So after Coco’s near death from bloat a few months ago, I have been a very nervous rabbit parent.

I’ve also been finishing my PhD comps ( done! Hurrah!) and starting to interview for professor jobs, so I haven’t been anywhere but polishing my CV and trying to sound like people should hire me. 

That being said, I have kept a close eye on the Rabbits. The utter “Out of the blue”  and no real underlying cause nature of Coco’s Bloat really drove home how Fast rabbits can get sick and die.

So Tonight, at 5 pm I walk the salad into the room. If there is one thing I can count on …it is Two rabbits waiting by where their salad bowl shouldbe, waiting for the Human to deposit the food offering. Only Coco is there. 

Odd. I call Jackson, and no reponse. I shake the papaya tablet jar. Coco gets very excited and I give her a tablet. Normally if Jackson is being slow, as soon as he hears Coco crunching the tablet he is out like a Shot for his.

Nope.  I think back to when I saw him last. Morning Salad? Yep. 1 pm when I cleaned litter and refreshed new hay? No. I didn’t see him then.

I find him under the bed and get him out. I offer him a papaya tablet. No go. I offer a dandelion green by putting it right up to his lips and pushing. Nope. I go and get a little pineapple juice. No Thanks.

I do some belly massage and give him some gas drops ( and rescue remedy). Call the vet and get him a late appointment.

Stasis, but early in the process. He gets sub Q fluids, Metacam and some probiotocs. I get metacam and probiotics to take home and critical care for force feeding.

I got some critical care into him tonight – and a couple of pieces of parsley. The fluids seemed to really help and I did see some Moist smallish poops. He definately seems more comfortable after the metacam, and jumped into the box and nibbled a few pieces of Hay.

Again, Thank You BB forum.  I’ve learned that speed is important in rabbit care – Him not eating since 1 p.m. or so and he was already dehydrated after only 5 hours.  That will, of course, make the stasis Worse. I know that Pain will keep him from eating, so I need metacam. I know that belly massage and gas drops that I started an hour before he was seen helped too!

And Now, I have a belly to massage