Home made critical care

[Nivde]

Hello everyone,

I’m posting on behalf of another member of this forum who does not have internet access at the moment.

Would like to know if there is a way to make a home made critical care in case there is a need to force feed the rabbit who seems to be showing symptoms of dental issues, and no vet available until the day after tomorrow in that area. As resources, she has some hay pellets and asking if it’s good to pulverize them and add water (for force feeding).

Any suggestions / advices are welcome ! Also if you need more info, please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

[Benthebunny]

Pellets and water blended is one I have heard of. And a teeny tiny bit of banana if rabbit won’t take it.

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Yes. Exactly.

Known as Pellet Mash, it’s basically adding warm water to pellets to create a smooth enough texture to be able to be syringe feed to your rabbit.

I’m out of Ottawa and my rabbit savy vet gives the O.R.E.O. advice package to all rabbit clients – which suggests also adding plain canned pumpkin as well for additional fibre and calories

[GeorgieTheBunny]

Also, pain relief:
81 mg quick chew Aspirin (orange flavour)
READ ALL!

During a No Eating Scare :/ my little Georgie was in pain.

I crushed up half a tablet (approx. 40mg) a put the dust in an open syringe, plug the hole on the tip with your finger so you don’t lose any! Add a bit of water into the barrel too, put the plunger on the back to block the water from coming out, point the syringe tip up and the air pocket will go up too – this gives you the chance to push the plunger in and only lose air!

The next day I cleared the usage with the vet.

By her math 1.5kg aka 3.3lbs Georgie (mini Rex) would have only needed a 1/4 tablet dosage aka 20mg Aspirin.

[Bam]

Pellet mash is good. I’ve mixed in hay dust too, but had to push the hay dust through a strainer with quite some effort or the mix didn’t get smooth enough to get into the syringe. Canned plain pumpkin is good to mix with or baby fruit or berry purée or banana. A little bit of glucose from fruit can help perk a bunny up.
Aspirin is listed as bunny safe as Georgie says, but it has some GI side effects that might cause trouble for a bun that has a GI problem. Medirabbit has a list of safe analgesics for rabbits:
http://www.medirabbit.com/Safe_medication/Analgesics/safe_analgesics.htm

[Nivde]

Thanks everyone for the answers !

A little update on the furball: seems he did eat the smushed hay pellets and some regular poop was delivered.

I have relayed all your answers , much appreciated.

Seems like the rabbit has had yesterday some taraxacum leaf and some harder strands of grass, which he started to eat then shook his head and spit it out. Could this have hurt the rabbits’ mouth ? No blood was seen but it seems like a strange coincidence ….?

[Bam]

For a bunny with a dental problem, hard grass and hay and sometimes also pellets can be painful to chew. It’s actually very typical of a bunny with a dental issue to spit out food or drop it.
I had no idea what taraxacum leaf was so I looked it up and learned sth new, it’s Latin for dandelion! Dandelion leaves are excellent for bunnies. Tell your friend to serve them wet, that way the bunny gets extra fluids. And warn her that dandelion can result in very red/orange pee – perfectly normal but can look scary. It isn’t blood, just carotene.

[Muchelle]

the mystery internet-less member is me! I’m currently stranded on top of a mountain, now writing from the more civilized village next door.

Thank you everyone for helping out! I still don’t know what happened, Kuro is still reluctant to eat but he’s eaten a good quantity of the smushed pellets (that i had mixed with normal solid pellets) and pooped normally.
This morning he ate normal pellets and hay on his own. he seems to be avoiding the greens, for some reason.

I’ll keep monitoring and will continue giving him metacam on low dosage for 2-3 days, hoping he had some discomfort because of the fresh sturdy grass he’s not used to. As soon as we’re back from this place he has an appointment booked with his dentist… I really really hope he won’t have to be operated again

[Benthebunny]

atleast hes hes getting something in his system. moniter his poops and pees. get water in him too.

[Bam]

Hi Muchelle! I’m sorry to hear Kuro isn’t well, but dental issues can cause prolonged refusal to eat. Been there, done that with my Yohio.

[Muchelle]

I’m starting to wonder if it might be that grass really made him get discomfort to his gums… he acts fine, eats normal pellets and the mushed up pellets paste I made, ate fruit, eats hay but only avoids leafy greens. he also drinks fine. now waiting for poop. yesterday he ate less so it’s to be expected some delay, I guess. For sure he’s not showing the total discomfort he goes into when his molars grow spurs… I’m baffled, I have to admit it.

[Muchelle]

So, update! It definitely was some discomfort, I think he really must have hurt himself while eating, maybe receiving a small cut where he’s missing a tooth.
Anyway after 3 days of low dose metacam and soft food he was as good as new, we also got a bill of good health from the vet.

Thank you to everyone again! <3

[Author]

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