Rabbit with excessive urination and now not eating

[casportpony]

Posting for a friend:

"Stopped eating at some point yesterday. I'm familiar with gi stasis and giving childrens simethicone. The excessive urination...I have no idea what might be happening here as a whole and if there is anything I can do about it? Of course, NO vet is available until Tuesday, late afternoon. Advice? He is an approximate 4 year old male, neutered, indoor rabbit."

 

[Shimmer]

You should be able to ring an out of hours vet to get some advice and see if they can see your friend's rabbit as a matter of urgency (assuming you are in the UK). The vet you usually use will have an arrangement with an OOH vet, and that service should be listed on their website and phone answering service. They should (hopefully) also have access to to previous medical records.

A rabbit that isn't eating is an emergency in itself. The other symptoms also need urgent assessment rather than a routine appointment in a few days.

 

[InspectorMorse]

The Rabbit needs urgent Veterinary attention , as stated by Shimmer.

The excessive urination could be indicative of a UTI or renal failure. If the Rabbit isn’t drinking he will quickly become dehydrated and the outcome will not be good

If he hasn’t eaten for over 12 hours his life is already in danger. If he is not passing faeces either then being left untreated until Tuesday simply isn’t an option. He’s unlikely to be alive by Tuesday.

 

[casportpony]

@Shimmer & @InspectorMorse, thank you for your replies. I have forwarded your messages to the rabbit owner

 

[bunny momma]

Rabbits often stop eating because of pain and then stasis is the secondary condition that develops from not eating. Pain meds, prescribed by a vet are essential as is supportive care-syringe feeding/fluids/motility meds/warmth as is treatment for any primart condition.
Sending positive vibes your friend can get vet advice/meds and rabbit can make a full recovery.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The question was posted by a member on a backyard chicken forum. No one replied, so I made an account here to ask for her since I we're not supposed to direct people to other forums for help.

I posted this:

Stopped eating at some point yesterday. I'm familiar with gi stasis and giving childrens simethicone. The excessive urination...I have no idea what might be happening here as a whole and if there is anything I can do about it? Of course, NO vet is available until Tuesday, late afternoon. Advice? He is an approximate 4 year old male, neutered, indoor rabbit.

I asked some rabbit people, and this is what they said:

You should be able to ring an out of hours vet to get some advice and see if they can see your friend's rabbit as a matter of urgency (assuming you are in the UK). The vet you usually use will have an arrangement with an OOH vet, and that service should be listed on their website and phone answering service. They should (hopefully) also have access to to previous medical records.

A rabbit that isn't eating is an emergency in itself. The other symptoms also need urgent assessment rather than a routine appointment in a few days.

The Rabbit needs urgent Veterinary attention , as stated by Shimmer.

The excessive urination could be indicative of a UTI or renal failure. If the Rabbit isn’t drinking he will quickly become dehydrated and the outcome will not be good

If he hasn’t eaten for over 12 hours his life is already in danger. If he is not passing faeces either then being left untreated until Tuesday simply isn’t an option. He’s unlikely to be alive by Tuesday.

And here is their reply:

Ty but I'm in the US. I spent almost 2.5 hours on this phone this morning, desperately trying to get an appointment. No one would take him. One vet even said, "We only see well rabbits, not sick ones." Ridiculous.

So I am going the simethicone drops, but also knowing he may not survive, especially until Tuesday at 4 pm. Sadly, every single time I've had an animal emergency with any exotic animal, this is how it goes.

Fyi he's drinking a ton, but also peeing a ton. Becoming more lethargic as the day goes on.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The question was posted by a member on a backyard chicken forum. No one replied, so I made an account here to ask for her since I we're not supposed to direct people to other forums for help.

I posted this:

I asked some rabbit people, and this is what they said:



And here is their reply:

Poor Rabbit

 

[bunny momma]

I am so sorry you are unable to get a vet appointment on emergency. I too am in the US and have no or incompetent emergency cover for my rabbits, so I empathize with your situation. Will your vet change from a Tuesday to a Monday appointment? Also, a telephone consult may get you vet prescribed pain meds or recommendations and dosages of any otc alternatives that would be suitable.
Sending vibes for your bunny.

 

[casportpony]

Update from the owner:

I got him into a vet. They made us wait three hours to be seen and charged $550.All they did was a single X-ray, said to continue simethicone drops, gave fluids and metoclopramide. Vet recommended I stop feeding him veggies, even though he was eating them, and only them, minimally. (A few springs of parsley) Vet stated if he doesn't start pooping and eating well in 24 hours, to come back from pain meds.

He's still alive but barely eating anything and I am feeding him parsley, the only thing he will eat. However, I called for the pain meds and they said they'd have to check with the vet. Didn't call me back for a whole day. I called again...they thought it was for a pet of mine who died almost three years ago-a guinea pig. Then said they'll be closing soon and won't have time to approve the pain meds. So here's another night of no pain meds.

He didn't poop at all today. X-ray, on Monday, showed his belly full of food, claimed no apparent blockage or anything else odd.

Update-he is eating normally again and the only symptom now is the very excessive amount of urine.

Does anyone have an idea of what that would be or if it could even be something curable? He has no UTI.

Bloodwork would be $200.00, plus the $97.00 exam fee again and I would like to know if it's something that could even be treated.

 

[InspectorMorse]

He needs a full blood profile. Renal problems are a possibility.

Kidney problems - Bishops Stortford Vets

As is Encephalitozoon Cuniculi (ECj- excessive urination can be the only symptom, it is not always the case that EC presents with head tilt and/or hind leg paresis

Rabbits and E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi)

Understand the impact of E. cuniculi (Encephalitozoon cuniculi) on rabbits. Expert advice and resources to safeguard your bunny's health.

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

I would also suggest the owner finds a more Rabbit Savvy Vet

The Best Rabbit-Savvy Vets Near Me - Rabbit.org

A comprehensive and up-to-date resources for finding a local rabbit savvy veterinarian near you.

rabbit.org