Hi there. I am new to this forum though I am using Nicole's login (with her permission) whilst i wait for own login to be activated. I have been a 'lurker' here for so many months though I have never posted. However, I am desperately looking for advice on my sick rabbit. I am so sad.
My name is Fiona and I am mum to five Dutch bunnies: Nell, Sumi, Jess, Clover and Marcy.
Two weeks ago my bunny Nell got GI stasis (molar spurs) and she is on the mend and doing so well.
However, my gorgeous Jess is now sick. I noticed she was poorly on Saturday night and was even worse on Sunday. She wasn't eating, drinking, moving or pooing very much, and was pushing her tummy into the ground. I took her to the emergency vet and since then have been seeing the vet daily. We have been treating her with metaclopramide, metacam and zantac, alongside sub-cut fluids and antibiotic injection. Her eating and pooing has been minimal but stable since then, though we decided to do more investigations today (bloods and xray). Earlier investigation had ruled out her teeth as the problem.
Unfortunately, her xray revealed a fractured rib and a possible injury to her neck (which looked low set and a little curved on the lateral xray view). I am absoutely devastated, mortified and totally saddened by this news. Obviously the pain has stopped her from eating. It is hard to understand how this could have happened, though she is a little flighty and skittish and I have definitely had a number of 'dodgy' lifts with her, though its hard to pinpoint anything specific. The vet thinks it is a new fracture by its appearance. I feel terrible and can't help but blame myself. He was hugely supportive of my tears and did his best to reassure me.
Jess is home with me and her bonded bunny Clover. Her medication regime is: Metacam 1 x 0.5mls daily, 2 x Vetergesic (sub-cut) daily, 2 x 1/4 tab Metaclopramide, Zantac twice daily. She is eating very small amounts and I am trying hard to tempt her with whatever I can, dandelion leaves, rocket, parsley, thyme, round lettuce. She manages a little bit of veg and hay and then gives up. I am topping her up with syringe feeding, so far with varying success. I am so scared to handle her now in case I hurt her even more. She is hopping around and grooming herself, though she is much slower and spends much more time lying down.
I am so worried about her prognosis. The vet thinks that we can be quietly optimistic that if we can manage her pain at this stage, we can get her back on track and get her tummy up to speed again. I wondered if anyone out there has any information, suggestions or advice.
I would be so grateful for any more help I can get.
Thanks lots, sorry this is so long
Fiona xxx
My name is Fiona and I am mum to five Dutch bunnies: Nell, Sumi, Jess, Clover and Marcy.
Two weeks ago my bunny Nell got GI stasis (molar spurs) and she is on the mend and doing so well.
However, my gorgeous Jess is now sick. I noticed she was poorly on Saturday night and was even worse on Sunday. She wasn't eating, drinking, moving or pooing very much, and was pushing her tummy into the ground. I took her to the emergency vet and since then have been seeing the vet daily. We have been treating her with metaclopramide, metacam and zantac, alongside sub-cut fluids and antibiotic injection. Her eating and pooing has been minimal but stable since then, though we decided to do more investigations today (bloods and xray). Earlier investigation had ruled out her teeth as the problem.
Unfortunately, her xray revealed a fractured rib and a possible injury to her neck (which looked low set and a little curved on the lateral xray view). I am absoutely devastated, mortified and totally saddened by this news. Obviously the pain has stopped her from eating. It is hard to understand how this could have happened, though she is a little flighty and skittish and I have definitely had a number of 'dodgy' lifts with her, though its hard to pinpoint anything specific. The vet thinks it is a new fracture by its appearance. I feel terrible and can't help but blame myself. He was hugely supportive of my tears and did his best to reassure me.
Jess is home with me and her bonded bunny Clover. Her medication regime is: Metacam 1 x 0.5mls daily, 2 x Vetergesic (sub-cut) daily, 2 x 1/4 tab Metaclopramide, Zantac twice daily. She is eating very small amounts and I am trying hard to tempt her with whatever I can, dandelion leaves, rocket, parsley, thyme, round lettuce. She manages a little bit of veg and hay and then gives up. I am topping her up with syringe feeding, so far with varying success. I am so scared to handle her now in case I hurt her even more. She is hopping around and grooming herself, though she is much slower and spends much more time lying down.
I am so worried about her prognosis. The vet thinks that we can be quietly optimistic that if we can manage her pain at this stage, we can get her back on track and get her tummy up to speed again. I wondered if anyone out there has any information, suggestions or advice.
I would be so grateful for any more help I can get.
Thanks lots, sorry this is so long
Fiona xxx