My bunny isn't acting herself and I'm unsure of what to do

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 4 months ago by Hanelizabeth.

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- 06/22/2020 at 2:54 PM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hi everyone I really hope someone can help me with my bunny problem. So my rabbit Liliana is a 6-7 month old angora/chinchilla cross and is not spayed due to covid right now but i plan on spaying her ASAP. She’s very outgoing and energetic but in the last 48 hours she hasn’t been wanting to come out for play time after she eats like she has been doing since I got her last December. She seemed more lethargic when i first offered her to play (her play time does start during peak snooze time 3pm until 6-8pm but its never stopped her from doing zoomies). She did come out later in the day and was her usual bouncy, energetic self doing binkies and zoomies. But i started monitoring her anyway and noticed fluctuations in her stool size, she was over grooming and her stomach was making popping noises. I thought she may have gas and took her to my vet this morning. The vet said she couldn’t hear anything and she was physically healthy and well in herself. However, the vet gave her some medication and pain killers just to be safe. Its now the evening for my time zone and my bunny did come out to play and is now resting on top of her hiding house like she normally does. I’m puzzled at what to do. Is it possible her behaviour is changing as she grows up and actually wants to sleep duing peak snooze time or could it be a health issue that i need to take her to the vets again? She is still eating her hay and veggies perfectly but she’s never really been a big drinker and was wondering if a lack of interest in water might be the problem? (She does drink just not as much as my other bunny). I also gave her critical care last night just to be on the safe side and she licked the bowl clean. I want to say i know a lot about rabbits and behavioural cues etc but after this situation with so many conflicting cues I’m not too sure if my bunny is happy and pain free or not. I hope someone here might have an answer to my question. Stay safe and have a good day!
- 06/22/2020 at 3:31 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Hmmm, is she going through a heavy molt? Sometimes a big shed can make buns cranky and cause a bit of tummy upset. Sounds like she may have had some gas, which the pain med would help with.
  
  You can also give some tummy rubs and simethicone (baby gas drops) if she seems to still be uncomfortable. Gas can also cause some fluctuations in poop sizes. The fact that she’s eating normally is good.
  
  She also could be hitting puberty, so having some behavior changes.
  
  Do you offer water in a bowl or bottle? Most buns will drink more from a bowl. Feeding veggies dripping wet from being washed also helps up water intake. 🙂
  
  I will also say that my buns normally will take a snooze after they eat a big meal. They will be really active before they get their veggies (prob in anticipation), then will eat, nap for 30 min or so, then start exploring again if it’s evening. It it’s during the day they usually just sleep the rest of the day for the most part. So she could be settling into a more adult routine.
  
  You can keep an eye on whether she seems to be sleeping comfortably, or showing signs of pain (loud tooth grinding, sitting hunched, pressing her belly into the ground, squinting, refusing food).
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/22/2020 at 3:45 PM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hi thanks for responding so quickly 😊 i offer her both a bottle and bowl but she seems to just turn her nose up at both of them.
  
  I think she had a bit of gas too and i will look for the baby drops for her/for any future occurrences.
  
  Sometimes she sits in a superman pose and flopped today but sometimes she sits hunched and this is one of the reasons im unsure if she is unconfortable/in pain because the laying positions contradict each other.
  
  I was thinking about steaming her veggies tomorrow in water and perhaps mushing up her pellets (Timothy hay based) with water like i would with critical care to see if she would eat them but i feel like she’s been through a stressful day already with being at the vets and dont want to stress her out anymore.
  
  Your suggestion about her maturing really helped and somewhat put my mind at ease as my older, spayed 3 year old rabbit snoozes during the time Liliana seemed to be more lethargic so perhaps she’s settling into maturity as you suggested.
  
  Thanks for your help i really appreciate it! I will continue to monitor her over the next couple of days and if i feel like she needs to see the vet again I’ll make another appoinment 😊
- 06/22/2020 at 5:21 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  It does sound like she’s perhaps a bit gassy. I would keep offering hay especially, critical care is good too, and any favorite greens (but make sure they aren’t gas-causing ones, like broccoli, cabbages, or even kale in some buns). Encouraging some gentle movement can also help with gas.
  
  It’s good to have some favorite foods to offer if you ever aren’t sure if a bun is just sleepy or not feeling well. If a bun doesn’t eat a favorite food, then you know there is a serious problem.
  
  For the sake of covering all the bases, what veggies do you feed, and how much? I found with one of my buns I was feeding a bit too many greens and I think it made him a bit gassy after meals.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/22/2020 at 5:47 PM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hey i feed my bunnies unlimited hay, small portion of pellets according to their weight and for veggies i feed them a mix between green and red romaine, British spring greens and the sorta spikier green and red lettuce if its in the shops. I feed her a decent sized bowl (perhaps the size of a cat bowl?) of veggies everyday.
  
  I was debating if i was perhaps giving her too many greens and tomorrow i will reduce the amount and soak it in water.
  
  I actually mushed up a small amount of pellets (one of her favourites) with water to try and get more fluids into her (i just ran out of critical care and will need to wait until tomorrow) and she has been drinking/eating it willingly and her energy has really improved. She’s been back completely to her usual self for now but i will keep a close eye on her until i go to bed.
  
  I’ve offered her some banana today (ultimate favourite food) and she gobbled it all up without any issues. She also ate all her veggies as well.
  
  I have attempted to give her tummy rubs but she doesn’t like being lifted (even though she does get handled) and i think me attempting to give her tummy rubs makes her believe I’m picking her up. I don’t know if you would have any suggestions for this? Thanks 😊
- 06/22/2020 at 6:05 PM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  If you have a carrier with an opening in the top, you could put her in there and try to do a tummy massage. You can also try to just lift her bottom up a little bit, to help the gas move along. I second the Simethicone, my guy gets gas sometimes during a shed, and so far it has worked every time.
- 06/22/2020 at 6:25 PM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hi thanks for the advice!
  
  I’ll try my best to give her tummy massages or lift her bottom in the carrier i have later this morning (its currently 2:24am where i live haha)
  
  I’ll also drag my parents out to get the baby gas drops and give her some 😊
- 06/22/2020 at 6:38 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Some bunnies are OK with a tummy rub while laying down on the ground as well, if you just massage a bit without lifting them up at all. Glad to hear she’s perked back up!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/22/2020 at 6:43 PM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  You better go to sleep! 😆
- 06/22/2020 at 10:45 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  @Hazel Huh? I’m confused! LOL
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/23/2020 at 3:56 AM
  Hazel
  Participant
  2587 posts
  😆
  
  She said it was after 2am in her last post (also, I’ve found that telling people to sleep on their bunny problems usually fixes everything!) 😆
- 06/23/2020 at 6:03 AM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hey guys (i finally got up lol) i cleaned my bunnies cage today and moved some of the key things she has (moved her hiding house to the other side and put her hay rack and bottle closer together) to create some intrigue for her. She drank out of the bottle herself, has shown a lot more interest in her hay which she is currently nomming on and is just overall much more active. I’m going to my pharmacy later on today to pick up a prescription but I’ll look for the baby drops and give her some of it to be safe.
  
  I’ll also steam her veggies, give less of it and mush up her pellets in water for extra fluids.
  
  Thanks so much for all your help and advice and I’ll keep you guys updated 😊
- 06/30/2020 at 10:58 AM
  Hanelizabeth
  Participant
  10 posts
  Hi just an update about my bunny!
  
  The next day after i last responded i took her back to the vet and they gave me medication and cat metacam to give to her.
  
  She has definitely improved and is practically 100% herself again except for every time she eats something in large bulk (like her hay), i hear her tummy gurgling but she goes back to normal afterwards with no issues. I was wondering if perhaps im just hearing her digestive system going to work instead of her having an issue with gas now?
  
  She eats all her hay regularly, is now drinking plenty and comfortably from her water bottle (she chose it over the bowl lol), continues to munch up all her veggies and pellets and is pooping/peeing regularly with no irregularities.
  
  Thanks for all your advice!
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