Froddo has a severe otitis - need advice

[Froddotherabbit]

Today was the last day for the meds both meloxicam and prokinetic. He was supposed to be better. Tomorrow im gonna call vet and discuss what options we have.

Frodo did some binkies and ate some snacks, but overall he is very quiet. Not moving much or have interest for food.

Could it be the otitis again? Vet checked both ears and they were clean. And is a savvy vet. The best we have here in Greece.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Today was the last day for the meds both meloxicam and prokinetic. He was supposed to be better. Tomorrow im gonna call vet and discuss what options we have.

Frodo did some binkies and ate some snacks, but overall he is very quiet. Not moving much or have interest for food.

Could it be the otitis again? Vet checked both ears and they were clean. And is a savvy vet. The best we have here in Greece.

It’s impossible to say if otitis is the primary problem again. Otitis media cannot always be detected without diagnostic imaging. It is sadly not uncommon for infection to recur after ear surgery. The procedure has no guarantee of being curative. A full blood profile could be useful to check his major organ function and infection markers.

There are other possible causes of his current poor appetite and lethargy. Cardiac issues for example. Or pain from tooth root problems. Pain that is not being controlled by just Meloxicam.

I would discuss everything with the Vet again. I know it can be so stressful when we have a Rabbit who is clearly not 100% well but we can’t find out what is wrong.

Good luck x

 

[Froddotherabbit]

I hand fed him on morning and dropped him at the vet for hospitalisation as vet suggested.
They are going to check on him again and when i have news I'll update.

 

[Pets mum]

Sending lots of vibes for Frodo xx

 

[Omi]

Sending lots of vibes for Frodo from me too.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

*Update*
Yesterday night they told me he ate oxbow pellets (home he wasn't eating them), he had many poops but he didn't eat any hay. He is on meloxicam and they told me that he seems to be in no pain.
They still can't figure out what is the problem and he has poor appetite. Xray on his body didn't show something wrong. They told me that they may go on with blood and urine examination in case there.is something organic.
I asked again about teeth and ear and insists that this is not the problem.
Im so worried. What is going on?

 

[bunny momma]

Sending more positive vibes they can discover the cause of his issue and formulate a treatment plan.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I think a full blood profile would be essential at this stage to look at his major organ function, especially liver and kidney function.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

You thinking it could be something irreversible or there is a treatments for these issues?

 

[InspectorMorse]

You thinking it could be something irreversible or there is a treatments for these issues?

It would depend on if there is any problem with either the liver or kidney function and if there is what the cause of the problem is. Obtaining some more information from a full blood profile would be useful. It is what I would want to be done anyway x

 

[Froddotherabbit]

*Updated*
They did full blood examination. He is healthy and there is not any problem.
Ears are very clear, no pus, no wax, nothing. They insist that with the operation they did a few months back, they can see even the ear drum clear.
About the teeth, a few days back they did a trim, they checked every teeth. There is no signs of an infection on a tooth root. They told me that if there was even a small infection/pus on a tooth root when they push it, there would be a discharge come out or something.
The last thing they want to check is to do an urinalysis, just in case there is a kidney problem.
As long as the food consumption.
Frodo on vet, eat his pellets(oxbow) no hay at all. Vet also told me that he doesn't looks like an ill animal. When they let him out of cage he roams around. They asked me if he is general quite animal. I told them that he is not. He is quite energetic as a rabbit and only the last days he wa lethargic and consuming less food.
Im confused. If there is no problem anywhere why he is not eating hay all of the sudden and consuming less food? When he was home he seemed not himself at all.
Tommorow ill get him home, with meloxicam and prokinetic drugs.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Have they done a chest X-ray at any stage to look for any signs of an enlarged heart ?

I can’t remember if he’s had a skull X-ray. Elongated tooth roots can only been diagnosed from X-rays. It is possible to have ETR with no infection. No infection= no pus to drain out.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

He had xray on his body and everything was fine as they said. Skull xray no. I asked again today and they were sure there is no problem related the teeth or ears. Its the second time i ask them about this and they sound pretty confident there is no problem.

 

[InspectorMorse]

He had xray on his body and everything was fine as they said. Skull xray no. I asked again today and they were sure there is no problem related the teeth or ears. Its the second time i ask them about this and they sound pretty confident there is no problem.

Well for me I would want to ask how they can be 100% certain with no diagnostic imaging. They are probably being mindful of cost, which is of course a good thing. But if you can afford it and it is clinically as safe as possible for him to be sedated again then I would want skull radiographs taken and the results looked at by a dental specialist.

The only other thing I can think of is that his behaviour is psychological in origin. He’s had enough of lots of hands on care, Vet trips etc. Maybe a few days of being as hands off as possible but still vigilant would be a good idea.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

They did xray on skull. Nothing wrong except one small shadow on a tooth. Its not an infection, u didn't understand. But its not something serious at least right now.
Tooth roots are fine.
Frodo is home now. He seems happy. By the time i placed him in his cage he started eating hay. Not much, but he ate it with much appetite!!! I was very surprised. Also some pellets.
Vet told me that if he doesn't start to eat normal the next days, the last thing they can do, as everything else is normal and he is healthy, is to extract this tooth. But they dont want to do it. It will be painful and they believe it can't cause such a problem right now.
So for 4 days meloxicam 0,65ml/day
4 days prokinetic drug 1ml/day
And just in case they gave me a rescue feed. Just in case i need to force feed him.
Other than that they told me that they checked everything and he is healthy.
Hope everything will be good and i believe its a good sign that he already ate some hay!

 

[Froddotherabbit]

Frodo is still eating some hay and very few pellets.
But a new problem arrised. When im going to sleep i have him in his cage. Now for a strange reason he can't stand it. He digs and chew the bars like crazy. Never seen him like this.
I let him out and he runs out just to lay down just outside the cage.
I think im not going to sleep tonight...

 

[Barn Yard Bunnies]

Sending millions of vibes and hope you manage to sleep.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

He did calm after a while and got some sleep, but he is not good overall.
He sleep most of the time. Half closed eyes, he denies to eat almost any pellet. He eat only some hay. Even the snacks eat them reluctant or not at all.
I tried force feed. 17ml now. Ill try again later.
Poor frodo. Im not optimistic..
He is healthy but he refuses everything! I dont understand...

 

[InspectorMorse]

What are your thoughts on my suggestion that his problems now might be psychological/stress related ?

The only other thing I can think of is that his behaviour is psychological in origin. He’s had enough of lots of hands on care, Vet trips etc. Maybe a few days of being as hands off as possible but still vigilant would be a good idea.

 

[Froddotherabbit]

I don't know. That could be the only reason anymore. But what i can do about it? If he doesn't eat, i should force feed him otherwise he will die...
Its so strange his behaviour. I literally put a pellet in his mouth he crash it in pieces and rehects to even taste it.... Even when he had severe pain with otitis, he wasnt like that. He at some pellets..