bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
Sending Rodney lots more positive vibes. I am glad he is home and pooped.
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Vibes for Rodney
- Thread starter CarelessSquid07
- Start date
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
Thank you everyone. We've just done meds and food, it feels like forever since we've done this and I'm so out of practice I'd forgotten how fiddly the little syringes can be!
He is very sleepy as expected but took a few mls of syringe feed and nibbled at some herbs. Found some very clumpy poos so hopefully he's passing the worst of it.
He's due some more metacam at 10pm so will try and get more food in him with that. It's -2 outside here so debating confining him to their cage with heat pads but on the other hand moving is the best medicine for him.
He is very sleepy as expected but took a few mls of syringe feed and nibbled at some herbs. Found some very clumpy poos so hopefully he's passing the worst of it.
He's due some more metacam at 10pm so will try and get more food in him with that. It's -2 outside here so debating confining him to their cage with heat pads but on the other hand moving is the best medicine for him.
Your bunnies live inside don't they? Do you know whether he will use a head pad or not? I think, if he would, then that's what I would do. I'm sure you'll be up early to check on him, so it's not going to be for that long really after you've done meds and syringe feeds at 10pm.
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
They do indeed live in the dining room. He usually loves a heat pad and spends ages with his front feet on them when well but when unwell won't stay near them 
Blossom on the other hand has flopped right beside it...
He has just taken some plantain from me, I'm gonna check the garden tomorrow and see what state the brambles are in and see if he'll take any of that too.
Blossom on the other hand has flopped right beside it...
He has just taken some plantain from me, I'm gonna check the garden tomorrow and see what state the brambles are in and see if he'll take any of that too.
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
He's a bit brighter, he's eaten a bit of grass and bramble. Very nibbly and has produced two big piles of absolutely teeny poos but it means things are moving in the right direction!
He's run around a little this morning too although mostly from us at meds time but a little bit extra too.
We've still given him syringe food just to make sure he's having enough with the meds as I know they're not always the best on an empty stomach but I do wonder if that's stopping him eating a bit more.
He's run around a little this morning too although mostly from us at meds time but a little bit extra too.
We've still given him syringe food just to make sure he's having enough with the meds as I know they're not always the best on an empty stomach but I do wonder if that's stopping him eating a bit more.
He's a lucky boy getting fresh grass and brambles this time of the year. It certainly is sounding postive and sometimes getting them to eat normally takes longer than we would like. It's a difficult choice, but I reckon on balance it's safer to continue with the syringe feeds until he's eating a bit more for himself. It's better to have food moving through his system.
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
I'm glad Rodney is doing better. My vets always said they found Syringe feeding to stimulate their wanting to eat on their own. Personally I'd continue. More vibes for him
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
He starting to try and strip and chew the bark on his wooden shelter toys rather than eat hay.
It's a different presentation than usual for him as he usually goes off wet food first but maybe it's his teeth? He's not needed a dental in a few years now.
He will snap things and eat a little hay if I hand feed him but not loads bless him.
It's a different presentation than usual for him as he usually goes off wet food first but maybe it's his teeth? He's not needed a dental in a few years now.
He will snap things and eat a little hay if I hand feed him but not loads bless him.
I think I would just keep a watch on this for now. I think sometimes it's more the taste of a food, which they find off-putting when recovering from a spell of not eating, rather than the consistency.
If it continues then maybe get your vet to examine his teeth. I imagine it's something that they looked at though, when you took him in?
If it continues then maybe get your vet to examine his teeth. I imagine it's something that they looked at though, when you took him in?
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
He is eating bits and then stopping when he's had enough which is good and taking syringe food like a champ.
I completely forgot to ask the discharge nurse about his teeth! I feel like an idiot, I'll give them a ring and see whether they managed to get x-rays of them.
If not I'll take him back on Monday to get them checked since it's been a problem for him so often previously. The specialist before she left suggested his tooth growth may have slowed down now he was older.
I completely forgot to ask the discharge nurse about his teeth! I feel like an idiot, I'll give them a ring and see whether they managed to get x-rays of them.
If not I'll take him back on Monday to get them checked since it's been a problem for him so often previously. The specialist before she left suggested his tooth growth may have slowed down now he was older.
I think forgetting to ask about his teeth is completely understandable under the circumstances.
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
It is nice to read he is taking his syringe feeds well and is wanting to eat some things on his own. I would continue with his syringe feeds to keep everything moving and give him strength, especially if he will need a dental.
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
Here he is very slowly eating a bramble leaf. He seems to enjoy the stem a bit more than the leaves but possibly just because they're easier to get his teeth around.
We're getting lots of teeny misshapen poo now, so hoping with the little bit he's eating plus the syringe food eventually he'll start passing things a bit easier.
We're getting lots of teeny misshapen poo now, so hoping with the little bit he's eating plus the syringe food eventually he'll start passing things a bit easier.
Attachments
If he is still not eating much better by himself by Monday, it might be worth having a word with your vets to see if they would consider prescribing Cisapride as well as the Metoclop. The issue with Rodney might be in his cecum, the hind gut, and Cisapride would work on that, whereas Metoclop by itself wouldn't. Maybe they would also consider sub-cut fluids.
Issues with the cecum often get mistaken for dental problems, as the rabbit is seen to be dropping food and also craving other unsuitable fibre foods such as chewing the bark instead of eating hay.
Lovely to see a photo of him again
Issues with the cecum often get mistaken for dental problems, as the rabbit is seen to be dropping food and also craving other unsuitable fibre foods such as chewing the bark instead of eating hay.
Lovely to see a photo of him again
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
Thanks I shall ask the vet on Monday. I did ask about cisapride when they had him in, but they didn't have it in stock and I guess new years day meant they'd have struggled to get it.If he is still not eating much better by himself by Monday, it might be worth having a word with your vets to see if they would consider prescribing Cisapride as well as the Metoclop. The issue with Rodney might be in his cecum, the hind gut, and Cisapride would work on that, whereas Metoclop by itself wouldn't. Maybe they would also consider sub-cut fluids.
Issues with the cecum often get mistaken for dental problems, as the rabbit is seen to be dropping food and also craving other unsuitable fibre foods such as chewing the bark instead of eating hay.
Lovely to see a photo of him again
He is dropping food as well, part of the reason I'm hand feeding him stuff so it sounds like it might be a big help.
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
Sending more vibes for Rodney. Syringe feeds add fluids too so that is good, though sub Q fluids may help him feel better too. Is he peeing well? Cisapride can help, though here we need to have it compounded to order so it takes a few days.
How is his dosage of pain meds?
How is his dosage of pain meds?
CarelessSquid07
Mama Doe
He's got 7.5kg dose of dog Loxicom twice daily. It doesn't seem loads but he's about 2.4kg so not a big boy.
He's drinking and peeing well, I've been keeping a special eye on that as he's had bladder sludge previously.
His demeanor is back to normal now and fighting feeds and meds more. Just need the eating and pooping to normalise. I might see if I can leave a message at the vets today so they pick it up first thing tomorrow.
He's drinking and peeing well, I've been keeping a special eye on that as he's had bladder sludge previously.
His demeanor is back to normal now and fighting feeds and meds more. Just need the eating and pooping to normalise. I might see if I can leave a message at the vets today so they pick it up first thing tomorrow.
