Up and Down Health

[Bulibby]

Hi, sorry this might be a little long but my rabbits health has me a little confused
I fill up her hay and give hers some nuggets before bed and every night she is excited for it but a couple of months ago (beginning of February) she had a night where she didn't come out for her hay and nuggets. It had me really worried and it was late at night so I would have to wait to morning for the vet. She never came out that night to eat even though I had given her extras of her favourites to entice her but in the morning she was eating a little and by the evening she was pretty much back to normal so I didn't take her to the vet.
Exactly a month later it happened again. Exactly the same way, by evening she is fine. Between the first and second time she was completely normal.
Now a couple of weeks ago I started to notice she has been pushing her belly to the floor sometimes, it looks odd but I haven't been able to take a photo. She has been sleeping a little more than usual too. I've also started to suspect she is going blind but I'm pretty sure that will be unrelated.

She did it again last night, didn't come for food, didn't eat her favourite hays or dried flowers or nugget, then I wake up to her eating a little. She was very picky with her hay, only eating certain parts, but she would take some nuggets, dried herbs, dried flowers and she was chewing on her sticks and toys. So I hand fed her little bits through the day and by dinner time she almost back to normal. She's a little more timid the normal but apart for that she seems fine. Eating, drinking and coming up for pats.

She is about 10 years old.
I am aware the advice is to take her to the vet however our vets are not the best when it comes to rabbits and we don't have much option for different vet near us, plus with her age I'm really scared the stress would be too much for her. I was wondering if anyone had any advice do what to do before trying the vet or what could be happening?

 

[InspectorMorse]

She does need to be fully examined by a Rabbit savvy Vet. She is obviously having episodes of pain and the cause needs to be identified. The primary problem might not be gut related but it could be pain from arthritis. A 10 year old Rabbit is very likely to have some arthritis. Lethargy and having periods of anorexia can be a sign of heart problems. But as previously stated, a full examination is needed to determine what is going on. I would get her seen by a Vet ASAP.

EDIT- is she spayed?

What is her poo output like?

Has she ever had problems with ‘bladder sludge‘?

 

[Bulibby]

We don't have any rabbit savvy vets anywhere near us so if I took her to the vets it has to be a regular vet. And I'm really scared she is going to die of stress going there.
She has been spayed years ago and her poos are normal except a couple of smaller poos.
She has never had bladder sludge.

 

[Shimmer]

She's got some obvious discomfort, and it would be sensible to get her checked over anyway. She may benefit from some simple pain relief for arthritis, for example.

 

[Bulibby]

Thanks. I'm going to phone on Monday to get her an appointment and hope they can figure out what's going on.

 

[bunny momma]

Sending positive vibes for her appointment.

 

[Bulibby]

We're back from the vets and I think it went well. The vet checked her over and says she's healthy but does think she has arthritis in her back end somewhere so we have been given some pain killers to try for the week to see if it makes a difference.

 

[bunny momma]

I am sending vibes pain killers help her so she can enjoy more quality time with you.