write everything down. Plus ask for anesthetic and X-rays as well. I bet there is something with teeth but good through exam can not be dona withouth sedation.

Best of luck!

 

[CarelessSquid07]

Yeah does sound like teeth.

If not it could be Flo arriving and he can smell her and is a bit jealous or it could be that he's feeling lonely?

Two or three weeks is when we started to see Rodney really start to slump after loosing Primrose.

Luckily we had Blossom arriving and that seemed to help but she was ready to bond as neutered ages before so they went straight to side by side living and had their meals together on each side of the barrier which really seemed to encourage scoffing.



Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk

 

[Rhianna]

Sending lots of vibes for Leo to be OK. He may be a bit confused with losing Lillian and then moving his base and another bunny coming into the house who he hasn't been able to 'suss out' yet. I remember you said he used to love going out in the garden with Lillian so maybe being out there on his own unsettled him. I, too, wondered about the differences in temperature with indoor and outdoor bunnies now it is so incredibly cold. Flo was clearly having an awesome time outside and the huge amount of open space probably reassured her that she was not going to be caged so it must be a difficult one to judge. I know my outdoor buns have grown very thick winter coats this year. Not sure if a bun that is mostly indoors will have been able to do that.

It could also well be a dental issue. Hopefully the vet will be able to check teeth without needing to sedate Leo. I once had a dental bun and it was in the 'good old days' when I used to see the same vet all the time. She used to put a finger in his mouth and check the teeth right at the back so she could feel if he needed another dental as she knew exactly where the spurs grew. She said it was a rare bun she felt safe enough to do that with. Completely off topic but I have had some lovely vets who have left *sigh*

Good luck for your vet visit later xxx

 

[Craig 1965]

My word - a vet that used to put her finger in a rabbits mouth to check the teeth. I think I’d take my chances dipping a cut finger in a tank of piranha. Ive only been bitten once by a bunny - our bridge bun Sam who sadly left us some years ago. He had real issues on food bless him and my hand got in the way once and he bit deep and hard. But they’re never vicious. I just had my hand in the wrong place and he reacted.
Thank you everybun for your help and I’ll update tonight following the vet consultation.

 

[Rhianna]

My word - a vet that used to put her finger in a rabbits mouth to check the teeth. I think I’d take my chances dipping a cut finger in a tank of piranha. Ive only been bitten once by a bunny - our bridge bun Sam who sadly left us some years ago. He had real issues on food bless him and my hand got in the way once and he bit deep and hard. But they’re never vicious. I just had my hand in the wrong place and he reacted.
Thank you everybun for your help and I’ll update tonight following the vet consultation.

She was an awesome vet - called Sian. I remember when I first saw her I asked if she was old enough to be a vet as she looked about 16!! She took it as a compliment fortunately. I gave her a vase I had glass painted when she left. She was brilliant with all my small furries and so kind and caring when I had to have one of them put to sleep. Seeing the same vet all the time meant that she really got to know the bun and he got to know her and trust her and it made life so much easier. I wouldn't have put my finger in his mouth to feel the tooth but she knew just what she was feeling for. Now I seem to see a different vet every time I go as they work at all surgeries within the group.

Are you able to see the same vet each time with Leo?

 

[Craig 1965]

We have 2 vets that we predominantly see. There’s the exotic specialist who is really good but works part time and mostly daytime, and then there is the other vet who we’ve seen regularly with Lillian and she was so so lovely with Lillian. She sent us a personal card when Lillian sadly passed. She’s a really good vet but she’s just gone on mat leave as of Wednesday so she won’t be back for a year. All the vets at our vet practice are good but I do prefer continuity and it just helps when a vet learns both the bunny and the hooman.

 

[Pets mum]

Good luck at the vets with Leo, sorry to hear he is having issues, but you are right to go with your gut feeling and get him checked over.

 

[tulsi]

Best of luck at the vets. You caught it nice and early which will hopefully help.

 

[Craig 1965]

Just got back from vet. Bit later than we hoped - they were running late.
Lesson number 1 - I’ve said it to many other posts - ALWAYS trust your gut. We live and know our bunnies and any slight shift in behaviour no matter how small, is a sign.
I explained everything to the vet - and they took Leo for examination. 10 minutes later - and everyone who said “dental” - have a sweetie. You were bang on. In fact they are pretty doozies too. She said he has some very sore areas at the back of his mouth and that he’ll need a bit of dental surgery. Obviously not an option at 7pm on a Friday but he’s booked in for 9am Tuesday. This was the earliest they could fit him in. They gave Leo a pain relief med and we’ve got metacam to give over weekend. But the minute we got him home, he belted out of his carrier and stuck his head straight into the pellets and greens. Nomming away now like a good un.
Obviously I’d prefer the dental to be done sooner but that’s not possible but the pain management will help. He’s a different rabbit in the space of an hour. He’s insured but they have excluded dental treatment as he has had spurs before we got him - and he’s a lion head.
I’m pleased so pleased that I went with my gut and I knew something wasn’t right with Leo. But I’m sad that he has to have some minor dental work. But he’ll be put right and will be back to his normal self by midweek.
Thank you for all your advice and guidance.
Craig.xx

 

[CarelessSquid07]

Oh bless him!

Hopefully the metacam will keep him going nicely until Tuesday.

Sending nomming vibes!

Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk

 

[Rhianna]

It's good that you now know what the problem is. A shame they couldn't fit him in any sooner but hopefully the Metacam will keep his pain under control so he can continue to nom over the weekend.