Please Note - Medical Advice
Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.
You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.
We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.
Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.
Thank you, j&b. Sophie does seem happy, but Casper is a bit withdrawn. He's not a active as usual, and just kind of sits there a lot of the day. Bigger poops would definitely be good! I just saw that Sophie needs a bum bath as she has a lot of poop stuck to her. I've been seeing her struggling a bit more with staying upright while cleaning herself, so I think her arthritis might be playing up, too. She hasn't wanted her Joint tablets all week, but that might be a coincidence...Gosh, you have so much on caring for your elderly bunnies. You're doing a fantastic job but I do wish it was easier for you. sending bigger poop vibes (I had this issue with Mouse for a good 2 years, great number, size way too small). Are they seeming happy? Great to hear Sophie is up to her old tricks of wanting breakfast on the sofa again
Thank you. I hope she'll want them again when she feels better.Aww thats a shame she won't take her JS tabs atm I'm sorry she has a poopy bum too but good she seems happy. Yes that is really sweet of your vets - so nice of them to discuss with the team for further ideas, I hope they come up with something. All paws crossed for your family
Thank you, too.Aww that's some lovely care from the vets!
Fingers crossed everyone's appetite increases soon x
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Aww, thank you for the vibes and hopes and very kind words.So sorry to hear that both buns are still having problems, really hope the vets may be able to come up with something. Sending many more vibes for them, and you to Reader, they are lucky bunnies having you care for them xx
Ooh, I hadn't thought of adding the joint tabs to her syringe feed! That's a great idea! They're really hard, so I don't know if I'll be able to grind or dissolve them, but I'll try! And thank you for the advice on the nose drops and for sending vibes.Perhaps grind or dissolve joint tab and add it to recovery food.
It can be hard to give nose drops to a bunny. My avatar,my late cx, needed drops in her nose. Do one nostril at a time and try to keep drops small. I used different ways of turning bunny upside down until I settled on holding on bed.
Sending vibes they improve
Oh, that's so good to know that they actually tend to tolerate the nose drops well! Thank you for explaining how to administer them, too. They actually are antibiotics, though. It says so on the box. It says it's gentamicin.I have had to use nose drops for Rabbits. Surprisingly they all tolerated it well. You do not have to put Rabbit on their back, in fact it’s best not to. Just elevate their head. As the drops hit the nostril they automatically inhale. It’s like a reflex response. You can use a nebuliser to administer the medication if using the drops directly into the nostrils is too stressful for the Rabbit.
What is the name of the nose drops ? Having to use them 6 times a day does not sound ideal and I doubt they are abx
Ooh, I hadn't thought of adding the joint tabs to her syringe feed! That's a great idea! They're really hard, so I don't know if I'll be able to grind or dissolve them, but I'll try! And thank you for the advice on the nose drops and for sending vibes.
Oh, that's so good to know that they actually tend to tolerate the nose drops well! Thank you for explaining how to administer them, too. They actually are antibiotics, though. It says so on the box. It says it's gentamicin.
Ah, I see. That's good to know. 6 times a day does seem like a lot, doesn't it? But both the box and the instructions from the vet say 6 times a day so it must be right!They are the ones I used, just not 6 times a day. They can also be used as eye drops and eye drops will have some effect on the nasal passages as long as the nasolacrimal ducts are not blocked. Nebulising gentamicin is an option too.
Yeah, I'm glad Sophie's getting better! Casper does get stressed out a lot by all the handling. He's an anxious bunny, and he's become so quiet and sad. Last time I gave them a bit of alfalfa, when Sophie needed to gain weight, Sophie got a lot of gut trouble and stasis, so I don't feel safe getting some of that, as it'd be difficult to make sure only Casper ate it... I did order some new hay, though, but it's the same order as the new bag of food, which is still delayed. :roll: They've had their current hay for a few weeks now, but they haven't been liking it as much as their previous box of hay, sadly, which was really nice and stalky. This one's very soft.Sounds great that Sophie is doing so much better!
It's possible it's all the handling, if he's very stressed by it and I'm sure it's hard for you as well.
Have you changed hay recently? Or tried him on a teeny bit of alfalfa?
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Thank you so much. I've given them a big tray of dried forage and they've been eating quite a bit of it, especially the plantain. Casper loves dried plantain!Gosh what a lot to be going on at once RoB! Sorry things have been so hard. I really hope Sophie and Casper improve asap.
Have you tried some herbal forage? When my buns have been unwell they've refused their normal food and treats, but things like dried dandelion and plantain have encouraged them to nibble.
Sending you all healing vibes xxx