So worried...Do I need to take bunny to the vet???

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 25sd replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by Kokaneeandkahlua.

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- 03/02/2011 at 11:08 AM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Please help! I have a Netherland Dwarf named Pepper. She is now 11 weeks old. I need some advice….Everything seemed fine last night. She was out, playing, running, eating…
  
  This morning when i woke up she seemed not herself. She usually runs up to the cage door when she sees me but today she stayed in the bed. I gave her a carrot and she didn’t eat it which is her favorite. It seemed to me she didn’t poop or pee much either (usually in the morning I see lots of poop in the litter box). Should I take her in?
- 03/02/2011 at 11:17 AM
  highway234
  Participant
  72 posts
  if you’re worried, i’d take her in, just for the sake of your peace of mind. banjo gets moody sometimes and it makes me worry, too.
- 03/02/2011 at 11:17 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I think if you are concerned, this yes, you should take her in. Have you taken her to the vet since you got her?
- 03/02/2011 at 11:24 AM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Sarita, no I haven’t taken her. I have an appointment for her set up 2 weeks from now for a check up.
- 03/02/2011 at 11:29 AM
  Otti
  Participant
  535 posts
  You could technically clean out her box so you can monitor whether she poops/pees again from now onwards more clearly.
  
  However, the issue is that if she doesn’t poop/pee today, by the time you realize it, the vet will be closed and you’ll be on your own for care tonight, or you’ll have to go to an expensive emergency vet.
  
  I would make a vet appointment with a rabbit-savvy vet for today and bring her in right away. This way, you prevent a worry-filled night and possibly higher costs of an emergency vet appointment.
- 03/02/2011 at 11:39 AM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Thank you to all. I have made an appointment to take her in at 230p today! Wish us luck!!
- 03/02/2011 at 11:46 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Please keep us updated. Sending vibes Peppers way.
- 03/02/2011 at 2:35 PM
  Otti
  Participant
  535 posts
  Good luck! (((vibes)))
- 03/02/2011 at 3:19 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Glad to hear you decided to take her in.
  How did it go?
- 03/02/2011 at 4:24 PM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Well, I took Pepper in. The vet said she looked healthy but her belly seemed full. Since she hasn’t eaten, pooped or pee’d, she gave her 60ml of fluid under the skin and also she gave her Oxbow Critical Care food and syringes so I can feed her mushed food 4ml – 4x/day. She says if she doesn’t poop by tomorrow then I’ll have to bring her back for x-rays.
  Pepper seemed pretty nervous at the vet. A little shaky. We’re back home now and she’s been sleeping…
- 03/02/2011 at 4:28 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Ask the vet about doing a fecal test too to test for coccidia. Continued vibes to Pepper.
- 03/02/2011 at 4:30 PM
  Otti
  Participant
  535 posts
  You can also try a soft tummy massage to see if it helps ‘stimulate’ her to poop.
- 03/02/2011 at 10:34 PM
  KatnipCrzy
  Participant
  2981 posts
  I am glad that you took her in to be seen by a vet. I think baby bunnies are more delicate and don’t have the strength reserves as a mature rabbit with an established healthy immune system. So it is great that you got treatment for her so it didn’t possibly turn into something more serious!
- 03/03/2011 at 8:49 AM
  bunnyluvr
  Participant
  409 posts
  How is baby Pepper doing today? Any eating? Any poops?
- 03/03/2011 at 11:18 AM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Update on Pepper…Good news!
  So yesterday I emailed the lady (breeder) I purchased Pepper from. She responded after we came back from the vet. She said to give her a little mineral oil (.1ml per lb.) and that should help her go. I had no idea what mineral oil was so I “googled” it and was able to get it from a drug store. I gave Pepper about a little over .1ml and in a couple hours she pooped a little. It was very obvious she felt better because she actually came out of her cage instead of just lying in her bed.
  
  This morning, she seemed to be back herself! She pooped but still not normal poop, but softer probably because of the mineral oil. I gave her a little bit more today (another .1ml). I will go home and check on her at lunchtime but hopefully she will continue to get better. Oh and I gave her a couple of small carrots and she ate it up super fast! lol! And she was eating her pellets…
  
  What a stressful day! I wish I would have known to give her the mineral oil from the start…it would have saved me $100!
  Thanks everyone!!
- 03/03/2011 at 11:49 AM
  Otti
  Participant
  535 posts
  Honestly the mineral oil is something I had never heard of and I found several passages online cautioning its use. If your rabbit was given sub q fluids, it’s likely that it was the fluids that helped her motility.
  
  My rabbit had just sub q fluids a few days ago to help him go to the bathroom, and they worked really well.
  
  In a passage I read online, it specifically stated that when mineral oil is given to rabbits that have issues digesting food, it can actually coat the food mass in their stomach and prevent its hydration by any fluids they ingest, actually making it harder for them to keep digesting/passing the food.
  
  I would be really wary of trusting a breeder’s opinion/advice over a vet’s. Maybe someone else will have more advice/experience with the mineral oil than I do though.
  
  Glad Pepper is feeling better though!
- 03/03/2011 at 11:49 AM
  highway234
  Participant
  72 posts
  i’m gonna get some mineral oil to keep around just in case something like this happens to me. would this be the right type?
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Rite-Aid-Mineral-Lubricant-Laxative/dp/B0030HO5WY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1299181675&sr=8-6
  
  i’m so glad your little gal is ok, sugarbear…
- 03/03/2011 at 12:03 PM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Hi Otti: I’m just glad she is eating and pooping again. I will definitely keep an eye on her and make sure she’s ok. The breeder I got her from has been doing this for 20+ years so I do trust her. It just seemed like the vet I went to just wanted my money! She wanted to do an x-ray that would have cost me $200! I told her I’d wait until today- I’m glad I did. Thanks!!
  
  Hi Highway234: Yes, I got the mineral oil from RiteAid. The breeder said to give .1ml per 1lb. just in case you ever need too use it… Thanks!!
- 03/03/2011 at 12:10 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Well it would be irresponsible to think that every time that your rabbit didn’t eat that giving them mineral oil is the cure. It surely isn’t.
  
  Vet’s don’t do tests just because they want the money just like a vet wouldn’t just give you advice or medication when they’ve never seen your pet. Vet’s cannot make a diagnosis over the phone, they need to do a physical examination. Just like we can only advise you on what is wrong with your rabbit, we can make suggestions and would always advise you to see your vet.
- 03/03/2011 at 12:22 PM
  Otti
  Participant
  535 posts
  Again, since you did both the Sub Q fluids and the mineral oil at nearly the same time, there’s no way of telling which one helped. I know from experience that Sub Q fluids do help.
  
  In the future, if your bunny has issues pooping again, don’t just assume that the mineral oil on its own will work, since your rabbit also had the Sub Q fluids from the vet, and they most likely did a share if not all of the work in getting her pooping again.
  
  Also, from what I can see online you need to make extra sure your rabbit doesn’t have a large solid mass of food in her stomach, because in that case the mineral oil could actually hurt her chances of getting better. It would coat the outside of the mass of food and make it harder for the mass to be hydrated and broken up by any liquids she ingests or Sub Q fluids she is administered. Again, this isn’t information I got from a vet, but it seems to make sense to me.
- 03/03/2011 at 12:31 PM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Sarita, I definitely will not give her mineral oil everytime she doesn’t eat. I will bring her to the vet and not just take advice from the breeder. I’m just happy that she is pooping and seems better than yesterday. I will also try another another vet since I know not all vets are the same.
  
  Otti, I totally understand what you’re saying. I will keep an eye on her and if anything happens I will take her in again.
  Thanks!
- 03/03/2011 at 12:32 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I’m glad she’s better too! I would encourage her to eat alot of hay to keep her digestive tract healthy. Is she a good hay eater?
- 03/03/2011 at 12:41 PM
  SugarbearNPepper
  Participant
  310 posts
  Sarita, yes, she’s a really good hay eater. Thank goodness!
- 03/03/2011 at 1:17 PM
  longhairmike
  Participant
  1069 posts
  i have read that mineral oil can be given orally ONLY if the bun’s gut is already hydrated. otherwise it could cause the material in the intestines to just compact further instead of helping slide it on out. think of a bunch of people stuck on a dry waterslide.
- 03/03/2011 at 5:25 PM
  anneNjoerule
  Participant
  135 posts
  I didn’t even read the thread, just the title. If you have to ask, than yes. I’d take her in. Luck
- 03/03/2011 at 7:10 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  I am glad your bunny is feeling better.
  
  I would definitely hesitate to take *anyones* advice over your vet. You did the right thing bringing her in to the vet…I would not do the mineral oil thing again though.
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