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I'm sorry for starting another thread on this when I've made one before and when I'm already talking about it in the thread about Casper and Sophie's yearly check-up. Still, Sophie's having such a bad morning, I'd really appreciate some advice if anyone knows anything. She has had periods where she overgrooms herself on and off for years, but lately it has been worse, and we're trying to find out now if it's caused by pain (possibly arthritis) by giving her metacam for a few days and seeing if it helps. And it has helped a lot this week; she overgroomed a lot less. But today she's worse than I've ever seen her. She can barely settle down for a nap because she keeps getting up again to lick herself.
I've posted this video in the other thread, but I'll post it here, too: https://photos.app.goo.gl/egKyswnYGvxGG53R8 See, she just can't seem to stop.
I don't know what this means, whether the metacam is helping or not, since she did do a lot better the first few days, but is now worse than ever. And like I said, she's been doing this for years, and I don't know what would have been causing her pain on and off all these years, as she's always been a very healthy bunny.
My best friend mentioned this morning that OCD in cats and dogs can express itself as overgrooming, but I can't find much about OCD in rabbits, though I don't know of any reason why they wouldn't be able to have it. Does anyone know anything about it? I've dealt with compulsions myself in the past (not anymore now that I'm on medication) and her overgrooming has always seemed very compulsive to me, like she can't help herself and just has to do it, even when it's in the middle of a meal or chasing her food ball or running across the room. In that case, would there be anti-anxiety meds for rabbits? Is that even a thing? I know they exist for dogs.
I'll discuss it all with the vet on Monday, but if anyone has any ideas about how I can help her, I'd appreciate it very much.
Edit: She does have a very sensitive kidney area, but we don't know why yet, or if that has anything to do with it. She's had an ultrasound and blood tests, but they were fine. There's also nothing wrong with her skin, and she doesn't have parasites or anything. The vet also thinks it can't be itchiness because that would likely be all over her body, while she only overgrooms that one spot under her chin.
I've posted this video in the other thread, but I'll post it here, too: https://photos.app.goo.gl/egKyswnYGvxGG53R8 See, she just can't seem to stop.
I don't know what this means, whether the metacam is helping or not, since she did do a lot better the first few days, but is now worse than ever. And like I said, she's been doing this for years, and I don't know what would have been causing her pain on and off all these years, as she's always been a very healthy bunny.
My best friend mentioned this morning that OCD in cats and dogs can express itself as overgrooming, but I can't find much about OCD in rabbits, though I don't know of any reason why they wouldn't be able to have it. Does anyone know anything about it? I've dealt with compulsions myself in the past (not anymore now that I'm on medication) and her overgrooming has always seemed very compulsive to me, like she can't help herself and just has to do it, even when it's in the middle of a meal or chasing her food ball or running across the room. In that case, would there be anti-anxiety meds for rabbits? Is that even a thing? I know they exist for dogs.
I'll discuss it all with the vet on Monday, but if anyone has any ideas about how I can help her, I'd appreciate it very much.
Edit: She does have a very sensitive kidney area, but we don't know why yet, or if that has anything to do with it. She's had an ultrasound and blood tests, but they were fine. There's also nothing wrong with her skin, and she doesn't have parasites or anything. The vet also thinks it can't be itchiness because that would likely be all over her body, while she only overgrooms that one spot under her chin.
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