I’m sorry you are dealing with this!

I too would suspect a dental problem. The most common cause for low platelets is a (bacterial) infection of some type. Hopefully the enrofloxacine will help with that.

Along as you feed her critical care several times per day, and she eats it and poops and pees, she can technically survive on a diet like that indefinitely. Not that you’d want to keep a rabbit on syringed food for ever of course, but while you figure out the underlying cause of this, her nutritional and digestive needs will be met by the CC. Is she still on meloxicam and tummy meds?

I will alert forum moderator Jerseygirl to this thread. She has more experience with reading x-rays than I have. I have a dental bun with many bad teeth, with a lot more misalignment than your x-ray is showing. My vet told me that teeth that are all white on the x-rays are dead teeth, ie teeth that are not growing (erupting) anymore. If its just one or two teeth that are dead, pulling them could be an option, esp if you see signs of infection around the roots. Since your bun is getting enrofloxacine, your vet is probably exploring that option first, which is wise.

Metacam and gut meds are very good, but should’ve helped her get at least some of her appetite back. What dosage metacam is she on?

ETA: Pellet mush with herbs will do fine until you get the Critical Care. I do know it’s a lot of work for you though.

If the tooth root is overgrown it will need to be extracted. If the tooth is already rotten and infected, it will probably come out very easily. It will be important to find a vet that is experienced with rabbit dentals though.

Unfortunately I am not sure that you will be able to cure the infection without removing the tooth.

Im sorry you are dealing with but I must say, well done on getting her fed and keeping the gut moving! And well done knowing that oral amoxicillin would have been bad. Your girl is in good hands with you.

Would the vet in possession of the x-rays & blood results be willing to consult with a rabbit specialist online? I know there are some online sites where owners can speak with a vet with questions but they are legally limited. I think you might get better results through your vet seeking other professional opinions. A lot of specialist won’t take direct questions from the owner. I will attempt to find some possible vets they could reach out to.

While it is nice of Bam to say I have exp with reading x-rays, I honestly feel confounded by them usually and need vet to explain what I’m seeing. I guess I’m somewhat familiar with some dental X-rays and facial abscess due to seeing those with few of my own rabbits over 10 years?? But I am not trained to read them. Like anyone, I can find other xrays to compare them with & speculate… i will need to open this thread on my laptop to get a better look. At first glance, there does appear to be something going on around the eye orbit, probably involving tooth roots. You mentioned her eye is affected. What does it look like?

“Cause I don’t really trust the vets here, one said dilated heart and the other said tooth infection and I can’t make out which is what”

I’m sorry to suggest this – it is possible it is both these things and they may be unrelated.

I was better off looking on my phone & zooming in.

Just linking this page for you as I think it can help us rabbit owners distinguish some things we are looking at with x-rays.

Rabbit X-Rays (radiographs)

I’ve emailed a rabbit specialist here in Australia and am trying get some other contacts you could reach out to via your vet.

Medirabbit (trusted source) has the enrofloxacine dose at 0.5-15 mg body weight. 25 mg gives your bun a dose of 10 mg/kilo body weight.

If your metacam is 1.5 mg/ml, the dose your bun is getting is low. 0.4ml only gives her a dose of 0.23 mg/kilo body weight. The lowest dose medirabbit has is 0.3mg/kilo body weight. Rabbits metabolize meloxicam much more effectively than cats and dogs.

As for the teeth, the hope is that the enrofloxacine will eradicate any bacterial infection around the tooth or teeth root(s). This sometimes work. The rationale behind burring overgrown teeth is to give them more space so tha5 them e pressure on the roots is relieved. I have a bun with very overgrown teeth roots on one side, they cant be extracted because iits all of the teeth in his right upper jaw. He’s had them burred, and they’re not growing anymore, but I have to support feed him because he can’t eat enough on his own. He also gets a relatively high dose metacam every day. The alternative to this is sadly to have him pts. He’s a happy, social, active and outgoing bunny though, just a bit high maintenance.

The eye could be affected simply by the tooth roots interfering with the tear canal. It doesnt necessarily mean there’s an infection. There isnt much space in that area.

The round platelets are concerning, Im assuming you will retake the blood test in a short while to see if there’s any changes?

Here’s a screenshot from Medirabbit’slist of safe analgesics, regarding dosage of metacam.

I can’t really see the x-rays.

You should not feed her during the night. According to my vet, buns need a good night’s rest just like the rest of us. When my bun relied solely on CC for food, I fed him 15-20 ml CC every 3-4 hours, but not during the night. As he got better, I only fed him 3 times per day, now 2, but he eats quite a bit of rolled oats, grass and fresh leaves now. He is only 1.5 kg, so a lot smaller than your bun.

Here is a screenshot of Oxbow’s dosage chart for CC:

It’s from Oxbow Australia, https://www.oxbowaustralia.com/critical-care%e2%84%a2-information-for-pet-owners/but Oxbow CC is the same all over the world. If you use pellet mush, serving size is roughly the same. To make sure she gets what she needs, I recommend you weigh her. I use a kitchen scale and place the bun in a bowl, since your bun is 2.5 kilo, this method could work. Write down her weight, I’ve found it quite impossible to remember!

I was told not to feed my bun during the night even when he was very ill. If you give her some rolled oats and soft hay etc to munch on during the night, she might just try it because she gets a little hungry. Rolled oats are easy on the tummy and many buns like them a lot.

I encourage you to revisit with the vet with this new symptom. It might help them put together a picture of what is going on.

I was able to contact a forum member that was active here some years ago. They live in your region. I’ll send you a message on here to give some contact details.

Sending {{{vibes}}} for you dear bunny.

Oh good, I’m glad you were able to go back. I’m sorry it didn’t give more answers though. Perhaps it’s lymph nodes you can feel? Or was the vet of the opinion that it is abscesses also?

I guess i do understand them saying go continue with antibiotics because surgery for her right now might be too risky at the moment?

Regarding feeding, have you tried a thicker mix of critical care (or pellet mush) and giving to her in a shallow dish? If you could get her doing that, it will relieve you both from the syringe feeding routine. Or cut it down somewhat.  I would try different consistencies. So if she doesn’t like mushy texture, she could try eating little pea sized balls of the mix.

If it’s at the point where she doesn’t want to eat it, then force-feeding is unfortunately required. She really does need to eat. As @jerseygirl mentioned, you can try to experiment with different consistencies of critical care (thick to watery pancake-batter consistency, as one of my vets describe the spectrum) to see if she’s willing to eat any of it on her own off a plate or something. Again, if that’s not working, she needs to be forcefed so she has the needed nutrients and strength to get through this.

You can also try mixing the CC with some mashed banana to see if that will get her to eat it on her own. But otherwise you will need to syringe feed her.

Can’t offer help, but wanted to say you’re a wonderful pet owner for doing all you’re doing. Try to stay strong. Sending love your way. <3

Rapid growth typically points to an aggressive tumor, but abscesses can grow fairly quickly sometimes. Abscesses are difficult to drain in rabbits. Their pus is so thick, it just doesn’t drain like it does in other animals.

You should be feeding her if there is no blockage. Rabbits need food in their tums always. Give a littlw bit more often rather than a big meal with many hours in between.

I’m very sorry.

Sometimes for dysbiosis of the gut vets will recommend you feed some poop from a healthy rabbit. If that is possible for you, you could try it. You can mash the healthy poop in with the food you are syringing her.

I’m sorry I didn’t see your reply from a couple days ago. To answer your question – Yes. And, unfortunately, your suspicions were correct. Nobody wants to hear their pet has cancer. I’m so sorry. 🙁

Steroids are best avoided in rabbits. However, they are occasionally used for very a short duration to treat certain conditions (i.e. spinal injury, etc.).

I’m so very sorry. As LBJ says, corticosteroids should be used with extreme caution in rabbits. It is used as a last resort in acute cases of e cuniculi or spinal injury etc, in the form of one single injection, not as maintenance treatment. NSAIDs (meloxicam and other non-steroidal ant inflammatory painkillers) must not be given together with corticosteroids.

Now I think it’s all about making her as comfortable as possible.

Thank you for being a wonderful bunny mum.

I’m very sorry to hear that. 🙁  My ferret has cancer and is on Prednisolone. As the others have said, you don’t want your rabbit on steroids, but if there’s no way around it, I would see if your vet will prescribe Prednisolone instead of Prednisone, it’s easier on the liver.

I’ve had success shrinking my ferrets tumors with CBD, it also acts as a painkiller. Might be something to try if you have access to it.

Oh, I am so sorry! <3 😥 You did everything you could for her, please, please, do NOT blame yourself for her passing, you are an excellent bunny owner, doing all you could for her to the end! Let her rest in peace over the bridge with the knowledge that you are happy and well, don’t make her stress if you become being distraught and in depression! Give it a few good cries, get it all out, once you’ve had a good bawl, then I would recommend curling up in a comfortable place, and looking at old videos and pictures of her, it can help with the grief to do that, it has helped me in the past.

Don’t lose who YOU were before, you have a blinding beautiful light, don’t destroy it! I’m sure she is very happy and proud of the moments of being YOUR rabbit, and spending the once in a lifetime opportunity, to be with YOU. Honor her with joy, and happiness. It is always hard to forget their spirit and huge personality. They are the best companions you could ever wish for, and I hope that someday you will find joy in another bun. Take care, and find the beauty in each and every day. We are always here for you. 🙂

Rest in Peace little one! <3

Oh no, I’m so sorry. 😥  I agree with HipHopBunny, don’t blame yourself. You did everything you could to try and help her.

Binky free little girl.

I’m so sorry. You did all that you could for her. Please don’t blame yourself.

I will keep her in my warmest thoughts, and deepest prayers. She is a bun that was truly beloved to everyone, and I am again, so sorry for you! <3 The hardest part of owning a rabbit, is accepting when it is their time to leave us, and it hurts so bad when they do, but life must go on. Know that she is with you every step of the journey you set out here to accomplish, they are forever friends, even when we can’t see them, know that she is there for you always. Maybe you could try fostering buns to help with the grief? If that would help, then I would say to go for it. Anything that will bring a smile to your face is something you should do, find the beauty in every day, not the sorrow. 🙂

I’m so very sorry. Dont blame yourself. It was her time to go, you did all that could possibly be done.

It is very hard to lose a bun. They are our babies, as you say. 💔

I’m so very sorry. Binky free, sweet bun.

I know this is hard to except when they are gone. It’s hard to break out of the intense mode you’ve been in the past few weeks nursing her & worrying. I find it does help some to try remember the healthy years rather then the short weeks or days of illness. But it can take some time for those happier memories to break through grief.

If it helps you, please do share any stories or photos of her. You’re among people who understand what a little rabbit can be in someone’s life.

She is with you every moment of the day, just know that she is there. She is watching over you and wants to see you smile, so she knows that she can rest in peace, without the burden of the knowledge that you are grieving. You did everything you could, don’t feel as though someone else could have saved her. It hard, I know, to lose such a valued companion, who was there for you all the time that understood your emotion without you having to say any words, it’s the hardest part of owning a bun. My heart is with you!

Are there rabbit rescues in your area? Maybe you could try fostering? That can help with grief. If not, then do something else that brings you pleasure, read a book, call a friend, draw, do SomeThing that makes you smile. This will give her the knowledge that it is okay to move on, but still, be with you, she is most likely grieving over you as much as your grieving over her. You are never alone, always know that, please reach out, we are here for you!

I’m so sorry you lost her. She seems like the most wonderful rabbit. It is quite clear that she loved you, and that you gave her a great life.

Rabbit vet care is under-developped in most parts of tge world, sadly. Only a few of us have really good rabbi vets available to us. Vet care for buns is developing quite rapidly though, and things are getting better.

It may be all too soon to think about getting another rabbit now. Grief needs time. It never fully goes away  but it still is a good thing, to be able to love another living being deeply.

I hope you and your remaining rabbit can comfort each other during these sad times. It may be that the two of you will grow closer as a result.

So so very sorry @Poorvi . I hope you are able to hold all those happy memories precious and that they give you comfort during your grief.