Back arching/ stretching???

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Hi so I’ve noticed today that ginger won’t stop arching his back and stretching like a cat does. He hasn’t done this a few times he keeps on doing it and has done since this morning. A lot of people have said that it’s just stretching however I read somewhere that it can be due to abdominal pain? He’s eating and drinking and I’m monitoring his poo although they seem normal. I think after losing toffee I’m being even more cautious and so could be just over reacting however I just want to make sure he’s ok and I don’t have to take him to the vet. Any help would be great Thankyou

[Wick & Fable]

When I think of arching and stretching more than usual, I do think of abdominal discomfort. Perhaps there’s gas he’s trying to push out or some hair that’s being particularly slow.

Do you have baby gas drops to give?

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.

[Bam]

I agree with Wick, tummy ache is what comes to mind. Simethicone baby gas drops can be given on suspicion of gas, 0.5-1 ml once per hour for the first 3 hours, then 0.5 every two hours. If it hasn’t helped within a few hours, it’s unlikely to. It’s not absorbed by the body, it just gets pooped out.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Is this something that I need to take him to the vets over? Sorry I’ve never experienced this before

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By bam on 3/23/2019 10:30 AM
I agree with Wick, tummy ache is what comes to mind. Simethicone baby gas drops can be given on suspicion of gas, 0.5-1 ml once per hour for the first 3 hours, then 0.5 every two hours. If it hasn’t helped within a few hours, it’s unlikely to. It’s not absorbed by the body, it just gets pooped out.

Is this a cause for concern? I don’t have the drops to give him. Is it going to pass on it’s own or should I be worried? I don’t want him to be in pain or get ill over it that’s all. Is there any natural way to get rid of the discomfort? Will it go away or do I have to buy something? If so do you know where I can get something like this from. Thankyou for helping me

[Wick & Fable]

Every gas episode (if this is one) is different in severity. If he is eating, drinking, and pooping, I’d say those are all really great signs and do not make me feel like a vet visit is urgently needed. I will say if he stops eating or seems to no longer be pooping, then that is a more major concern.

You can give your rabbit tummy massages and see if that helps it pass. If you’re able to go to a local store that sells medicine, it should be easy to find baby gas drops as well. Here’s an instructional video on some techniques: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg

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.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Thankyou I’ll keep a close eye on him and go out and get some baby gas drops

[DanaNM]

Agree with Wick and bam, you can also give him a tummy rub to help shift the gas around (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbyC6CWbm5M) , as well as encourage him to run around a bit.

. . . 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.  

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Hi just an update. I had to take him to the vet. He was in pain and had stopped pooing completely. The have given him meds to get his bowel moving and get rid of the pain. I’m just wondering what leafy Greens are best to give him? He’s not drinking too much so I’m keeping an eye on that but I’ve read greens are suppose to be good. Any suggestions to which ones I should pick up for him? Thankyou for all the help

[Wick & Fable]

It’s great that you got him to the vet once you noticed the pooping stopped. Bowel movement meds and pain meds are common for these cases, to my knowledge.

I think any leafy greens that he is willing to eat, that is safe for rabbits, and that he has been exposed to before (if possible), would be great. They will really help his hydration if he’s not eating, as well as boost his strength. Did you receive any recommendation to feed critical care?

Generally, the safe-bet greens are green and red lettuce, and romaine lettuce. You can make them a bit more wet than usual to help hydrate him.

Any nutrition at this point is good if he is cleared to eat (i.e. there’s no blockage), so pellets, greens, hay… whatever fits his appetite. Some people offer that favorite treat to get some enthusiasm to eating back as well.

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.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By Wick on 3/24/2019 12:38 PM
It’s great that you got him to the vet once you noticed the pooping stopped. Bowel movement meds and pain meds are common for these cases, to my knowledge.

I think any leafy greens that he is willing to eat, that is safe for rabbits, and that he has been exposed to before (if possible), would be great. They will really help his hydration if he’s not eating, as well as boost his strength. Did you receive any recommendation to feed critical care?

Generally, the safe-bet greens are green and red lettuce, and romaine lettuce. You can make them a bit more wet than usual to help hydrate him.

Any nutrition at this point is good if he is cleared to eat (i.e. there’s no blockage), so pellets, greens, hay… whatever fits his appetite. Some people offer that favorite treat to get some enthusiasm to eating back as well.

No recommendations to feed critical care? I’m new to this so I’m not very aware of the term? What is this? Do you think ginger would benefit from this? If so how do I do this? Thankyou so much for the help you’ve given me

[Wick & Fable]

Critical Care is a product by Oxbow which is commonly used by vets and rabbit owners a like. http://www.amazon.com/Oxbow-Critical-Apple-Banana-Supplement/dp/B001FKACXO/

It is typically used as the primary food source for rabbits in recovery of a surgery or something, so circumstances where the rabbit is not eating because it feels ill, but it still needs complete nutrients to recover. Some times, it can be recommended for rabbits on the mend of something to ensure they have the strength to recover. In other cases (less usual), Critical Care can be added to a diet to facilitate weight gain for underweight rabbits. The key is that it’s very nutrient-rich and provides rabbits in recovery with the needed nutrients if for some reason they are unable to get it on their own.

You can purchase it online (depending on where you live), and sometimes you can buy it from a vets office. It comes in a powder, and you mix some water with it to get a pancake-batter like consistency. Then you put it in a syringe and feed it to a rabbit. Typically, force-feeding is required because it’s usually given to rabbits who don’t want to eat, but some rabbits love the taste of it and eat it right up.

I mentioned CC (common abbreviation for it) because some vets will recommend it for GI stasis tn ensure the rabbit is still getting needed nutrients, since many rabbits will not be eating as readily after an episode. It sounds like (in your other post) that he is eating some hay, which is good!

An alternative is making a mush out of pellets (soaking pellets in water and mashing it up), and putting that in a syringe instead. I will note, I mean needle-less syringes, not needled syringes. That’d be terrifying.

This all goes to the main point of making sure your rabbit is eating enough. How is his appetite now? Does he eat food when offered?

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.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

He’s eating food when offered and doesn’t turn his nose up so I’ll keep cc in mind if his appetite starts to decrease again. Thankyou for the help I’m worried sick over him

[Bam]

I replied in your other thread, I basically said the same things as Wick though. It’s highly encouraging that he eats hay and takes food when offered now. Have you seen any poop?

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

I have. I’ve been really worried about that and I’m still monitoring closely but it seems that he’s started to be able to poo again which is a good sign still going to keep a really close eye on him

[FlemishDad]

Lower calcium is somewhat better if he is dehydrated. All the lettuces are fine. Other foods to try are carrots, bell peppers, cilantro, and winter squash.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Thankyou he loves lettuce so he’s had a leaf of that which is a good sign noticed he isn’t pooing as much as he has been though so still keeping a close eye on him

[Wick & Fable]

Poop is directly linked to how much is eaten, so in a way it makes sense that there’s less because he’s eating less. Since he’s still pooing, thats great!

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.

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

Posted By Wick on 3/25/2019 6:59 AM
Poop is directly linked to how much is eaten, so in a way it makes sense that there’s less because he’s eating less. Since he’s still pooing, thats great!

Ok Thankyou. What about if he’s started eating back to his usual self but isnt pooing as much as he usually does? Is that a cause for concern?

[x_toffee&ginger_x]

He is still arching his back a lot too

[Bam]

You can give more baby gas drops. Gas is a common consequence of stasis and its painful.

[Author]

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