This is a steroid I think. I was helping one of my friends with her rabbits and put her in touch with Kathy Smith (she wrote Rabbit Health in the 21st Century) and in her email response she said steroids can cause GI complications but they can also stimulate the appetite. She said there are mixed feelings from vets out there about using steroids but she said to my friend that she felt if your vet is willing to try steroids then she told her to give it a try. Many rabbit owners do have good success with steroids.

I hope Cotton gets better BT. That sounds like the steroid my mom took during her cancer treatment. It really picked up her appetite, but she also “saw things” too while on it. She’s be talking to all kinds of imaginary doctors and nurses, and visitors she was convinced came in only to take her dinner tray away…lol. She was self-aware that the prednisone was causing it, but it was so real she couldn’t help conversing with them.

so if you see Cotton asking for nose rubs from an imaginary friend………

i would be extremely careful in using prednisone on your bun. I had to use it for a very extreme case in my senior golden retriever (brain tumor). It was an absolute last resort that vets usually do not usually prescribe lightly. I know my golden was not a rabbit and of course they are very different, but the prednisone destroyed all of the good bacteria in her GI tract, a side effect that could be serious for a bunny. I put my dog on probiotics and a high fiber diet, as well as ulcer prevention drugs (it was like a two hour medication process )and was able to keep the side effects under control. Unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary, I would look for other options. I think, if I remember right, there is some concern of needing to continue the treatment or gradually lessen the dosage over time… to prevent some reaction
Of course this is just from personal experience, I am by no means any sort of medical professional and at low dosages it could very well be much safer than my experience. I would just ask the vet a lot of questions
Hope that you are feeling better Cotton!! 🙂

Sorry, BT, I only have experience with steroids as related to my cancer treatment. It did give me better appetite, but it also made me very depressed. I was so glad to be off the one they gave me (it was not prednisone.)

One animal I used it for was my cat with the breathing problems. It did not seem to help him, but his disease was far advanced I think. If I remember correctly it seems to do well for dogs, though. Remember that bunnies can be sensitive to most any medicine, since their insides are so small, but my vet says because of their high heart rate it also goes through them quickly. I’d double check with your vet or another vet you trust to be sure it’s okay for him.

I will just have to settle for sending healing vibes to dear Cotton Boo. (((((((((((Cotton))))))))))))) I do hope he is better soon.

I’m glad to hear that it is such a small dose and that you will be phasing him off slowly. Sounds like a good plan! Hope this will get rid of whatever Cotton is dealing with

Alicat, my dog had a brain tumour as well and was on prendisone after the radiation. Is your dog still with you?

BT I know nothing of it’s use in bunnies except I *think* I heard someone use it on them?? But I can’t help!

 K&K-  My dog is no longer with me.  Once we got the dosage and such under control she saw great improvement, but then she had a stroke or seizure in the night and I had to let her go.  I miss her very much still even though its been almost a year.  

We were together almost 14 years, so I have a lot of memories   

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I hope that Cotton is feeling better soon! And I love it when there is a good vet assistant, it always makes me feel better about the vet.

Oh, that’s such good news Cotton. Glad it’s healing nicely. Next time let Mum see it right away and then maybe no icky meds!

Good news BT

Alicat-I’m sorry you lost her, she looks very beautiful and noble! *hugs*