Wednesday's first emergency vet visit

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

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.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 18sd replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 6 months ago by RabbitPam.

Viewing 18 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 08/30/2010 at 4:44 PM
  bunnyjames
  Participant
  252 posts
  Hi guys, I took Wednesday today to his/her first vet visit, he was looking a bit gloomy, he wasnt moving much, was falling behind from its siblings in eating solids and learning to drink from a water bottle and while it’s siblings were gaining weight and getting rounder, he/she looked pretty scrawny, at first i just thought he/she might be a late bloomer. Coke and Mellow would hop all around the house but he would just stay huddled by my feet when i was at my desk. Last night i woke up to scratching (coke and Mellow were trying to get out of their box) and went over to check on them and Wednesday was on his side breathing fast and his/her lil’ ears were ice pick cold. I picked him/her up and started panicking cuz was unsure what might be wrong, and i would have to wait till morning to take him/her to the vet. So i just put him by my pillow in my bed in a pile of flannel blankets and put a heating pad wrapped in a blanket under him/her trying to get some heat back to his/her lil body. Once it hit 8am i put him in a shoe box with blankets and took him to the vet. Turns out his the runt of the litter and isnt getting enough to eat! The vet said i could give him some kitty replacement milk, but he was unsure it would actually help. Vet said its not the same as the mother’s milk and doesnt have the same nutrients. So i got home, got Zoe put her in my bed and put Wednesday under her to feed, she fought the first couple of seconds but after a while just gave up and stayed still. What should I do? Do i keep trying this or give the kitty replacement milk? Vet was no help He said that being the runt in the litter meant not making it to be full grown! (getting a second opinion on thursday by a different vet) Im really mad!!!
  
  Wednesday (black bunny) Coke (white bunny) Mellow (brown bunny) This pic was taked 4 days ago.
- 08/30/2010 at 5:03 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Kitten replacement milk should be fine, it’s used quite often for bunies who lose their mamas. And being a runt isn’t all that bad! My Monkey is a runt, and she’s just fine, just a bit on the itty bitty side.
- 08/30/2010 at 11:00 PM
  bunnyjames
  Participant
  252 posts
  Why does he look so gloomy then? All his done today is stay in my bed ALL day. His not eating either, bought the kitten replacement milk and he wont eat! the other bunnies are running down my hall having fun sliding on the floor. His ears feel so cold while the other two bunnies have their ears really warm. Coke and Mellow got the hang of drinking water and he hasnt, he also has stopped nibling on hay and pellets. He really has me worried. This can’t be a runt issue, can it?
- 08/30/2010 at 11:19 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Are you having him try to drink the milk on his own? If so, you’ll have to stop, and syringe feed him the stuff. He won’t know what to do with it. He has to get eating, or he could die Maybe try catching Zoe again to feed him if you can’t feed him by syringe.
  
  Once he gets eating and back to normal, he should be ok as a runt. They do need a bit mroe care int he early stages, but they can be just as healthy and active as normal buns
- 08/31/2010 at 6:38 AM
  bunnyluvr
  Participant
  409 posts
  How is sweet Wednesday this morning?
- 08/31/2010 at 6:56 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I think you need to get him to another vet. I wonder if he doesn’t have coccidia – did the vet do a fecal test?
- 08/31/2010 at 9:50 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  The babies are eating solids right now, but if he isn’t I think there is something else wrong. Runts still eat and are active, they’re just smaller.
- 08/31/2010 at 11:13 AM
  Rippy
  Participant
  121 posts
  Her body is in shock and hypothermia so you have to keep her warm and find out the cause of this very fast. A rabbit that is in shock has no appetite so you have to force feed her that milk with a syringe and generally rabbits are not too happy about that and will resist. Heating up the milk slightly before giving it to her would be a good idea as well and keep her warm.
- 08/31/2010 at 11:19 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I hope all is well with the little baby. Eager for an update.
- 08/31/2010 at 9:27 PM
  bunnyjames
  Participant
  252 posts
  Hi guys. went to another vet today, an emergency visit, turns out Wednesday has a heart problem. A heart murmur, he has a very irregular hear beat and pretty accelerated, he was really dehydrated from not eating or drinking. Not sure what to do, he gave me medication he looks better (it’s a he) But he will be on medication the rest of his life. Vet said I can put him “down” but i dont want to do that, anybody here have any info on heart problems with rabbits and what is their quality of life. I dont want let him suffer either, he seems better with the medicine though, Zoe fed him today and he looks okay. He even did his first binky today after i brought him home What would you guys do in my position, he was given IV fluids in order to rehydrate him quick. I really dont know what to do. He has to go in for an ultrsound on Friday.
  
  Here he is sleeping next to his mommy (this is what he does all day, when Zoe isnt there then he just goes looking for some where warm). Mellow is being nosy that’s why you can see him here. lol! Coke is actually right under Mellow trying to be nosy too, but you cant see her.
- 08/31/2010 at 9:56 PM
  bunnymum16
  Participant
  429 posts
  awww.i have no idea about bunnies with heart problems but im really glad that you decided not to put him down.i personally think that putting a pet down will not solve a problem.i dont like giving up on my bunnies.
  
  i really hope someone from BB could help you.Wednesday looks like a really adorable bunbun.hope he gets better.
- 08/31/2010 at 10:26 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Aww poor Wednesday. He should be able to have a full happy life with the meds. I personally wouldn’t put him down. But, it may be hard for you to rehome him. He’ll have to have a good home where his new family will be able to give him the meds every day. I’d take him myself if I could!
- 08/31/2010 at 10:31 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  I really adore Wednesday. He looks like my little girl. He is an otter, right?
  
  I think he will be fine. Medical things happen, with humans and animals. Even heart murmurs.
  
  He is in good hands with you
- 08/31/2010 at 11:40 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  I’m sorry that I can’t be much help here as I don’t really know what a “heart” problem will bring to this bunny. I do know that some bunnies later on have died and it was discovered then that they had a heart problem. But they lived a wonderful few years!
  
  Did the vet mention what the bunny AND the owner will be having to deal with when there is a heart problem involved? Do you feel you have a rabbit savvy vet? You might also try asking with Dana Krempels at allexperts.com about what it means for a bunny to have a heart problem. She is extremely knowledgeable about rabbit health. http://www.allexperts.com/ep/703-35…els-Ph.htm (this is of her profile, but you scroll down and there is a link “Ask a Question” toward the bottom of her profile)
  
  Keep us updated!
- 09/01/2010 at 4:51 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I think it could be helpful to get a detailed understanding of what a lifetime treatment entails. Such as what meds, how to administer them, how much they will cost (can be bought in bulk maybe?) and if he will get his appetite back once on them regularly. Just that way you will know what to expect and what to tell someone if you rehome him. It sounds manageable if you know what you’re getting into.
  
  A bunny’s life expectancy is delicate anyway, with GI problems coming up in unexpected and mysterious ways, so this early a diagnosis may improve his chances of survival significantly, and he may do quite well for years, depending on the type of heart trouble it is. He is a Special Needs bunny, but he may be able to have a good quality of life in the right home. The new vet, and Dana Krempels, sound like they will have you in a knowledgeable position to
  do what’s best for him very soon.
- 09/01/2010 at 4:53 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  My friend’s cat had a heart murmur and he lived a pretty full happy life. I can’t see why it would be different in rabbits.
  
  I found this link for you, it’s by the woman BinkyBunny suggested:en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/Hea…-Heart.htm
  Try googling; rabbit heart murmur.
- 09/01/2010 at 6:57 PM
  bunnyjames
  Participant
  252 posts
  So i went to both links that were given to me by BinkyBunny and LittlePuffyTaill and they were great, alof of that stuff on there the vet had already told me about, I know Wednesday will be on medication for life but i wont know how many or how much until i take him in for the ultrasound on friday. The Vet will have a better idea of how severe the problem is and what the next steps will be, i contacted the person who was going to adopt Wednesday and told her what was going on and has agreed to come with me to the Vet on friday so she could know what exactly to expect if she takes him. I dont expect for her to take him, cuz i know its stressing taking care of a sick bunny but either way Wednesday will be well taken care of to the best of my abilities. Oh and about him being an otter, i wasnt sure what that was but looked it up and i guess he is, lol, he has the tan cirlces around his eyes, and his underside is white with tan outline around the white. i dont know how that happend since Zoe is white with brown markings and apperantly the dad is grey like my chomper, a little lighter, was told by a volunteer at the shelter. That is really wierd since all 3 came out a totally different color.
- 09/01/2010 at 10:20 PM
  LoveChaCha
  Participant
  6634 posts
  I am sending vibes to you and Wednesday that the results are good. I would love to see him live happily and enjoy doing millions of binkies
  
  Hahah, about Rabbit Genetics – it is completely fun. I think some recessive genes can be dominate with bunny babies
- 09/02/2010 at 4:08 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  I also think some volunteers can be wrong, and somewhere out there is a bunny Mailman with otter coloring.
  
  that’s really nice that the possible new owner is coming with you. She sounds level headed and committed to his well being, even if it means she can’t care for him herself.
Author

Messages