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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

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 DIET & CARE Sick Bun – Displaying very unusual behaviour – WORRIED

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    • Michaela
      Participant
      29 posts Send Private Message

        Hi everyone

        I have a male dwarf lop who is quite ill from what I can tell

        Noticed he wasn’t eating or drinking so took him to the out of hours vet, explained he has had trouble with his teeth in the past (she didn’t deem it necessary to check them) and gave him some pain medicine and something to help keep his digestive system working

        I’ve been giving him food from a syringe since 11pm, tried about 3 times, first was quite successful and he had about 6ml, then it’s gotten less since then.

        He has had a wee (albeit a tiny amount, but I guess it shows things are moving as they should be, maybe?)

        He has started to run around his pen wildly, bumping into things, sticking his head in between his litter tray and bed quite forcefully, climbing behind them, and now he’s pushing his mouth through the bars of his pen and being a bit aggressive, as well as making noises that sound a little like a mixture between honking and crying. It’s heartbreaking. He looks very uncomfortable, hunched over. His eye is a bit weepy, but I presume that’s linked to his teeth hurting maybe? (when I say teeth, he has a tiny little strand of tooth left in his mouth from previous surgeries after having them removed, and I’m worried it’s grown a bit too long and is causing him pain – BUT he has had pain meds that should last 8 hours!)

        His breathing sounds quite laboured and quick as well at times

        It’s 3am here and I can’t see anyone until 9am, when our vet opens. I’m genuinely worried he won’t make it and if anyone has seen similar behaviour in their rabbits – I’m in desperate need of some calming down and hope.

        Please respond,

        Thanks

        Michaela + Buddle


      • Caroline
        Participant
        8 posts Send Private Message

          It sounds like he may be acting so aggressive because he is in alot of pain! I would continue to hand feed him and try to get some water down after the mush.
          i would also try another vet if that one didnt listen to your concerns about his teeth, if there are any others in your area.
          The most scared i’ve ever been for a bunny was when my first bunny, who recently crossed the rainbow bridge , was acting a bit odd and holding his ear funny.
          When i took him to the vet that day, he was diagnosed with ear mites, which did not seem correct to me for more than one reason.
          Two days later, he was miserable… lethargic and not eating or pooping… it was miserable for both of us. Like you, i could not get him in with a vet that night, so we had to waot until morning. I stayed up with him and snuggled, which he needed so badly.
          We made it through that awful night, and the next day we were given 3 different prescrptions along with critical care food mush. He was so good about taking his medicine!
          Three days later, he was eating and pooping on his own. The life had returned to his eyes, and he was able to resist his medicine so much that i had to have friends help me administer it.
          Give him plenty of love tonight, no matter what youll be glad you did!


        • Caroline
          Participant
          8 posts Send Private Message

            P.s. if your having trouble feeding him, try adding just a little fresh squeezed orange juice or mashed banana to his food, assuming he is fruit tolerant and nondiabetic


          • Bam
            Moderator
            16835 posts Send Private Message

              I too would think it is pain. It could be gas pain. If you have any simethicone (baby gas drops) you can give him that. Do a tummy rub to help the gas come out. Here’s good info on how to do it, scroll down to Mechanical treatments: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

              (((((((healing vibes)))))))


            • jerseygirl
              Moderator
              22338 posts Send Private Message

                {{{Buddle}}}

                I’d call the E vet you saw and describe what you’re seeing.

                Is his breathing still laboured?

                Has he had the meds he was given before?

                Give some gentle tummy massage if he’ll tolerate it. However, if his tum feels distended and really tight, don’t massage and get him back to the E vet ASAP.

                I hope he’s doing better.


              • Bam
                Moderator
                16835 posts Send Private Message

                  Yes of course,Jersey is very right! What I wrote was just tips on sth you could perhaps do while waiting for your vet to open. You should of course contact them asap.


                • jerseygirl
                  Moderator
                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                    Sorry bam. I hadn’t meant to contradict your advice.

                    I agree that a massage would definitely help if he has gas pain. The buns let us know when massage is helping. It’s bout the only time they’ll let us touch their belly. :p


                  • Michaela
                    Participant
                    29 posts Send Private Message

                      I’m sorry guys

                      Thanks for getting back to me but I’m afraid I don’t have good news

                      We’ve been crying non stop for 5 hours

                      He didn’t make it

                      He stopped thrashing around and was lying on his side quite still, with very heavy, laboured breathing so I sat next to him, stroking his belly and behind his ears because he liked that

                      The only small hope we have is that the pain relief kicked in

                      I’m glad he was with us though and not having a sleepover at some strange vet office

                      My partner picked him up and cuddled him and he sort of let out a sigh and then he was just still

                      We’ve not had him for very long and it feels like he was taken from us far too early

                      Mixed feeling of sadness and guilt and that maybe we could have done more for him if we’d recognised the signs a little earlier

                      Anyway

                      Thanks so much for your advice and well wishes

                      I wish all your buns the sincerest happiness and I hope they are all healthy and well

                      Michaela + Marla, and Buddle from cross the rainbow bridge


                    • Bam
                      Moderator
                      16835 posts Send Private Message

                        I’m so sorry Michaela.

                        You took him to the vet and got him meds, that’s all a person can do, it’s nobody’s fault that it didn’t help. Sadly enough, these things do happen.

                        Binky free Buddle.


                      • jerseygirl
                        Moderator
                        22338 posts Send Private Message

                          I’m so very sorry.
                          I can see that he was loved a lot.

                          Binky Free Buddle!


                        • Caroline
                          Participant
                          8 posts Send Private Message

                            I’m so sorry! Its so hard losing a bunny. But remember that you did all you could, and he knew that you loved him and your being there for him probably meant lot to him.


                          • bunnluff
                            Participant
                            206 posts Send Private Message

                              I am so, so sorry for your loss I can sympathize as I just lost my dwarf one week ago. In what sounds like, a pretty similar manner as yours. It’s so awful to see them suffer and in pain. As bunny parents, we just want the absolute best for our furry kiddos. You did the best you knew how and loved little Buddle till the end and that’s all that matters. HUGS!!


                            • Brittany
                              Participant
                              11 posts Send Private Message

                                I am so sorry for your loss- You did everything you could and he choose to cross the rainbow bridge at home, peacefully with his loving parents next to his side! That is such a blessing he gave you.
                                I know its probably hard to understand that right now and you wished he didn’t have to pass but he knew that it was time and wanted you there.

                                I hope your heart heals xoxoxo


                              • Michaela
                                Participant
                                29 posts Send Private Message

                                  First of all – thank you so much to everyone who has commented expressing their sympathy/empathy and wishing us the best. It’s been really hard, we have missed him for every minute that’s passed since and there is guilt, regret and just pure painful sadness.

                                  We’re taking Marla to the vet for a full check up in case it was snuffles or something contagious. She’s not acting any differently or showing any signs of sickness right now, so fingers crossed she’s healthy and happy.

                                  Bunnluff – I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope it gets easier because this is difficult. I will understand if you don’t want to discuss it, but you say you lost your bun in a similar manner and I was wondering if you knew definitively what it was that caused it because that would help us a lot. I wish you all the best and I hope we can start to focus on the happier memories soon and it not be so hard.

                                  Michaela x


                                • bunnluff
                                  Participant
                                  206 posts Send Private Message

                                    Hi Michaela. I think the similar part was the behavior you described. Bella was acting very strangely and had a weepy eye as well. However she had really quick breathing for around a day and I could tell she was uncomfortable, I just didn’t know where. And that was the most heartbreaking part, watching her decline and not being able to help her in any way. There’s no way of knowing what happened to her, she was an older bun so it may have also just been her time to go. I’m trying not to beat myself up over it. I’m glad she passed on here at home with me rather than at the vets or something. I’m still so devastated and I know I won’t ever fill that hole in my heart that she filled. Hope things are getting better for you on this journey of grieving.

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                                Forum DIET & CARE Sick Bun – Displaying very unusual behaviour – WORRIED