Bunny struggling to recover after bloat

[Jesselle]

Hey all, I've not been here since my Neville passed. I didn't have rabbits for 5 years or so after that. Anyway, will intro Howie properly soon, but in a nutshell he came to us on Nov '24 from a rescue who were willing for him to be a solo house bunny with lots of company (for now) as he'd failed to bond a number of times and was senior (5 or 6).

He's been in great health until this last week.

26 June - Apart from the week of heat, he'd had his dinner and was normal and I went to bed at 11:30pm.

27-29 June - Woke early at 6am and he was obviously in great pain and discomfort. Emergency vet said he felt bloated and admitted him. X-ray showed he was, and they decompressed him and he was intensively cared for.

29 June - He was eating independently and off the stronger pain relief. Sent home in the evening with gut motility drugs.

This is where it got tough - we didn't see a great amount of eating, only really wanted greens, grass, forage and some pellets. Nibbled a tiny bit of hay here and there. This didn't improve and he looked uncomfortable again and started grinding his teeth.

1-3 July - we weren't happy and he was readmitted for pain management and syringe feed. No bloat, but showing discomfort around his abdomen. They think because bloat caused by hairballs sometimes bruise the bowel. He began to pick up again as an inpatient, eating hay and pooping. Bright.

3 July - sent home with metacam and paracetamol. He was ok at first, a bit quiet due to the trauma of hospital, but pooping and interested in greens etc. a bit of hay but not lots.

4 July - poops back to soft, probably due to only wanting greens and pellets. Bought some softer hay to see if that be increase his intake. He's had a nibble. He looks uncomfortable again, some teeth grinding.

I'm at a loss - we're calling vet later to see if we should start syringe feed to keep his gut going. He seems to deteriorate when he gets discharged he can't be an inpatient on strong pain relief forever. I just don't know what to do.

If anyone has experienced a rabbit recovering from bloat, how did it go?

Photo to put a face to the name.

 

[Orenoko]

Such a cutie! Is he still on any pain relief or has it tapered off? My bun has recently had severe stasis, hospitalised just like Howie. He's also an older boy. My boy needed a good week of gut motility and high level painkillers, then we slowly tapered them all off. He's on a maintenance dose of paracetamol now and is doing much much better. I also used a tiny bit of alfalfa to encourage him to eat hay initially. Hope you can get to the bottom of what's going on for Howie.

 

[Shimmer]

I've always had to syringe feed and keep up with the gut meds and pain relief for at least a couple of weeks, gradually tapering off the syringe feeds when they start eating normally, then taper the meds. Stopping too soon has always been an issue - I've found it is better to just keep going until everything is functioning perfectly normally for several days, rather than risk a relapse and a tougher time coming back from it a second time. That's always assuming the vet has ruled out anything else that needs sorting out, and there's no blockage.

If the appetite and normal eating patterns take more than a couple of weeks, there's a risk of dental issues as well - the teeth keep growing and are not being worn down as they usually would. That in turn stops them eating properly and causes pain, stasis, etc.

 

[Jesselle]

Thanks both.

He was on domperidone (?) for 5 days. He's now on metacam and paracetamol for 7 days. Our vet seems keen that as long as they're in taking and outputting, to keep going with that and to only syringe feed as a last resort.

Not sure what to think when as you say, you've been continuing it for a longer period.

 

[Omi]

I think with gut problems it's fair to say that not every case will develop in the same way. However, in my experience it is always better to err on the side of continuing all meds and possibly syringe-feedding for several days and only starting to taper off, when the rabbit is eating completely normally again.

I would ask the vet if you could continue at home with the meds and syringe-feeding that he was having whilst in hospital. The only issue with continuing syringe-feeding too long is that sometimes the rabbit will be too full up with that and then not eat normal foods.

Howie now seems to be eating selectively, which suggests that some foods, eg hay, are causing more discomfort. I presume that his teeth have been examined properly?

 

[Jesselle]

I think with gut problems it's fair to say that not every case will develop in the same way. However, in my experience it is always better to err on the side of continuing all meds and possibly syringe-feedding for several days and only starting to taper off, when the rabbit is eating completely normally again.

I would ask the vet if you could continue at home with the meds and syringe-feeding that he was having whilst in hospital. The only issue with continuing syringe-feeding too long is that sometimes the rabbit will be too full up with that and then not eat normal foods.

Howie now seems to be eating selectively, which suggests that some foods, eg hay, are causing more discomfort. I presume that his teeth have been examined properly?

When he went under it was an emergency and so I don't think they took the chance to look. He's had the usual visual look, but obv being knocked out is only real way to see. If he continues being selective, I'll ask for more investigation. He wasn't showing any sign of dental pain before this happened.

He's responded well to the meadow hay we bought and had a nibble. He also did some more normal looking poos. It seems as if he possibly feels pain before going - which is in line with the vet thinking the cause of his pain is bruising to bowel after the bloat.

We'll see. We called again and asked about syringe feed and they said if he stops eating fully. I suppose they saw him wean off and eat their hay etc, and want him to continue on this trajectory.

 

[bunny momma]

I agree with what others said yet wanted to send the very cute Howie lots of positive vibes for his continued recovery.

 

[Jesselle]

Little update - I hardly dare say it, but he's much more himself over the last 24 hrs and is just this minute eating his normal, thicker long strand hay.

He took to the softer hay, but pre-bloat, he absolutely loved his hay hutch meadow hay and would get excited for it.

Fingers crossed this is a turning point, but fully aware it could go backward.

 

[Omi]

I'm pleased to see this update. Well done little man. I hope he now continues to improve.

 

[bunny momma]

Lovely update! Well done!

 

[SarahP]

Hope all is still going well. I missed this earlier. That is the cutest photo!

One thing that I think makes the biggest difference to keeping bunnies guts going is water. I always found that syringing water (preferably slightly warm) was far more useful than syringing food, as it often prompted some poos to come out, and some eating (not that I'm saying never syringe food, obviously!) Also peppermint tea, which was great as a preventative, and also helped alongside the meds.

 

[Jesselle]

I'm absolutely gutted to update that on our overnight check (still not happy to leave him overnight) he looked in pain again. He's been admitted - the vet said a little gas but not enough to rush to X-ray and de-bloating him again. So they'll do the usual stronger pain relief and supportive care.

He was doing so well last night, seemed back to himself and we were so hopeful this was it.

I feel we're running out of options (and money) trying not to catastrophise, but it's really tough. I love that little guy, we all do

 

[bunny momma]

I am sorry to read that he had a little decline after improving. Stasis can be a bit of a roller coaster with ups and downs.
While we all want the best for our pets, finances can be a factor with extended hospitalization. Depending on the care that is required, your vet may be able to show you how to care for your beloved pet at home.

Sending you lots of vibes and hugs.

 

[Orenoko]

Really sorry to hear this and sending you lots of vibes for little Howie.

 

[Omi]

I'm sorry that Howie is back at the vets.

Like bunny momma said, I would discuss with them the possibility of treating him at home if you are happy about doing the medicating.

 

[SarahP]

Yes, that was an absolute game-changer for me, when my vet let me have meds at home that I could have ready and try first, before having to call it an emergency. It only works if you are watching closely and not leaving the bunny for a long time, but if you are able to keep a close eye and know their warning signs and what's not normal for them, you can act really fast and deal with things yourself.

 

[Jesselle]

Thanks everyone.

He was examined as slightly gassy with a painful abdomen.

I think the issue here is that because it was bloat and not just stasis - the next step would be exploratory surgery. There could be a slow moving mass, or there could be something else wrong. I've said from the start I wouldn't put him through surgery, as Howie is older and now weaker. Our options are limited now and pts is on the table

The specialist vet is sadly not in until tomorrow. So deciding whether to keep him going as an in patient until then. Or whether it's kinder to let him go

 

[Orenoko]

I'm so sorry you're in this position, I've just had to make the same decision so I empathise so so much. I hope Howie continues to improve for you.

 

[Jesselle]

I'm so sorry you're in this position, I've just had to make the same decision so I empathise so so much. I hope Howie continues to improve for you.

Thank you for your post. I read your thread and thank you for sharing; it's given me some strength.

We're visiting him tonight and will wait and see what the vet has to say tomorrow. I don't think it'll change much, but I don't want a 'what if'.

I can't tell you how sad I am to be here. I've sobbed all day (work from home). We adopted him in Nov 2024 and it's like he's always been here!

This was the night before he got unwell, we were enjoying the breeze and he groomed me all over! He's such an affectionate, strong willed, cheeky little character. I'll hold onto the tiny chance that there's a way to medically manage him. Just in case.

 

[bunny momma]

He is very cute and looked happy and healthy before this happened.
Sending vibes you and your vet can find a way to manage his bloat.