Sick Rabbit: in need of advice with care questions and experiences

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 7 months ago by Bam.

Viewing 6 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 07/20/2020 at 4:24 PM
  Nibbles1418
  Participant
  29 posts
  -Long Post Warning-
  So Friday morning at 3:00 am (3 days ago now) I had to rush Nibbles to the emergency vet because I woke up to find her lethargic and unable to walk. They informed me that she had lost the ability to use her back legs, but there was nothing they could do because they did not have an actual small/exotic animal vet there atm. I waited until her actual vet opened and took her there immediately. He saw her and Xrayed her. Informed me that she had a ventral deviation that had caused her loose all feeling and function past her lower hips (see attached image for full doctor report). He prescribed her Meloxidyl as an anti inflammatory to see if it would help. He was optimistic that it didnt appear to be a fracture but blunt that there is a very small chance of recovery.
  Since then she has continued to eat hay (though it has to be placed in front of her since she cant walk), drink water (mostly through syringe since she usually uses a bowl and will only let me help her stand to drink half the time), and has had critical care mixed in just in case so she is getting enough. She is fully aware and alert still. However I do have to help her to express her bladder since she doesn’t have the control to anymore.
  
  My questions are:
  1. yesterday she had some really weird poops mixed in with her normal ones. It was long and thick instead of being small balls. but not liquidish. (I attached a picture). I called a vet (her vet was closed since they have reduced hours) and they informed me I could be over watering her or giving her too much critical care or it could just be because she is having trouble. but since shes already in emergency care there isnt much to be done atm till her next visit (Wednesday)
  2. One of the big points he made was to try to keep her back legs dry (since she now pisses on them). Ive done my best but am having a lot of trouble with the real cleaning of urine. Im concerned about urine scalding. Any suggestions?
  3. lastly does anyone have any type of similar experiences or knowledge on the subject? Any encouragement or advice would be much appreciated.
- 07/20/2020 at 5:14 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  I’m so sorry you are going through it. 🙁 Those weird poops look like malformed cecals. Maybe she has trouble eating them with her limited mobility now? I also wonder if the innervation of the cecum might be having trouble, along with the other issues.
  
  Regarding the cleanliness issue, there was a member here who had a chronically ill bun who had partial paralysis from EC. She used puppy pee pads in his area and I think even diapered him sometimes. This is a very long thread about her bunny Lancelot , but you might find some useful information in it, although the cause of his troubles was different: https://binkybunny.com/forums/topic/lancelots-e-cuniculi-journal/
  
  . . . 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.
- 07/21/2020 at 1:24 AM
  Enzo the bunny
  Participant
  18 posts
  Hi my rabbit is having a poop problem too I’m so sorry that nibbles has hurt legs and I hope she feels better those do look like abnormal poops maybe sand a pic to your vet? It could be because she is in pain but I’m really not sure.
  
  hope you find answers!
- 07/27/2020 at 11:54 AM
  Nibbles1418
  Participant
  29 posts
  update:
  I was able to talk to my vet more. He confirmed that the poop is normal and it is just because she is not eating her poop. He advised me to up her pellets and nutrients to make up for it.
  I am still having trouble with her urine though. i bought some weewee pads to help control the mess in her area and switch them out so that shes not sitting in it. I also have been cleaning and trying to dry her off but I’m still struggling with keep her dry. Ive tried cornstarch and blowdrying but im not sure its enough. Im really worried about her getting irritated and urine scalding.
- 07/27/2020 at 12:08 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  When you have cleaned her and dried her, you can put a small amount of barrier cream on the areas that are most exposed to pee. The barrier cream (sudocream, bag balm, vaseline, bees wax salve) will protect the skin from the detrimental effects of moisture to some extent.
  
  If you are lucky, this could heal up or at least get better with antiinflammatory meds and rest. Time will have to tell. It is important to get the swelling down, and unfortunately corticosteroids (which would’ve been used for a human or dog in a similar situation) should not be used with rabbits except as a very last resort. The meloxidyl is slower acting and less potent, but its a good antiinflammatory med for rabbits.
  
  The site Disabled rabbits specialises in info for owners of buns with temporary or permanent disabilities. They have good tips about hygien and housing etc:
  
  http://www.disabledrabbits.com/
- 07/27/2020 at 1:08 PM
  Nibbles1418
  Participant
  29 posts
  Bam,
  Thank you for the suggestions. I have been hesitant to use any topical cream because I wasnt sure what was safe for her (since the most problematic area is at the top of her hind legs and lower stomach, so right near genitals) and also safe for ingestion (since she can still reach back there and there is always a risk of them consuming some).. I’ve found conflicting answers online every time I try researching it.
  I forgot to mention that our vet took her off of the meds 3 days ago. He seemed to think that there was not much to be done etc.
  I’ve been trying to ask him about diapers and other options or treatments I could do…but again hes not giving me a lot. I have also looked into seeing someone else for a second opinion but in maine (where we live) there are next to no one who will treat rabbits or even answer questions about them. He mentioned trying a Tufts in Mass, but with the quarantine stuff I will have to hold off for a while.
- 07/28/2020 at 9:56 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17029 posts
  I’m sorry to hear that the vet stopped the meds. I’d say the meloxicam is her best chance. To prevent stomach trouble, melixicam can be combined with famotidine (unless ranitidine has become available in the USA again, in which case ranitidine would be the better option). Did the vet say why they stopped the meds? I thought you were going to try meloxicam for 5-7 days.
  
  I showed this to my mother who is a physiotherapist for humans. Things like these can happen to humans too. It is basically impingement of the spinal cord, caused by a luxated thorassic vertebra. The impingement causes swelling and there’s only so much room inside the spinal canal, since it consists of bone on all sides. The swelling must be brought down or the loss of function is likely to become permanent due to damage which occurs when oxygen and nutrients cant reach the spinal cord. With a human, doctors would most likely first try to bring down the swelling with meds, if that didnt work, surgical opening the vertebra on its thinnest sides (laminae) would be considered, in order to create more space for the spinal cord and the circulating spinal fluid.
Author

Messages

Viewing 6 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.