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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 HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Help please!! Bunny acting strangely

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    • Bunny Hugger
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        Hi everyone,
        My bun is cage free and has a set routine in our house in terms of when and where he spends time in certain locations and what he does there. For the past 7 hrs he has been under a table (not unusual) but he has stayed squished in the same corner for the entire time which is highly unusual. He seems super restless and every few minutes he will turn around and press up against the wall with the other side of his body. He normally would’ve come to the kitchen for his leafy greens about 1-2 hrs ago. I brought them up to him and he hasn’t eaten any. He’s gone up to his greens but hasn’t even taken a bite. Desperate I brought a a big container of hay which he would normally hop right into and start eating but he’s still just being restless in his corner. I think there might be a vet still open tonight but not his usual vet. I’m not really sure what to do. Am I over reacting? What should I do?


      • Bunny Hugger
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          **update: no rabbit vet open tonight. Whst can I do in the meantime??


        • FloppyBunny
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            Has anything happened recently? A loud noise, him getting hurt, etc.? If it’s been 7 hours since he’s eaten, try giving him critical care through a syringe if you have any, or you can make a version (doesn’t work as well with syringes though) by using soaked pellets until they are mush. If you’ve never syringed fed a rabbit, but him in a bunny burrito (google if you aren’t familiar), with only his head out. Then, the easiest way I’ve found, is put your hand on his head and with your thumb and index, “pull” his mouth skin a bit towards his neck (he’ll look like he’s smiling weird), and put the syringe on one SIDE of his mouth. move it a bit until it goes in. They have a gap between teeth where you can put it in. Then angle towards the other side and squirt a bit in, remove syringe to let him eat, and repeat. You don’t want him going too long without eating. If you can get at least a tablespoon of food in him, it would help.

            Do you have any emergency vets around? They usually aren’t as used to rabbits, but should be able to at least help with feeding him.


          • tobyluv
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              He may have gas. You can give him infant simethicone drops, available at grocery stores, drug stores, discount stores. That can be very helpful, and they are completely safe. The brand that I have is Mylicon. You give 1 – 2 ml every hour for 3 hours.

              You can also find bunny massage videos on You Tube. That can also be helpful to a rabbit with gas.


            • Bunny Hugger
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                Thanks. I ended up taking him to an emergency vet last night and he is getting metaclopramine, vetergesic, and the force feeding with oxbow critical care. He is not taking the force feeding well and it seems like more food ends up on his chin than in his mouth. We are really worried and scared for him as it is approaching 24 hrs without pooping. He’s only had 2 force feedings and metaclopramine treatments so far. Our rabbit vet office opens in 2 hrs and we are going to try to get in to see her just to make sure something didn’t get missed. His poor tummy is so big and massage did not help at all :'(


              • jerseygirl
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                  Definitely get him seen again. He may need more pain relief and possibly fluids.  Your vet may also wish to do an x-ray.

                  They can also test blood glucose levels 
                   Low levels can indicate stasis, where as elevated levels may indicate other circumstances (such as a full blockage) that are more dire and with probably require hospitalisation. 

                  Sending lots or {{{VIBES}}} over for your bunny!


                • Bunny Hugger
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                    Vet said to keep doing what we’re doing and also to try to make him move/exercise. Also got some sub-cutaneous pain killers. I also set up a vibrating mat covered in a blanket for him in his new corner he is hiding in. Force feedings are not going well at all – not swallowing the food :'(
                    Vet is going to call tomorrow morning and we may have to bring him back in. Still no poop production


                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                      Hope your bunny feels better soon!


                    • jerseygirl
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                        His poor tummy is so big and massage did not help at all :'(

                        If at any point you see his stomach (partially under and below the ribs) has ballooned out and is really hard, he absolutely has to go back in to the vet. Hopefully you won’t see that!!!
                        If the vet has just seen him, maybe ask if doing a water enema would be safe?

                        http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html


                      • Bam
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                          As Jersey says, big hard tum is an emergency. I sincerely hope it will not come to that.
                          Keep him warm. They tend to get hypothermic with GI issues and they need warming up, in your lap with a blankie on him or with a hot water bottle. Painkillers lower body temp as a side effect, so keeping him from getting cold is very important.
                          It would be good if you could make him move around. Baby gas drops (simethicone) can help with gas and is safe to give on suspicion of gas according to Medirabbit.
                          Sending him so many healing vibes!!!


                        • Bunny Hugger
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                            Left him at the vet today for a few hours and they got in 2 force feedings – said it was hard for them too as he mostly just help the food in his mouth. Super upset taking him home. Then I read this article which made me bawl my eyes out even more (don’t know how I still have any tears left!) https://theredblacktree.wordpress.com/2014/08/03/my-experiance-with-gi-stasis-in-rabbits/
                            So I tried out a full 15 minute belly massage and when I put him down he ran over to his litter box and pooped out 2 small soft cecotroph type poops. I know its not great but I’m really hoping it’s a start!! I think I’m going to continue with the belly massages every hour until bed and then actually try and sleep tonight…


                          • jerseygirl
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                              So I tried out a full 15 minute belly massage and when I put him down he ran over to his litter box and pooped out 2 small soft cecotroph type poops. I know its not great but I’m really hoping it’s a start!! I think I’m going to continue with the belly massages every hour until bed and then actually try and sleep tonight…

                              No, it is great! More would be super of course but anything coming out is really good. (((Hugs)))


                            • Bunny Hugger
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                                Thanks for the vibes everyone! Brought him back from another day at the vet where they said he wasn’t taking the force feeding well. Brought him home and he’s starting to seem more like himself. Went around chinning everything in the house and actually took a few nibbles of hay and kale and ate a small slice of apple! First foods he’s eaten on his own in 3 days I think I will still need to force feed him tonight though


                              • jerseygirl
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                                  Good signs. : ) Sending continues {{{vibes}}} !


                                • Bam
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                                    Sending so many good vibes to you. Massages can be really helpful, but they must be light.


                                  • Niamian
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                                      Definitely good signs! Sending some ((((vibes)))) for speedy recovery now.

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                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Help please!! Bunny acting strangely