please help me understand symptoms…going crazy!

[countrybunny]

“Please help save Mommy’s sanity!”

 

I’m having so much anxiety about what’s going on with my bun. I’m googling his symptoms constantly and I don’t feel like anything fits! My boyfriend thinks I’m paranoid, I feel like he’s going to die any day…any input would be so appreciated!

I took him to the vet on Wednesday when I noticed he was being very lethargic and seemed bloated. He’s never been sick before, and he was super energetic Tuesday so this was a fast thing. He wasn’t eating or pooping and was having some audible gut sounds before we left home.

The vet told me he was in GI stasis, hospitalized him overnight, and prescribed Laxatone, Reglan, Probi, Opt-Omega, Cisapride, Enrofloxacin, Simethicone, and Oxbow’s Critical Care, most twice a day for two weeks (he’s had all his doses so far).

He was back to normal Thursday night and started eating, pooping, and playing again. But ever since then he seems to be experiencing painful episodes of gas, and I’m terrified something is seriously wrong with him even though he seems generally alert and okay. I’m wondering if the initial thing wasn’t stasis at all, but just the first bout of whatever he’s been going through since. Here’s a list of his symptoms:

 

stats: 17/mo French Angora, only owner, eats produce (celery, carrots, greens) and unlimited hay, lives free-range in a 2-bed apt

-eating voraciously (timothy hay, greens, a bit of carrot, and 10cc critical care twice a day)

-drinking much less water than usual (I’ve started giving water along with his medications, but he’s still not drinking much himself)

-fecal pellets are usual size but slightly less frequent, dark, a little skunky smelling, and a tiny bit moist (perhaps sticky?) on the outside but dry and normal within

-cecotrope production completely normal

-cleaning himself like usual

-stomach has a doughy feel…it’s not hard like a balloon anymore, but still seems larger than normal

-smelly gas after tummy massages

-his ribcage seems to be broader, as if some of the bloat is underneath it. he just seems broader in general. i’ve started trying to massage his whole torso and it seems to feel really good to him. tummy massages have been a near constant thing.

-sometimes looks hunched up in pain, like he’s going to pass out, but usually sprawled out on the floor like usual

-when he hops around it sometimes looks like he’s sticking out his butt…hard to describe, almost like he’s about to pee constantly

-last night during a bloat episode his body temperature dropped quite a bit, but he warmed up again after passing gas

 

If I think of anything else I’ll add it, but I guess I’m just alarmed that this keeps going on. It’s all I can think about and I’m terrified he’s going to die out of nowhere. I’m taking the bar exam tomorrow and Wednesday (this has been great for my prep, ha!) so I can’t take him to the vet until Thursday, but I’m also still in shock from the amount of the first two bills so would rather not go at all, if feasible.

If you have any thoughts please let me know! Thank you so so much!

[tanlover14]

Hey CountryBunny – I’m a total paranoid, worrywart with my buns also so don’t feel bad!

All those symptoms are symptoms associated with GI stasis. They can literally go through bouts of stasis for weeks before their tummies finally get back to normal so the back and forth behavior can be very normal when dealing with stasis. The best thing you can do in stasis is hydrate. Do you know if your vet gave him Sub-Q’s while he was held overnight – if not, you should call and have them administer some. (Most rabbit savvy vets will do this.) Sub-Q’s helped my boy SOOO much through stasis. In place of the Sub-Q’s, you can syringe water into him multiple times a day. Syringing it in is actually BETTER than the Sub-Q’s if you can get your bun to be patient about you doing it. They go directly to his digestive system and will hydrate and help push through whatever he is having trouble passing.

It took my bun about 4 weeks to get through his bout of stasis when he had it a few months ago. Make sure you keep an alert eye on him, eating, pooping, ect because stasis can be very dangerous. As long as he’s kept hydrated and you know he’s passing poos – he should be fine. But if you notice anything drastic (such as not pooping or not eating anything) get him to a rabbit-savvy vet quickly.

[Sarita]

Well I would tell you that stasis is a condition and you need to find out WHY he is in stasis – you can treat stasis but you must find out if there is an underlying condition. The problem with googling and trying to find out what is wrong with your rabbit can be daunting and confusing.

What did your vet do as far as diagnostics – x-rays, fecal test, check teeth…

I think we can all give our experience with stasis but it may not be what is going to work with your rabbit.

I would encourage you to seek a second opinion from a vet or take your rabbit back to the initial vet with your concerns and ask for some more diagnostic testing.

[Roberta]

I’d probably avoid celery at the moment too.. A bit stringy unless you are only feeding him the leaves. Also avoid cabbage or broccoli it can make them gassy too. Fresh mint is good and might assist in reducing the gas. The tummy rubs are excellent.

[Author]

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