Over Grooming Self

[nickybunny1]

I think Cody is grooming himself more than normal. Spending more timr than normal. Not in any specific area just all over. And I think he is sitting a bit more hunched sometimes but other times he is lying out relaxed or bunny loafed. I have read that over groomin can be a sign of pain but pain from where ?? Where would the vet start? Cody has glaucoma and his bad eye was watery a few months back but eye drops helped but put him badly off his food. This eye is watery again. I am booked in to see vet on Friday unfortunately the eye vet is not available as she had to fly home as her father is sick. I know I posted here before about his watery eye and know teeth could be possibly a cause but his symptoms r very subtle . He is eatting his food maybe not just as much enthusiasm for his pellets but still eats them all. I gave him metacam last night so not sure if that helped. How long do u let the symptoms continue until u think xray is needed ?? I really don't want an xray for him. He would sometimes do the odd tooth grind in his sleep but could that be pain or contentment . Overall he is still in pretty good form. Like I say just subtle wee things. Sorry for the ramble!

 

[Angie B]

Gosh, that's a long wait to see the vet, especially with a rabbit, how come you couldn't get in any sooner?

I don't know, to be honest, just didn't want to read and run as you've had no replies as yet - but I'm not being very helpful I'm afraid.

It's not really up to you to decide when to x-ray, that's a decision for your vet. x-rays will need the rabbit to be sedated I would have thought, whereas just an ultrasound can be done with them wriggling around (one of my rabbits had an ultrasound without being sedated, but not x-ray).

Tooth grinding could be pain or contentment, it is hard to tell when they're asleep I'm afraid.

The best bet is your vet, can you try and bring the appointment forward, to tomorrow?

 

[MightyMax]

I think Cody is grooming himself more than normal. Spending more timr than normal. Not in any specific area just all over. And I think he is sitting a bit more hunched sometimes but other times he is lying out relaxed or bunny loafed. I have read that over groomin can be a sign of pain but pain from where ?? Where would the vet start? Cody has glaucoma and his bad eye was watery a few months back but eye drops helped but put him badly off his food. This eye is watery again. I am booked in to see vet on Friday unfortunately the eye vet is not available as she had to fly home as her father is sick. I know I posted here before about his watery eye and know teeth could be possibly a cause but his symptoms r very subtle . He is eatting his food maybe not just as much enthusiasm for his pellets but still eats them all. I gave him metacam last night so not sure if that helped. How long do u let the symptoms continue until u think xray is needed ?? I really don't want an xray for him. He would sometimes do the odd tooth grind in his sleep but could that be pain or contentment . Overall he is still in pretty good form. Like I say just subtle wee things. Sorry for the ramble!

Sorry about this Nicky ...

So you've tried the Metacam, and not sure if that helped? If you give it for a few days (as you can't see the vet just yet) you could have that info to give to the vet. I agree, where would the vet start?

If we consider the issue of grooming to be connected with pain:

Do you think it may either be an issue with the eye or his teeth? An X-ray would presumably be just for his teeth? Would it show anything you don't already know? (has he had one for his teeth in the past?)

When would you expect the eye specialist to return? I only ask as if in a few days it looks more like eyes than teeth, then you would want to see her. Does she have a colleague you could arrange to see?

I have rambled too, but trying to get a clearer picture of the situation to try and help/advise. But don't feel I'm doing too well in helping you at the moment

 

[nickybunny1]

Hi Angie. My rabbit savy vet is 60 miles away so I can't just nip down unfortunately and Cody was out in the garden this evening nibbling away for a while too so in good form. My post maybe reads worse than he visable appears. I am waiting until Friday as I would just like a few more days to see if I am not imagining things. He will be going on Friday anyway for his 3 month check up as usual .Yes I know j always ask about the xray thing and my vet is excellent on advising me so I will just wait to see what she says. Just I am wonderin how vet could dtermine without xray the reason for his potential pain. Cody is in twice weekly injections for keeping his inner ear infection car bay so may be coming from that but hopefully not. Just he has a few wee issues and wondering how vet will determine where the problem is coming from.

 

[nickybunny1]

Hi Max . Just saw ur post after I posted. No Code has never had an xray before. There is only one eye vet in Northern Ireland that I am aware of and she has flown back to Switzerland and vets don't know when she will be back as her dad is sick. Unfortunately she has ni colleague. Unless I can wait til Thursday and see if they know if she will be back soon or not. Cody is in good enough form so I could hold out to even next week I think if I though eye vet would be there. I am also going to ask about more regular depocillian for his ear to try and CLEAR the pus or change antibiotic like u advised Max. Makes sense. Yes I know what u mean about the xray. It's just with a couple of issues he has I don't know which the vet can explore. Sorry sorta of a post that can't have an answer but ur reply was helpful as always . Oh I will give him some more metacam tonight to see if things improve and I will speak to vet on Thursday as she isn't in tomorrow

 

[MightyMax]

Hi Max . Just saw ur post after I posted. No Code has never had an xray before. There is only one eye vet in Northern Ireland that I am aware of and she has flown back to Switzerland and vets don't know when she will be back as her dad is sick. Unfortunately she has ni colleague. Unless I can wait til Thursday and see if they know if she will be back soon or not. Cody is in good enough form so I could hold out to even next week I think if I though eye vet would be there. I am also going to ask about more regular depocillian for his ear to try and CLEAR the pus or change antibiotic like u advised Max. Makes sense. Yes I know what u mean about the xray. It's just with a couple of issues he has I don't know which the vet can explore. Sorry sorta of a post that can't have an answer but ur reply was helpful as always . Oh I will give him some more metacam tonight to see if things improve and I will speak to vet on Thursday as she isn't in tomorrow

Yes, so difficult when their symptoms seem a bit 'nebulous'. It's such a long journey to your vet, you almost need to make sure there's a reason (if not a diagnosis) for going.

Well the X-ray may show up something with teeth and ear maybe? Perhaps a light sedation would mean you wouldn't be waiting around for too long. So I'm thinking maybe there is a point to the X-ray. I don't know about you, but I always find it helps (me at least) to go to a vet with a plan and then discuss it. We have a starting point, even if they chuck my ideas out during discussion

Just a thought, could you post here (or research if you've time) whether another injectable apart from Depocillin would appear to be indicated for ear infection. For example Chloramphenicol crosses the blood brain-barrier and can be helpful:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Neurology/Otit/otitis.htm

But as you've suggested, perhaps increasing the frequency of injections at least for a period, may help (every day for a time?)

I will keep my thinking hat on :wave:

 

[WillowAndBiscuit]

Personally if it were a heavy sedation I would probably wait until I knew for definite or had very strong suspicions that he needed an X-ray to save him the stress. BUT, if he were not eating or there were other symptoms that were making him poorly then I would think about it, especially if the symptoms hint towards a tooth problem.

What I'm trying to say is that if he seemed overall fine (eating, drinking, pooping, peeing normally, as well as behaving normally) then I wouldn't put him through the stress of it. If however he is displaying other unusual symptoms such as watery eyes (that isn't caused by his eye problem, though I'm assuming that would be difficult to tell) going off his food, showing symptoms of pain and dribbling and they are not disappearing then I would think about the X-ray as it could show a problem. It is mainly based on yours and your vets judgement really though, ie whether or not he is showing any strong signs that there may be a need for X-ray as you know Cody better than anyone else.

I hope that helps a little and that you understand what I meant. My brain doesn't work too well when it's early in the morning so some of it might not make much sense[emoji38]

 

[nickybunny1]

Thanks Max and Willow u have really helped . I think that I should maybe hold off on any xray until there is something very strongly suggesting he needs it . I guess from bad past experiences I am just being overly cautious and not wanting anything to be missed but I guess that can be a bad thing sometimes as ur right no point stressing the poor sausage unnecessarily. I know he has subtle symptoms and it's the risk benefit thing with the xray isn't it. Sorry I know I have been down this route before with this question . I will have to go down for defo next Thursday at latest anyway as I will have ran out of depocillian and it will have been 3 months since he was last there. All in all I do trust my vet so I will see what she says tomorrow but like u say Max it's good to have a plan. When I do take Code down I will take him early so if she does decide to sedate then I will have the option. I guess I don't want to miss anything but am afraid of risk to find out and then if anything happens to him and xray shows what we already know then I will never forgive myself. I know I am going round in circles guys !!! Thanks for listening and Max I will check out that link and look up other possible options

 

[MightyMax]

Thanks Max and Willow u have really helped . I think that I should maybe hold off on any xray until there is something very strongly suggesting he needs it . I guess from bad past experiences I am just being overly cautious and not wanting anything to be missed but I guess that can be a bad thing sometimes as ur right no point stressing the poor sausage unnecessarily. I know he has subtle symptoms and it's the risk benefit thing with the xray isn't it. Sorry I know I have been down this route before with this question . I will have to go down for defo next Thursday at latest anyway as I will have ran out of depocillian and it will have been 3 months since he was last there. All in all I do trust my vet so I will see what she says tomorrow but like u say Max it's good to have a plan. When I do take Code down I will take him early so if she does decide to sedate then I will have the option. I guess I don't want to miss anything but am afraid of risk to find out and then if anything happens to him and xray shows what we already know then I will never forgive myself. I know I am going round in circles guys !!! Thanks for listening and Max I will check out that link and look up other possible options

Part of this whole should I/shouldn't I equation has in the middle of it that rabbits are sensitive little creatures who rely on us 100%. Therefore our level of guilt and angst is major because we are their sole helpers (along with the vet, but they have only a snapshot usually, and often go by what we tell them).

I think sort out something that *you* feel happy with Nicky. And know that when you've decided that, unless something strongly indicates you should revise your plan, don't feel at all guilty whatever happens at the end of the day. You cannot control and know what's going on in every situation, and making a best decision is the greatest you can do for Code. We've all been in the situation of saying 'if only I had spotted this, or done that', and it's a painful place to be. I'm kind of saying .. no regrets

You are doing your maximum best. Code thinks your wonderful and so do I :wave:

 

[nickybunny1]

Aw Max thank u - that's such a nice thing to say and it means alot as I am sure u know by now all my mental turmoils !! Yes I will over the next few days decide how I will proceed and after I speak to the vet tomorrow as well. Thanks again x

 

[Tamsin]

Have you had a look at his skin? Sometimes when a bunny is a bit under the weather with one problem it can trigger mites, which leads to more licking/scratching so it could be something as simple as that

The weather is also a bit changeable at the moment, which can effect sleeping positions - stretching out when the it warm and the suns out, or tucking up when it's cooler.

Just a thought

 

[nickybunny1]

I will have a wee look this evening Tamsin in day light as I looked last night but the light was not good. Many Thanks