Both rabbits not well

Babsie said:

Just wondering whether your vet is rabbit-savvy?
Like the others, I would not agree to pts without a definite diagnosis.

Click to expand...

Thank everyone for your support - it really means a lot.

The vet we see is a rabbit specialist and is on the harcourt-brown recommend list...I don’t know if she is just thinking of him long term with his age and dental history all taken into consideration.

I’ve just dug our the invoice from yesterday and it’s a jab of Baytril that he’s had.

He’s actually been quite a bit brighter since we got back from the vets yesterday (although he clearly isn’t himself), but he’s now got a much better appetite and I’m not having to syringe feed as I feel like he’s eating enough (I have a webcam which records so can see what he’s been up to overnight). It can’t be anything to do with the antibiotics either as they surely can’t have kicked in so quickly?

katie2000 said:

Thank everyone for your support - it really means a lot.

The vet we see is a rabbit specialist and is on the harcourt-brown recommend list...I don’t know if she is just thinking of him long term with his age and dental history all taken into consideration.

I’ve just dug our the invoice from yesterday and it’s a jab of Baytril that he’s had.

He’s actually been quite a bit brighter since we got back from the vets yesterday (although he clearly isn’t himself), but he’s now got a much better appetite and I’m not having to syringe feed as I feel like he’s eating enough (I have a webcam which records so can see what he’s been up to overnight). It can’t be anything to do with the antibiotics either as they surely can’t have kicked in so quickly?

Click to expand...

No and personally I would want to continue with Baytril for at least 10 days x

I'm heartened to hear he is putting up a good fight. I hope his appetite goes from strength to strength

Is Baytril suitable for both upper and lower RTI’s?

katie2000 said:

Is Baytril suitable for both upper and lower RTI’s?

Click to expand...

It can be, but IME it is better to use an injectable Penicillin, eg Depocillin, for LRTIs. Injectable Penicillin is not licensed for Rabbits but it can be used via the Veterinary prescribing cascade and it can be very effective

http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Penicillin.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Antibiotics/Safe_antibiotics.htm

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-cascade-prescribing-unauthorised-medicines

A one off injection of Baytril is unlikely to be of any benefit at all.

Topping up my vibes. xx

Thanks everyone

I am going to call the vets this morning to see what our options are for next steps.

He seems a little off again this morning, but last night he appeared to be feeling so much better - charging around and eating hay....it’s really strange. Keeping him topped up with metacam which I guess is helping.

I hope you get some help from the vets this morning, good luck, and loads more vibes for your bunnies xx

So I've spoken to the vet and she doesn't believe that 1 dose of antibiotics could've had a) such a quick effect, and b) lasted until today.

She has recommended keeping a close eye on him, and continuing with the painkillers.

She mentioned the possibility of doing another chest x-ray if he continues to get stronger, and I said we would take each day as it comes.

It's so hard trying to find out what is actually wrong with them

To me it sounds as though there is possibly an issue with his heart/kidneys. Has the Vet discussed this and suggested doing an ultrasound of his heart, an ECG and blood tests ?

Topping up the vibes, sounds like they are little fighters

Jack's-Jane said:

To me it sounds as though there is possibly an issue with his heart/kidneys. Has the Vet discussed this and suggested doing an ultrasound of his heart, an ECG and blood tests ?

Click to expand...

I know his blood test included kidney function last week which came back as ok. No mention of heart ultrasound or either ECG at the moment, however, she wants to see him back in a couple of days time. Really stressful!!!!!

One other thing that I didn't mention about his x-ray last week was that she gave him fluids approx. 1 hour before the x-ray which *may* have shown up on the x-ray, but she felt that 1 hour was enough for the fluids to clear.