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Rabbit not eating post op - any suggestions?
- Thread starter dex179
- Start date
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
You are getting excellent advice from others.
Sending you and Dex lots of positive vibes.
Sending you and Dex lots of positive vibes.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
I hope that Dexter is doing better now, sending lots more get well vibes for him xx
dex179
Warren Scout
Thank you all.
Thanks for sending me those links JJ, will have a read through them shortly. They did stop the antibiotic injections and I think they're working on a new plan with him. I will have a read of the link you've sent and see if the vets are interested in them. The idea of the slow releasing meds in the abscess sounds like a good one, as the vet has to clean the area for pus every day. They'll tell me to do it for him at home but I'm extremely apprehensive doing that kind of stuff...
Got a call from the vets yesterday and they said he's doing a lot better. To continue with that progress we agreed to keep him in for another night...expecting a call from the vets later today. I think maybe one of the things I wasn't doing is giving him enough critical feed...I was averaging about 50ml a day. Will just have to do my best to up this, despite how stressful it is for Dex
Thanks for sending me those links JJ, will have a read through them shortly. They did stop the antibiotic injections and I think they're working on a new plan with him. I will have a read of the link you've sent and see if the vets are interested in them. The idea of the slow releasing meds in the abscess sounds like a good one, as the vet has to clean the area for pus every day. They'll tell me to do it for him at home but I'm extremely apprehensive doing that kind of stuff...
Got a call from the vets yesterday and they said he's doing a lot better. To continue with that progress we agreed to keep him in for another night...expecting a call from the vets later today. I think maybe one of the things I wasn't doing is giving him enough critical feed...I was averaging about 50ml a day. Will just have to do my best to up this, despite how stressful it is for Dex
dex179
Warren Scout
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Glad to hear that Mr D is doing better now. Hopefully he will be well enough to return home later today 
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
Good to hear of an improvement.
Just a note that those antibiotic beads are dangerous if used in a wound that is open, at risk of opening as they are toxic when ingested.
In made up feed my bunny is syringe fed about 50ml every few hours (once between midnight & 8-9am). I remember being told 100ml a day for my 2.5 kilo bunniess but that seems so little to me now. The feeding guidelines on the packet actually makes up a fair volume. I hope he takes to bigger feeds easily
Just a note that those antibiotic beads are dangerous if used in a wound that is open, at risk of opening as they are toxic when ingested.
In made up feed my bunny is syringe fed about 50ml every few hours (once between midnight & 8-9am). I remember being told 100ml a day for my 2.5 kilo bunniess but that seems so little to me now. The feeding guidelines on the packet actually makes up a fair volume. I hope he takes to bigger feeds easily
dex179
Warren Scout
50ml every few hours?? Wow how do you do that? Dexter struggles and runs away after only 2x1ml syringes, I have to grab him a good 3/4 times just to get to 10ml
Do you syringe feed without any help? How do you do it? I grab him in a towel and clamp his rear with my legs. But maybe this isn't the optimal way? I definitely need to give him more feed....
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Maybe these videos will help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iGZVYVm5Bg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfROVhKTMxI
dex179
Warren Scout
Absolutely no chance my Dexter is as calm as those rabbits! I do it very similar to the British lady but with a towel instead. If I didn't do it with a towel I'm not sure if he's stay still...but maybe I'll try it - however chance is success is very slim without a towel!
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
I'm lucky Rudey is pretty obliging, its not even traditional style syringe feeding.
https://imgur.com/62X2Lsg
He will often eat it of a spoon too (held over a ramekin of the stuff) but not directly from a bowl / saucer - its just less easy to gauge how much he gets by syringe as his partner tries to join in too :lol:
You may find bigger syringes easier - even Rudey gets distracted & attempts to flee during refills. Mines 60mls
jewaller
Alpha Buck
dear joey&boo,-dex179-is that video,with rudey.--yes you are fortunate to have such a beautiful,recipient.--when a rabbit refuses grasses,eating only soft foods,ie pellets,-it is a reason for concern.--an inspection of the mouth,organs is warranted[dental problems]-ie misaligned teeth,over grown teeth..when syringe feeding[critical care]-it should be slightly warmer than room temp/kinda runniny.-have the preparation close at hand and several appropriate 5cc syringes.--sometimes it helps to preload them-before and afterward weight in KG,s-is mandatory,and a running log of treatment.-wrap the bunz in a towel,with other clean rags on hand.-any syringe feeding must be rather slow,and not all at once-always aim for the inside cheek area,not down the throat,this is deadly.-rabbits might cough,but lack stomach muscles to throw up.-watch the poops as they will be a different color,larger poops are better than small ones.-- http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html sincerely james waller from my isolated cave,the other kent-usa
dex179
Warren Scout
That's...amazing. You are one lucky bunny parent! If only my dexter could do that even for a few ml I'd be happy still.
So Dexter is back home now. He's no longer on the tramadol, but the vets have given him a small dose of buprenorphine for the pain. He's on cispride now rather than the metoclopramide. He's starting to nibble a tiny bit which is a step in the right direction, think I'll still critical care feed him.
He's still on the depocillen but I'll have to clean his wound once a day with a drop of saline given as well. Not sure how I'm going to do that by myself but I guess I've got no choice!
Scrappy's Little Helper
Mama Doe
I've had good results when my bunnies have been given cisapride so hopefully it will also help Dexter.
Also, just in case the vet hasn't already forewarned you, buprenorphine is an opiate and can have a marked sedative effect on bunnies. So Dexter may seem a bit quieter or more flat than usual this evening.
I really hope he has a good night and starts to turn the corner soon.
Sent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk
Also, just in case the vet hasn't already forewarned you, buprenorphine is an opiate and can have a marked sedative effect on bunnies. So Dexter may seem a bit quieter or more flat than usual this evening.
I really hope he has a good night and starts to turn the corner soon.
Sent from my SM-T585 using Tapatalk
dex179
Warren Scout
That's good to hear about the cisapride. He was being given metoclopramide before but that wasn't really working so they've switched him to this
Yes I was told about it being a opiate. He is a little quiet but I need him to be active and hungry!
Unfortunately last night he only had about 5 mushy pellets and nibble on a tiny bit of greens but nothing else. Will have to keep syringing him
dex179
Warren Scout
Asking everyone for a bit of advice here.
So Dexter has an open wound under his chin due to the abscess. Pus keeps accumulating down there so I need to clean it with some flush solution and a cotton bud. However I am on my own without anyone to help
How would you recommend holding him to clean it? I'm concerned that my only alternative is to somehow get him on his back, which i don't want to do....
Thanks everyone
So Dexter has an open wound under his chin due to the abscess. Pus keeps accumulating down there so I need to clean it with some flush solution and a cotton bud. However I am on my own without anyone to help
How would you recommend holding him to clean it? I'm concerned that my only alternative is to somehow get him on his back, which i don't want to do....
Thanks everyone
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
If he is a wriggler or struggler it might be easiest to burrito him. Youtube has some good videos on how - search how to do a bunny burrito.
My vets always advocated manuka honey on wounds like this - after the flushes. Its grim but I reckon you'll manage fine once you get going
