MightyMax
Banned
Hi, Apologise in advance on the timing!! But, I hoped I could get some advice, please! By the way, best wishes and hope you are having a great holiday.
Fluffles is really old now, estimated to be around 13 now! So, now not sure so let's say she is between 11-13! (more sensible). No sign of those horrid abscesses, thankfully.
Because of her terrible teeth, she had a dental in March 2018, I was shocked when the price went up 100%! Queried the hike-up with the vet. He said my last dental was 3 yrs earlier... But, later realised that still equates to a 33.3% yearly hike-up. Is that normal? I've never heard of one that high (yearly). Anyway, she started having difficulty chewing only 8 mths after dental. I thought i'ts way too soon for another dental, so made adaptions to feed, cut everything very finely. She eats her food with gusto and although she hardly moves around much and sleeps a lot, when it's her feed time it's like she's been jolted awake.
Her poops were getting quite small and strange shopes. Read this happens to old bunnies. So changed her hay and gave her meadow cookies and high fibre, also long fibre food of 32%. Phoned my vet. Filled in a bit, asked for Zantac to stimulate her gut again.
I was sent 'Ratidine Oral soft' -- know that's a generic of Zantac.
Zero change. Been 3 weeks, poops still the same but at least consistent and poops normal amount just poops very small, and odd shapes - giving her extra water as well, because they have sharp edges and wrinkly.
Did I ask for the right drug? I see (read) that another drug stimulates the gut?
Left a message for vet. to phone me back, ready to go to war with him, or he could have done nothing wrong and I look like a fool. Nonetheless, he knew Fluffles was ancient and would likely not survive another dental. Now, she might need another this. month (Jan. 2019), I really don't know if she'll make it.
She is very thin but like I said, eating everything. I only realised how thin she was when I picked her up to put on my bed (she can't jump up anymore). Very loveable, and eats her hay (meadow cookie) on bed.
So, how effective is rantidine?
Hi there :wave:
You know I was thinking about you the other day, and I actually looked up to see whether you'd posted an update.
And here you are
Yes there are other drugs that stimulate the gut, emeprid being one (metaclopromide). Metoclopromide acts on the upper GI tract, increasing the rate at which the stomach empties into the small intestines. Zantac protects the stomach and also has a milder prokinetic effect on the lower GI tract. It also reduces the stomach acidity, which can help lower the risks of a gastric ulcer. Another drug to work on the lower GI tract is cisapride.
Regards the dental - it's really difficult to say what should be the interval between dentals. I have known rabbits getting to the stage of needing a dental every two weeks!