No Appetite after Neuter

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by Oreo_Bun.

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- 06/06/2018 at 4:20 AM
  Oreo_Bun
  Participant
  5 posts
  Hello,
  
  This is my first post here so sorry if I do/say anything I shouldn’t!
  
  We got our bunny, Oreo, late last year from an owner who couldn’t look after him anymore. We got him neutered last Thursday (30 May 2018), on the advice of the vet. He came home with us the same day after the vet had given him some syringe feed and he’d eaten some cabbage.
  
  My problem is that nearly 1 week after his neuter, he still has no appetite! He’s gone off his treats (after initially eating them, but we put his medicine on them and I think he’s figured ya out) and is barely (or not at all) touching his pellets or hay. All we can get him to eat is some leafy greens (and I’m talking roughly 1 Savoy cabbage leaf a day and 2 cauliflower leaves a day, so not much) which isn’t the worst thing but he’s normally the hungriest bunny! His attitude seems normal, he’s hopping around ok, a little bit mardy and no binkying but I guess that’s to be expected immediately after surgery. He’s not hunched up at all, he’s sitting normally spread out with his legs behind him, or flopping on his side!
  
  I’ve seen posts on here about lack of appetite for a couple of days, but most seem to recover within 3 days or less and I’m getting worried! His poops are sort of normal, a bit darker than normal and not evenly shaped, but I figure that’s due to less hay than normal? I have been worried about GI Stasis but he is eating (just not much) and pooping, and drinking (although not much).
  
  We took him back to the vet on Tuesday (5 June 2018), who said his gut felt normal, there was no gas that she could feel, his wound looked healthy and he seemed himself (typically, once he got to the vet, he was on his best behaviour charming the vet)! We’re taking him back tomorrow (as per her advice), and he’s been on a higher painkiller dose since his trip back.
  
  I just wondered if anyone else has had similar experiences and if my bunny sounds ok? I’m worried sick. Is it normal for their appetite to still not have recovered?
  
  Thank you!
- 06/06/2018 at 5:59 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  I think it’s good that he’s going back to the vet tomorrow, as it’s definitely unusual to not have a proper appetite a week after the neuter. Have you always fed him cabbage? It can cause gas in a lot of buns, so if it’s new, that could be to blame.
  
  There’s also a possibility that it’s unrelated to the neuter and he’s having tooth pain, which is why he’s avoiding hay and pellets but eating some veg.
- 06/06/2018 at 6:06 AM
  Oreo_Bun
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thanks for the reply! He’s never had cabbage before, he much prefers romaine lettuce but the vet asked me to stop feeding him that because it has no nutrients. He definitely doesn’t like cabbage as much.
  
  I did wonder about that. He’s loving the syringe feed, and also bits of basil, but sometimes when he’s chewing hay he just stops mid-chew. I wondered if he’s in pain from it. I’ll ask them to check tomorrow!
- 06/06/2018 at 6:08 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  I agree it’s not normal that a bun isn’t eating properly a whole week after a neuter. I think a vet visit tomorrow is very wise. You can give him simethicone baby gas drops in case you suspect gas (this is ok according to Medirabbit). Have you had a good look at his area?
- 06/06/2018 at 6:19 AM
  Oreo_Bun
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thank you! Would the Simethicone be safe if he doesn’t have gas? His wound looks absolutely fine (the vet checked yesterday too), just a nice neat line and the swelling is down. He really doesn’t seem to be in any physical pain at all which is confusing me, he’s still lively and exploring and sitting in all his usual ways and places. I hope the vet can provide me with answers – every time I google it (probably worst thing to do) it suggests GI Stasis, but his gut does seem to be working fine I just can’t get him to want to eat
- 06/06/2018 at 10:33 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  That’s very strange advice from the vet – romaine lettuce is normally the go-to veg for rabbits. If cabbage is new then I would think it’s highly likely that it could be causing uncomfortable gas, which it is known to do in some bunnies. Is the vet rabbit experienced?
  
  Here’s a list from the House Rabbit Society on safe bunny veg for reference
  http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/
  
  Simethicone is always safe to give as it doesn’t get absorbed into the body, it just reacts with gas. If I think my buns are looking uncomfortable then I just give them a little syringeful just in case
  It’s recommended in this article on stasis by a vet if you’re worried
  
  http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html
- 06/06/2018 at 12:58 PM
  Oreo_Bun
  Participant
  5 posts
  I did think that – I’d read that romaine was the best lettuce for them. I did wonder if the receptionist at the vets didn’t pass on to the vet that it was specifically romaine lettuce (it was in a phone call), and maybe the vet presumed iceberg. I’m not sure.
  
  Thank you for the helpful list! And the article on stasis! I’m pretty sure it’s not that, but I don’t know what else it could be. He’s chewing at apple pieces (when I shove them under his nose), so I don’t think he’s in pain whilst eating. It’s like he’s lost his appetite but will eat when it’s given to him (except pellets. He will not touch pellets).
  
  I think the vet has experience with rabbits but isn’t a specialist. I’ve booked him an extra appointment tomorrow with a different, specialist vet – but I don’t want to stress him out by taking him to lots of appointments.
  
  It’s all very confusing because he’s his normal self in character! In fact, as I typed that he’s flopped down onto his side. I’m considering taking his pain relief down, in case that’s making him feel sick, but I’m hesitant to go against the vet’s advice and don’t want him to be in pain.
- 06/06/2018 at 1:07 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  It could be the pain meds. Whenever Bombur is prescribed pain meds he isn’t the greatest eater. I’d still take him to the vet though to rule out other possibilities
- 06/06/2018 at 2:38 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  I agree that it could be the pain medication, especially since you say he is on a high dose. Whenever my rabbits have been given pain meds, there is a warning on the bottle that it may cause anorexia/loss of appetite. It seems unusual for a male to still be on pain meds a week after surgery anyway. I think most vets only prescribe a few days of pain meds for male rabbits. The last rabbit I adopted was neutered at the shelter and he only got a shot for pain relief. No meds were sent home with him, and he did fine.
  
  Since you say your rabbit sometimes stops eating in mid chew, I wonder if he could have some teeth problems. Have his teeth been checked out?
  
  I hope the new vet can figure out what is wrong and that it is easily remedied.
- 06/06/2018 at 3:13 PM
  Oreo_Bun
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thank you for your help! It’s now been 13 hours since his last pain med dosage, and in the last 2 hours he’s been binkying and exploring and has voluntarily gone into his hutch to eat hay and pellets twice! He’s not eaten much, but more than he has done the past few days. I’m not going to give him painkillers tonight!
  
  Still going to take him to the vet tomorrow, but I think we might be on our way back to normal. Thanks so much for your suggestions ?
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