Honestly it’s hard to tell just based on this. That is why it is so important to have a vet do a physical examination. The thing with listing symptoms is that so many times, many illnesses just seem to have such similar symptoms. I know that’s not helpful.

I totally understand what you mean when something is just not right though.

Let us know what your vet says.

Hopefully you’ve gotten to the vet by now, but if not, just print out what you wrote. A list of symptoms you’ve noticed means you haven’t forgotten something that may help in the diagnosis. Let us know what the vet thinks is wrong.

{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}

I agree-vet time. It sounds like she’s in pain but it’s hard to tell with them. Keep us posted

i hope she gets better ((((((((((( healing vibes)))))))))))))))))

()()()()()()()HEALING VIBES()()()()()()()

Maybe she has injured her back some? Trust your instincts and have her seen. Sounds like she may need some pain meds.{{(((Jolene)))}}

Were you able to get her in yesterday afternoon? The vet will have to examine her. Please update!

(((((Jolene)))))

Sometimes vets aren’t able to return calls until the evening once they’ve seen their appointments and done their surgeries for the day. I always drop off my rabbits for the vets to look at between appointments so don’t rule that out if you feel she needs to be seen. I always prefer a drop off especially if I think they may need x-rays, bloodwork, or any other procedures.

I am glad you are getting her in tomorrow. It’s impossible to really know what the problem is. I think a pulled muscle or any other kind of injury needs some pain medications even if it is going to heal on it’s own. Pain can also keep an animal from eating.

Please let us know what the vet says.

She definitely needs to be seen by a vet- it sounds like more than just a “strained muscle”- yes, something like that would limit her activity- but rabbits as prey animals usually try to mask any signs of weakness/illness.  It is usually only when they are very painful that they teeth grind, refuse to eat and “hunching up”.  Those are very distinct warning signs that Jolene is in discomfort- but without a vet exam- who knows what it could be from- her gut, her teeth, there are many possibilities as those signs are pretty nonspecific.

I saw these signs in both my bunny (Penny) that died of cancer (sarcoma) and Schroeder that had GI stasis and gas.

I’ve gotten into the habit of dropping off, too. Especially on Hershey’s, the vet was able to take a look at her early on, then do some thinking and research during the day, and was able to go back and take another look if she needed to before making decisions on diagnosis and treatment. She was always kept in the cat room or recovery so it was quiet and her carrier covered.

Posted By Billie on 03/19/2010 08:17 AM

I would leave work and take her today if it was an option. I can’t ask the bf to take her because his stance is opposed to mine–he thinks that she’ll get over it on her own. I almost let his logic convince me I would be wrong to take her; he reasons that if she pulled a muscle, the vet would give her pain pills and it would relieve the pain but the muscle wouldn’t heal because she’d think it was fine to use it again. I have an appointment for her tomorrow morning and I will share the results.

My own thoughts here is pain meds are more to prevent stasis in a way.  They don’t cope well with pain and it can bring on bouts of gut stasis.   Poor you, worried and frustrated!  Hope you get her seen and can get some relief for you both.  Will you see the new vet? If anything, it’s good to have found another rabbit savvy vet through all of this.

Is your lawn fertilized regularly? And are there any other plants out there? Rabbits love to nibble on things and there are so many plants that can grow in our yards that are toxic (mild to severe). So if you are seeing a correlation between her time outside with an onset of digestive problems it definitely is something to keep an eye. on.

I will give my bunnies wheat grass, but honestly, I don’t know how much “lawn” grass is harmful…. I haven’t heard of it being a terribly bad thing unless pesticides were used on or near it, and fertilizers were used recently.

I do find it the information your vet provided about grass very interesting and will also talk to my own vet about this to learn more.

Maybe you can make an alternative for her to go out when she’s well. I’m thinking you could get an x-pen with a bottom, like a baby pool, so it sits on the grass, contains her space, and still lets her get some fresh air and be outside. Of course, you need to stay with her, and a screen top would make it safe from predators (hawks can be very fast even when you’re standing right there.).

If you have a sliding door, you can also leave her in the house permanently as most of us do, but open it so she can be by the screen. She won’t be able to play on the grass, but it’s for her protection. So she can run around in the room with the door open and still get the breezes and smells. Put some Orchard grass around the floor near the door for her to nibble there instead.