Thanks, Wick. I really appreciate the help. I’ll definitely look for the store brand simethicone.

His diet has been this regimen for about a year now. I haven’t given him anything new recently, but he does get a few tiny pieces of dried papaya as a treat. That has been consistent since I’ve had him so not a new food.

I did have someone babysit him over Christmas. That would have been over a week ago and they had the same food and diet instructions as I wrote above. She says she feeds him exactly what I wrote but I assume there is probably some variation. That said, he didn’t have any trouble until yesterday morning.

Depending on what the vet advises, I’m thinking about offering only (unlimited) orchard grass/oat hay and his usual portion of greens for a day or two, is that safe/helpful to do?

UPDATE.

Thank you, everyone, for replying. It really means a lot to me. We had a rather eventful day but I will say right off the bat, even though it was an awful experience, Olaf seems to be feeling much better.

He was looking rough this afternoon. He wouldn’t eat, drink, or react to any attention or massages. He just sat loafed in the corner with a sad, uncomfortable look on his face. I knew we had to go so I took him to the vet before our appointment out of concern. They took him in right away and I explained the situation as well as the fact that Olaf hates to be handled. This is true about most rabbits but Olaf is a serious fighter. No biting or scratching, just hard leg kicks no matter how he’s subdued.

When the vet came in I told him this again. He tried to flip Olaf over and as soon as he was on his back, Olaf freaked. He kicked out and darted across the table. He tried to grab him. I tried to grab him. It was a frenzy until, shockingly, Olaf leaped off the table and onto the floor. At least a three foot drop. He scurried under the bench seat and I had to nearly crawl under to get him out. I think he was in shock (as was I) so he didn’t react when I picked him up and put him back on the table. It wasn’t until then we noticed blood on the towel he was standing on. His nose was bleeding and I thought for sure he hit his head and was horribly injured. I almost burst into tears.

After a bit of examination of his mouth and nose it was determined that he must have hit his nose on the way down, causing the bleeding. There was nothing wrong with his teeth, tongue, or face. His spine and neck were fine, too, thankfully. It was just bleeding from the landing. Moving on, he was given sub-q fluids for dehydration. No blockages or masses were felt, nor bloat. The vet thinks it was a bad case of gas that led him to lose his appetite. He was pooping at the office, good in size and quality, so his gut is still moving.

He was prescribed 3/4 mL Metoclopramide every 12 hours via syringe and a small dose of Laxatone which is supposedly a lubricant for hairballs (usually in cats). I’ve read that the Metoclopramide can be helpful but that the Laxatone is not ideal for rabbits and can even make GI problems worse?

Any suggestions on the medications before I administer anything tonight would be greatly appreciated. He is currently eating and drinking very well.

Thank you, Luna! He’s doing really well this morning. Perky, alert, and super hungry. I would be too after this ordeal! He’s been nomming on lots of hay and got some damp greens for a little extra hydration. I cut back on the pellets a little just to see how he does but he seems more interested in the hay anyways so I’m happy he’s getting fiber that way.

He’s also using the litter box regularly and showing some great droppings (only rabbit people love that!). I went ahead and gave him the Metoclopramide (each dose 12 hours apart) and he seems to tolerate it. I decided against the Laxatone. It is a petroleum-based product (yuck) and seems to be used mostly in cats for hairballs. Rabbit medical sites seemed to suggest it could actually gum up the intestines, rather than lubricate them, and I didn’t feel strongly enough about using it.

This was our first vet-necessary bout of illness so I appreciated your support for Olaf. :]

Thank you! The vet thought it may have been a rough bout of gas in his system (not true bloat) that caused enough pain for him to stop eating and drinking. Both of which caused dehydration which may have slowed his gut even more without becoming full-blown GI stasis. He never stopped pooping, only went less often and had some dry droppings, which were probably making him even more uncomfortable.

The sub-q fluids really perked him up and got him going again. As soon as he was running around and in don’t-touch-me-mom-I’m-really-busy-zooming mode, I knew he was feeling more like himself. :]

Awe, thanks LPT. I agree! :]

Thank you Bam and Q8! Much appreciated, both in support and advice.

He’s doing much better today and seems to be as happy and hungry as ever. Also having great litter box… erm, events! :]

I will definitely cut back on the greens and oat hay. He seems to be naturally craving the orchard grass anyway so I’m wondering if he instinctively knows it’s better? He’s been sticking his whole head in the orchard grass hay bag and coming out looking like a hay monster. I did cut back the pellets, too, giving him 10-12 pieces in the morning and night, so hopefully the hay and pellets will keep him feeling well.

So glad to hear the Laxatone is a bad idea. Maybe it works in some instances but as soon as the vet said “it’s for cats.. and rabbits, too” I knew something was fishy. He’s still tolerating the metoclopramide and should have his last dose tomorrow morning.

Fingers crossed!