Rabbit with UTI

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This topic has 7sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Sarita.

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- 01/20/2012 at 4:39 AM
  chefcv3
  Participant
  28 posts
  My bun Norma has UTI with sludge in her bladder. Just so you know, Norma is a chinchilla bun and is quite big. I took her to the vet where she was diagnosed and right now she’s on metacam and Orbax. She’s had this since Saturday. I was told to jiggle her up in both in a standing position and a laying position to loosen things up in her bladder. And I am also cleaning her little area with baby wipes everyday. She is so raw down there poor thing.
  
  She’s been running around no problem. Seems happy. But…..is not eating her pellets….very little….or drinking hardly. I’m trying to hand feed her but she doesn’t take it all the time. She’s eating very little hay but is chowing down on parsley and romaine which the dr. told me to wet down good and give it to her. She seems to be pooping now and peeing. When I called the vet to tell her about her not eating she wanted me to bring her in but as you can imagine, the vet bill from saturday to sunday basicvally drained me so I can’t afford for her to be there overnight again. They said that I should come in and get the critical care to force feed her. I’m a little leary about that because I had a bad experience with it with my other bunny who ended up dying.
  
  My question is how long can Norma go without chowing down on her pellets and drinking (she normally drinks tons!)?? Should I start to force feed her? Is it possible she is still tramatically affected from the vet visit and that’s why she is not eating for now? Does the medicine afffect her taste buds (I know, weird question!)?
  
  I would appreciate any help in this matter. Thank You!
  
  Chris
- 01/20/2012 at 5:31 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Actually if she has sludge, vets will usually recommend that you take the pellets away since they are high in calcium…so as long as she’s eating lots of greens I would not be concerned about the pellets.
  
  I would also suggest you spritz the greens with water to give her extra hydration.
  
  It’s good that you are expressing her bladder to see if there is any sludge as well. You might as the vet about doing sub-q fluids….this will help hydrate her and the vet can show you how to do this at home – it’s not difficult especially with a larger rabbit.
  
  Vibes for Norma, I hope she gets better.
- 01/20/2012 at 10:47 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  You do have to be careful giving food thru a syringe so a bunny doesn’t aspirate, but if you put it sideways and go slow, it should be okay, HOWEVER, I would have your vet or the vet tech show you how to do this if you end up having to go this route. I am so sorry to hear about your the loss of your other bunny.
  
  Sarita has given you some good advice as well. I know that sub-q fluids helped with Jack’s sludge issues.
  
  Does your bunny have a water bottle or crock?
- 01/21/2012 at 12:42 AM
  chefcv3
  Participant
  28 posts
  Thank you for the info Sarita. I’ve been dousing her greens with water. She’s eating them no problem. Still not eating hay or pellets though. She seems to have no desire for them. The sub-q fluids……is that some intravenous port the vet would put in Norma?? Could you please explain that to me? Thanks
- 01/21/2012 at 12:47 AM
  chefcv3
  Participant
  28 posts
  She hs water bottle. I’ve basically been giving that to her. She won’t go to the water bottle by herself. This was a bun who used to drink a tremendous amount of water so I am still a little worried about that. i plan on talking to the vet today about how she is doing.
  
  As far as the feeding through the syringe, as I said before, I am totally nervous about that. She seems to be in good spirits as if nothing is bothering her. Eating her greens like crazy and just hopping about. It’s just weird. She always chowed down and ate her hay like crazy. Now she wants no part of it. Do you think it could be the meds that’s she’s on? As crazy as this question is…..Do the meds affect her taste buds?
- 01/21/2012 at 3:20 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Try giving her water from a bowl instead of a bottle.
  
  I don’t know about meds affecting the taste buds. Is she eating hay?
  
  As for pellets, the the smallest part of their diet and most of the time I do not feed pellets at all to my rabbits except in very small amounts. As long as she is eating hay and veggies, don’t worry about the pellets.
- 01/22/2012 at 6:08 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  The sub-q fluids……is that some intravenous port the vet would put in Norma??
  
  Yes, they are given via a butterfly catheter.
  
  I hope your bunny feels better soon.
- 01/22/2012 at 11:03 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  The sub-q fluids are given by an IV…it’s very easy to do and will hydrate your rabbit – ask your vet if he/she thinks your rabbit would benefit from this.
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