Sarahbun
Mama Doe
Hello fellow RUers,
I'm asking for help as there are so many experienced rabbits carers on here that I'm hoping some of you may have come across something similar to what we're facing with our bun at the moment. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions, ideas or comments that you may have. Thanks in advance.
Before I go into the details I'll start by explaining that the rabbit in question is going to be referred to an exotics specialist for further exploration / diagnosis. My questions on here are to help me to do everything I can to ensure that I get the best care for him.
Rocky is a male, neutered rabbit, who is 2 and a half. He is a rescue rabbit and came to live with us (one of a bonded pair with his littermate and brother) when they were aged 9 months. Until February this year he has had no health problems (his brother has been fine throughout and continues to be so).
08 Feb 2017 both rabbits were vaccinated (VHD2). 10 days later Rocky suddenly stopped eating. We took him to the vets within a few hours and he was hospitalised for 2 days before being sent home with meds (metacam painkiller, zantac antacid and emeprid gut stimulant). He recovered well and as was going through a heavy moult at the time and there some fur in his poo, the vet thought that might be the cause. Mar 2017 both rabbits were vaccinated (myxo / combi vac).
At the start of July 2017 (5 months after the first episode) Rocky suddenly stopped eating, we went to the vets and as before he was hospitalised for a couple of days before coming home with meds.
1 week later (so mid July 2017) he stopped eating (but was pooping) and on vet advice I gave him painkiller (metacam) at home and within a few hours he'd started eating again and was bright and responsive, displaying usual rabbit behaviour - grooming, eating hay, napping, running, jumping and binkying. That evening I updated the vet and she advised that we needed to determine the root cause of the GI stasis. The following day Rocky was admitted to the vets and had a general anaesthetic. They checked his teeth and found a small spur on one back tooth which they filed down. They x-rayed his abdomen, skull, hips/ spine and could find nothing that might be causing a problem. He recovered well from the GA and came home the same day. The vet advised that although the tooth had been filed they were unconvinced this was the cause of the GI as the spur was so small and hadn't caused any damage to his mouth/cheek and because the stopping eating was sudden. They were unable to take a blood sample. The vet thought perhaps there's something underlying such as EC but then dismissed it because in between bouts he's a lively, apparently well rabbit (and the vet would expect a rabbit to be a bit more poorly).The vet advised that there were further diagnostic tests that could be done should it happen again and that they would be happy to make a referral to an exotics specialist to do this.
All was well until this Saturday (5th August). I went to feed him at 7am (as usual) but he wasn't interested in any food at all. He was subdued and sleepy. (The night before - the Friday night at 11pm - when I checked on him he was in his hay tray munching away). We took him to the vet at 9am Sat, they kept him overnight and yesterday discharged him with meds. He's now at home, is eating, drinking and pooping, is a little subdued/ sleepy (but always is when he has painkillers). Once he's well the vet is going to get him referred to an exotics specialist.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
It happens quite quickly, so he will be fine, lively bright and active and then a few hours later stops eating and becomes subdued. There's no apparent teeth grinding. When the vet has felt his tummy it's always soft and not bloated. His weight has remained constant (vet weighing him each time) his coat is in good condition, eyes clear and bright and no obvious signs of skin or ear flakes/infection etc.
His diet is hay, fresh mint, fresh lavender, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, dried herbs. No pellets, banana only to disguise meds (but not given at any other time). Willow sticks, willow log rolls, seagrass balls and water hyacinth chew mats. He is a house rabbit and lives in a room with his brother. The flooring is play mats with rugs on top and there are no signs of either being eaten. They have cardboard boxes to hide in and although nibbled I don't consider excessively so. They have plastic under the bed storage trays as litter trays (the trays are not chewed at all) and ceramic drinking bowls.
Thank you for reading this far!
Sarah x (and Rocky)
I'm asking for help as there are so many experienced rabbits carers on here that I'm hoping some of you may have come across something similar to what we're facing with our bun at the moment. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions, ideas or comments that you may have. Thanks in advance.
Before I go into the details I'll start by explaining that the rabbit in question is going to be referred to an exotics specialist for further exploration / diagnosis. My questions on here are to help me to do everything I can to ensure that I get the best care for him.
Rocky is a male, neutered rabbit, who is 2 and a half. He is a rescue rabbit and came to live with us (one of a bonded pair with his littermate and brother) when they were aged 9 months. Until February this year he has had no health problems (his brother has been fine throughout and continues to be so).
08 Feb 2017 both rabbits were vaccinated (VHD2). 10 days later Rocky suddenly stopped eating. We took him to the vets within a few hours and he was hospitalised for 2 days before being sent home with meds (metacam painkiller, zantac antacid and emeprid gut stimulant). He recovered well and as was going through a heavy moult at the time and there some fur in his poo, the vet thought that might be the cause. Mar 2017 both rabbits were vaccinated (myxo / combi vac).
At the start of July 2017 (5 months after the first episode) Rocky suddenly stopped eating, we went to the vets and as before he was hospitalised for a couple of days before coming home with meds.
1 week later (so mid July 2017) he stopped eating (but was pooping) and on vet advice I gave him painkiller (metacam) at home and within a few hours he'd started eating again and was bright and responsive, displaying usual rabbit behaviour - grooming, eating hay, napping, running, jumping and binkying. That evening I updated the vet and she advised that we needed to determine the root cause of the GI stasis. The following day Rocky was admitted to the vets and had a general anaesthetic. They checked his teeth and found a small spur on one back tooth which they filed down. They x-rayed his abdomen, skull, hips/ spine and could find nothing that might be causing a problem. He recovered well from the GA and came home the same day. The vet advised that although the tooth had been filed they were unconvinced this was the cause of the GI as the spur was so small and hadn't caused any damage to his mouth/cheek and because the stopping eating was sudden. They were unable to take a blood sample. The vet thought perhaps there's something underlying such as EC but then dismissed it because in between bouts he's a lively, apparently well rabbit (and the vet would expect a rabbit to be a bit more poorly).The vet advised that there were further diagnostic tests that could be done should it happen again and that they would be happy to make a referral to an exotics specialist to do this.
All was well until this Saturday (5th August). I went to feed him at 7am (as usual) but he wasn't interested in any food at all. He was subdued and sleepy. (The night before - the Friday night at 11pm - when I checked on him he was in his hay tray munching away). We took him to the vet at 9am Sat, they kept him overnight and yesterday discharged him with meds. He's now at home, is eating, drinking and pooping, is a little subdued/ sleepy (but always is when he has painkillers). Once he's well the vet is going to get him referred to an exotics specialist.
Has anyone else experienced anything similar?
It happens quite quickly, so he will be fine, lively bright and active and then a few hours later stops eating and becomes subdued. There's no apparent teeth grinding. When the vet has felt his tummy it's always soft and not bloated. His weight has remained constant (vet weighing him each time) his coat is in good condition, eyes clear and bright and no obvious signs of skin or ear flakes/infection etc.
His diet is hay, fresh mint, fresh lavender, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, dried herbs. No pellets, banana only to disguise meds (but not given at any other time). Willow sticks, willow log rolls, seagrass balls and water hyacinth chew mats. He is a house rabbit and lives in a room with his brother. The flooring is play mats with rugs on top and there are no signs of either being eaten. They have cardboard boxes to hide in and although nibbled I don't consider excessively so. They have plastic under the bed storage trays as litter trays (the trays are not chewed at all) and ceramic drinking bowls.
Thank you for reading this far!
Sarah x (and Rocky)
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