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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Vet time?

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    • Isabelle
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        Last night Dutchess was binkying and running around, and she wolfed down all of the greens I gave her before I went to bed. I also changed her litterbox, which was full. This morning she isn’t eating her greens, didn’t finish all of her pellets last night (very unusual, she’s usually begging in the morning), and is acting like she isn’t feeling well. Usually she’s climbing the bars to get out, and now she’s just curled up in the corner pressed against the side of her habitat. I couldn’t hand feed her anything and didn’t force it. I did see some poops in her litterbox she had to have done overnight, and they look normal.

        I heard her sneeze about four times on Thursday, I’ve never heard her sneeze before and she didn’t sneeze again since. I know it’s considered old school but I did give her some pineapple juice a few minutes ago. She had a hairball/impaction thing in February, and she is shedding her winter coat although I’ve been trying to groom her quite a bit. Is this another hairball/impaction do you think or something else? The vet is only open until 1 today, so I wanted to check with you all before doing anything.


      • Isabelle
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          I made her an appointment for 10:30 this morning. I let her out and she went and is hiding under a table, not playing or anything. I laid down and she didn’t come out running to give kisses and get pets, and she hasn’t shown any interest in cardboard or toys. She is grooming her face right now, but she just is acting like she doesn’t feel good at all, so I’d rather be safe than sorry. Usually her litterbox has a lot more poop in it, too. She is quite a digger of the carpet, so I’m concerned she could have swallowed some carpet fibers. I doubt it, because I usually catch her at digging and stop her pretty much immediately, and then I have to pick up the pieces she pulled up from the floor.

          In any case, I think I best take her in.


        • Sarita
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            Keep us updated.


          • Emmie
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              I do hope everything is okay!


            • Isabelle
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                The vet looked her over really well, her teeth and mouth are fine, she didn’t have any ouchie pain spots when she felt her belly, and she checked her bottom too. Her breathing was a little off so she wanted to check for pneumonia and her belly to make sure she didn’t eat anything she shouldn’t have (she’s a major digger so I was worried about carpet fibers), so she took x-rays, and Dutchess’ stomach is completely full of hair, so she’s got a really big impaction going on. There weren’t any foreign things she could see so there isn’t any carpet injesting (thank goodness, I’ve never seen her try to eat the carpet she digs up but it’s always possible). Vet said that we need to give her lots of wet things to help her push it all through, so I’m giving her baby food, pineapple juice, a laxative, (she suggested gatorade but I’m nervous about giving that), and bactrim for an antibiotic and make sure she’s drinking plenty of water, and force that too if necessary. She said she’d call me on Tuesday and if she hasn’t picked up eating by then there is a possibility of surgery to remove the impaction. I really hope that doesn’t have to happen. She had an impaction like this before in February, and pushing the fluids worked, and since I caught this early she should be able to pass it.

                At the moment she’s grooming herself. *sigh* The vet said to keep up with pushing extra fluids a few times a week and make it a routine, to make sure this stops happening. I try to brush her in the morning before work, on my break, and at night too, so I don’t think she’s shedding really, she just likes to groom a lot x.x

                Little venting: Man x-rays are spendy! $125 for two x-rays. I realize they were full abdomen shots but man, the vet bill was $175 x.x The visit itself and the medicine aren’t too high a price in my opinion ($40 and $10), but those x-rays are so high! There wasn’t a question in my mind for her to have had them, but I’d say $30/$40 for an x-ray is a better price.


              • Sarita
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                  Does she eat alot of hay? It really seems some rabbits have more gut motility problems than others.

                  That price for x-rays is pretty standard. I just spent $136.00 for x-rays at my vet – 1 to 2. I agree about wanting those x-rays to be cheaper!

                  Did the vet do any sub-q fluids? That can help as well.


                • Isabelle
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                    I think she eats hay pretty well, I refill her little hay area every two-three days. I recently added another larger square litterbox in her play area and filled it with hay and she’s been chomping in there quite a bit. The vet I took her to last February suggested giving her small amounts of hay more frequently to make it look more appealing to her, she does tend to like the hay fresh out of the bag more than hay a few days later, but she does eat it all.

                    She didn’t do any sub-q fluids.

                    For x-rays, I realize that the equipment is expensive and the x-ray techs went to school and everything, but still, if they take an average of say four x-rays a day (which is probably very low) at $70 per x-ray, that’s $1,400 a week and $72,800 a year! I don’t think a vet tech who takes x-rays makes that much money. Cutting it in half, it’s $36,400 which sounds more fair, and would make each x-ray $35, which I think is better. *sigh* at least now that this has happened twice, I can prevent it better and if she stops eating again I can put her back on this schedule of stuff for a day or two to see if she improves before heading for the vet.

                    And yay! she just started chewing on some cardboard I gave her the first treatments an hour ago, and she is more active now than she was this morning.


                  • Sarita
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                      I like your break down of the x-rays. I’ve heard on NPR the discussion of how they decide prices for doctor’s offices and hospitals and apparently there is no process, they basically just put a price on everything – no rhyme or reason….must be the same way in vet offices.

                      Vibes to Dutchess and I’m glad she seems to be better.


                    • RabbitPam
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                        Sending {{{{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}} to Dutchess.

                        I would keep her away from the cardboard, since it is paper and technically fibrous, but still doesn’t go down easily when she’s already impacted.
                        The hay and fluids will do their job best if there are no complications.


                      • Isabelle
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                          Okay RabbitPam, removing the cardboard I questioned that too since it’s not a wet substance, she only did a few nibbles on it.


                        • Helenor
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                            Wow, x-rays here at UC Davis small animal hospital are about $250. The vets informed me that I might have to keep an eye on Lago’s teeth and think about having an x-ray for her teeth. I have to save up for a while and according to the vets VPI insurance may or may not pay for the x-rays.

                            I hope Dutchess feels better soon! Give her tons of pets from me.

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                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Vet time?