and the saga continues…

[katie, max & penny]

I deleted my last two posts and compiled them on to here.

My first post was about Penny and Max- I just moved into my dorm and they refused to leave their cage for 2 days. However, I didn’t think about the floor. They had carpet back home and have tile here. SO I put down a carpet and VOILA. Happy bouncy bunnies out of the cage.

 

Then I noticed some runny stools. Because I moved, I changed waters, lettuce, environment. I didn’t know if any of that had anything to do with the runny stools. I took both buns to the vet where they collected a stool sample from each bun. They tested for coccidia- both came back negative. But the vet said that Penny (who turns out is a boy) had a lot of bacteria in her poop. She prescribed Baytril and Probiocin.

 

It’s been about 24 hours and there’s no change yet (which I didn’t expect). However, Penny is now terrified of me. She (he) already hated being touched, and now I have to catch her, hyponotise her and drug her twice a day. In her pen, she hides from me. When the buns are out of the pen, she hides in the same spot, behind my curtains. She stays there for hours. And now her (his) neuter is scheduled for Friday.

 

Needless to say, I’m worried. Is this a normal reaction? And is it ok to go on with her neuter? Max hated being touched before his neuter too, so I’m not too worried about that part. The hiding, I am definitely worried about. Do yall suggest anything?

 

Thanks X)

 

EDIT: I can’t delete my other posts, but an admin can if they feel generous

[KatnipCrzy]

Are you putting the bunny on their back for the meds?  If you are- that is not recommended as the bunny can easily aspirate the meds into their lungs and cause pneumonia.  Is the medicine flavored?  I know Baytril liquid often is and usually probiotics are palatable.

Can you towel the bunny- put him between your knees while you are kneeling on the floor-and put the tip of the syringe in the corner of the bunnies mouth?  That way the bunny can not back up and you can hold the body but have a free had to get the syringe in the bunnies mouth.

 

[katie, max & penny]

Penny is kind of on her back when I give her the medicine, but not flat. She’s at about a 45 degree angle. I sit on my bottom with my knees bent and cradle her against my thighs. she takes the medicine easily- I do the probiocin first bc the vet said its sour tasting and the flavored baytril after. She looooves the baytril, though. she licks her lips and everything.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ve given meds like that-sort of half up and half tranced. Another way is to kneel and put them between your legs (facing out, so their bum is facing your bum) and then hold up their front end and put the meds in their mouth -that way they can’t back away (you’re in the way) and if they go forward it’s into the meds

N.e.ways-That’s definitely a normal reaction. You’re getting associated with the medication (which probably tastes unpleasant, as well as involves being handled). It’s noooo biggie-trust me. Rabbits are very forgiving-after giving you the ‘cold shoulder’ aka bunny butt for a few days (you dooo deserve it-giving meds and all ). Try to spend some time after the meds giving treats or just hanging out in there to leave a pleasant association of you after the meds. AND try not to get your feelins hurt-they will forgive you

[KatnipCrzy]

I thought Schroeder would hate me after all the treatments I had to do to him to get him thru his GI stasis episode- SQ fluids, oral Metacam, oral Simethicone, force feeding Critical Care and tummy massage.  But Schroeder is actually more affectionate than he was before his ordeal and hangs out on the couch with us more and wants to be petted more.

And as Schroeder got better- he became less tolerant of some of the treatments- so that was actually a good sign.

[BinkyBunny]

You said that when you moved, you changed lettuce. Am I understanding correctly? What was their diet before and what has changed now? That can play a big part in tummy upsets (in addition to moving etc). The bacteria can be due to an imbalance, which can also be caused by stress, so it’s obviously hard to know for sure what is going on.

[katie, max & penny]

I always have fed them romaine lettuce, i just bought it at a different place than I did before. That’s what i meant- I didn’t change types of lettuce or anything.

Thanks for helping guys. Penny is getting better- she’s taking treats from me again which i think is a good sign.

[mattw]

With meds she didnt like, we put gizmo on a box/low table and put her feet right at the edge, i’d stand over her and hold her gently so she couldnt back up and Ruth would administer the medicine

Once done, we’d put her back down on the ground and she’d kick out a bit, and go into her cage – i started giving her a treat after each time we had to give her medicine so that she’s associate a good stuff with the medicine….

With the last stuff i had to give her it was flavoured and she couldnt get enough of it – as soon as she heard me shaking up the bottle she was out of her cage and round my feet waiting to get her medicine

Also with Giz, if you stroked her cheeks she went soft as anything, i used to do that just before i ever picked her up (which she never liked)

Good luck with it – they will forgive you eventually, they always do so dont worry too much about them hiding from you at the moment, they’ve had a big change in their life
Gizmo was the same as well whenever she saw her travel box for the Vet she’d dart under the sofa

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