Unsure What’s Up- should I be worried?

[hiskatey93]

Okay so boyfriend and I went away for two days. We had a friend, one she knows, but not overly well, stay with her for us. And the night before we left we did have a bunch of people over, which she is not used to at all.

The friend stated she wouldn’t come out of her cage, even though the doors were open, and she was free to do so. Friend also noticed that Speckles was not eating her fresh veggies entirely. ((She is picky so I’m wondering if she just got bored with having the same things for a week straight? Towards the end of the week she loses interest quickly in her veggies.))

She nibbled on her pellet food, but didn’t finish it, and has been eating hay normally. Her tummy is making normal gurgling sounds, and is slightly squishy, but firm as well down in the middle, which has me slightly worried. She is still drinking normal as well.

It also has just been really hot here, and we have kept the apartment at about 65-70, since it is the lowest we can get it with our window unit. I’m wondering if her appetite is dwindling from stress and heat? When I massage her tummy she doesn’t show us any sign of discomfort or pain. I don’t think it is GI Stasis, but I’ve never dealt with it.

Her normal activities are perfectly. She is currently running all over the room, and having a good time. She doesn’t seem off in any other way other than her tummy feeling slightly firmer in the middle, and noticing that she hasn’t been eating as much.

~~~~~~~~~~

Also wondering if it could be because we have not been able to get her lettuce for about two weeks. Every store we went to has been sold out within a half hour of our home. Between the rain and heat the lettuce has been short here in our area. Even our farmers market doesn’t have it. We have been trying to make due, but lettuce and spinach have not been around for her.

[Pomandcourt]

If she’s still eating hay, drinking water, and otherwise behaving normally, it may just be gas.

Her tummy shouldn’t be gurgling. Try some simethicone (baby gas medicine) and give her a belly massage to help move some of the gas through.

One of my bunnies is super picky and will only eat very specific things. She won’t even touch treats unless they’re alfalfa or apples. Maybe carrot if she’s in the mood. So it’s possible yours is the same way.

Do you leave the unfinished pellets for her? Some days my buns devour all their food in a few minutes and other days they nibble at them throughout the day.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the temperature. They’re okay as long as it doesn’t get above the mid 70s. If you’re worried, try giving her a frozen water bottle (in a sock if she won’t eat it) that she can lean against to cool down.

As for not coming out of the cage when people were visiting, that’s totally normal. My little bunnies hide in the back of their hutch if I have one person over nevermind more than that.

[Pomandcourt]

If she’s still eating hay, drinking water, and otherwise behaving normally, it may just be gas.

Her tummy shouldn’t be gurgling. Try some simethicone (baby gas medicine) and give her a belly massage to help move some of the gas through.

One of my bunnies is super picky and will only eat very specific things. She won’t even touch treats unless they’re alfalfa or apples. Maybe carrot if she’s in the mood. So it’s possible yours is the same way.

Do you leave the unfinished pellets for her? Some days my buns devour all their food in a few minutes and other days they nibble at them throughout the day.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the temperature. They’re okay as long as it doesn’t get above the mid 70s. If you’re worried, try giving her a frozen water bottle (in a sock if she won’t eat it) that she can lean against to cool down.

As for not coming out of the cage when people were visiting, that’s totally normal. My little bunnies hide in the back of their hutch if I have one person over nevermind more than that.

[hiskatey93]

IT’s very soft gurgling noise.
I feel like it may just be gas, and being picky. We went to the market today, and yay they had lettuce! So we got her a big bag of it, and some new veggies to try, and she seems to be devouring it.

I’ll have to get some gas medicine. I leave the unfinished pellets for her, but what is in her bowl is 2 days old, so I’m thinking of tossing them and giving her some new ones. I’m used to Chom, who greets ever guest with cuddles and licks, and demands for treats. =/

We are still fully adjusting to Speckles and her own personality.

She scared me today. Had an accident a while ago, involving burns. I saw the thick scabs flaking off on her ears and had a small panic attack that they were mites. ((She just got checked and it was a negative.)) Took me about five minutes of being overprotective bunny mama until I realized it was scabs.

[Pomandcourt]

Scary!

Yeah they all have different personalities. I would keep watching her. Definitely switch out the pellets if they’ve been sitting around (not that they go bad, but if your bunny is super picky she may just want something new.)

Has she been pooping normally? Until you’re sure she’s fine, try and clean her litter box every day so you can watch for any changes in her litter habits. When I first brought my two little guys were eating tons of hay and moving around, but not touching veg, water, or pellets. This also presented with very tiny and few poops. They both had pretty severe GI stasis and I had to force feed the critical care for over a month.

If her poop seems at all unusual, I would bring her to the vet.

EDIT: I’m glad she’s eating her veg! She was probably just throwing a tantrum because you left her and she wasn’t getting the veggies she wanted. 

[Bam]

I recommend simethicone (baby gas drops). The grurgling sounds are likely gas. Do a tummy massage and elevate her behind slightly so gas can find its way out. It’s important to get the gas out, gas is very painful.
Tummy-massage video on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg

[hiskatey93]

So I did give her a tummy massage. And oh my god. Gas came out. A lot of gas.

And a few turds along with it.

Her poops have been 100% normal all day. She is digging into her hay, and her fresh veggies as well. And was starting to nibble the pellets I gave her that were new before I took her to be massaged.

I think she was just being picky, gassy, and attempting to give me a heart attack.

[Pomandcourt]

Poor baby.

Gas can be really painful and stop them from eating. Be careful what greens you’re feeding her and avoid any that can cause gas. Pick up some simethicone and give it to her for a few days while keeping up the massages.

Here’s a pretty comprehensive list: http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Vegetables

Rabbits are individuals so your bun may get gas from other vegetables as well. Watch her and discontinue any that appear to be causing gas.

[hiskatey93]

The only new thing I introduced to her last week was beet tops.

And she barely ate them. Didn’t like it. Hmmm. Well I’ll keep a close eye on my little one.

[Bam]

Yay for gas coming out!

[hiskatey93]

I felt so bad for her, but I did giggle a bit when I heard it.

Guess I’m a kid at heart with farts lol.

[Author]

Messages