Bonnie went to the vet today. The vet diagnosed her with a hairball.

[HippityHopMom]

Today, my Bonnie was sick again.   I was here posting in December when Bonnie had taken ill on Dec. 18th.  She got well on Dec 18 before I had to take her to a vet.     Again today, she became ill and would not eat.  I then checked her litter box and  found she did having droppings in her litter box…. so she was having bowel movements last night.   Bonnie was fine at 8am this morning when she met me in the kitchen for her morning “greens”.    I gave her greens and then she went off to bed as she normally does each morning.   She is a free range bun full time.    She sleeps to approx 2pm each day.   At 2pm she woke and came to her normal day time area which is  my living room.    This is when I noted she was sick.   Not eating, closing her eyes, sitting in meatball position.   She was sitting on my leather sofa … I went to pick her up and found she had urine under her …not a large amount … but a small amount.   Seeing that she was not improving, I took her to the vet at 5pm.

My vet has never seen Bonnie before.   He is my dog vet and he is not listed on the HRS list …. but I trusted him as he is one of the best vets in our area (for dogs and cats).      My vet first checked her teeth and took an xray of her molars.   All good with teeth and molars.   I took her litter box so he could check her stool …. no parasites found.   He then did an Xray of her tummy.    He diagnosed her as having a hairball …. he showed me the Xray and explained.   He said this area of the stomach is larger than normal.  He saw a very small spot and he said that was gas and normal.  He told me to buy her fresh pineapple and squeeze and give her 5cc twice per day.    He said this should disolve the hairball.   He also told me to make sure she has plenty of water and hay and greens.    I came home and found this article on the internet.

http://www.hrschicago.org/hairballfr.html

After reading this, I understand the rabbit’s system better  and how hairballs can occur .  I think this is an excellent article.   And, this article said the pineapple does not disolve the hairball.   

I failed to ask my vet this question ……can anyone help me ……… do you think this same hairball might have bothered her in December ? ….. would it sit there and she be ok for 3 weeks and now not well again from this not passing yet ?      I am asking …. could this hairball be there since December   or even before that ? 

Also note …. I realized today that she did run out of water last night.   After reading the article … I have a feeling this has contributed to her problems today.   ….. I am so mad at myself for letting her run low of water.     …. or is she drinking more ?    I am not sure … we have been snowed in this week and our wood burner is running constant to keep us warm.     I was releived I could drive on our roads today when I realized Bonnie needed to go to the vet.   My vet is far from me.  

When I got home from the vet ….and before I read this article, I did give 5cc of fresh squeezed pineapple juice to Bonnie.   Bonnie did not like the idea of a syringe at first … but once she tasted the pineapple juice, she began laping it up !      She began moving around slowly and is eating some hay and some lettuce and parsely.    She is not eating much lettuce and parsley .. but she is eating some.   As I type this post … she is eting more and more of her Timothy Hay !    She has gone to her litter pan and left some droppings.   They look normal.  

 

[Sarita]

This is an excellent article but remember the article says that these aren’t “hairballs” they are a slow down in the gut. No, one day of not drinking water is unlikely to cause the gut to slow down.

I think you need to find a vet who is much more experience with rabbits than he is. He probably is great with dogs and cats but behind the times on rabbit medicine.

Water, hay and greens yes, those are good.

The best protocol for her is sub-q fluids to get the impaction rehydrated and critical care. Also you can try to carefully syringe feed her water as well as long as you are careful not to asphyxiate her or get water in her lungs.

[KatnipCrzy]

I agree- the diagnosis of “hairball” and rememdy of fresh pineapple juice is quite outdated thinking in rabbit medicine.  It is still commonly recommended as that is what the vets were taught- but studies are showing otherwise now.

[jerseygirl]

If the pineapple juice helps you get fluids into her then maybe give it really diluted.

Sending (((vibes))) for Bonnie Lee.

[HippityHopMom]

Sorry for delay in response.  My dad has cancer & I am busy…. but I  was able to be with Bonnie all day yesterday and watch her well.  I fed her very well yesterday wanting to get lots of good things in her.    Bonnie did GREAT yesterday.  She is active, jumping up on our sofa and she is eating so much!    I sprinkled her greens with water.  She had red leafy lettuce, parsley, slice of orange, and she is eating the fresh cut pineapple itself now.   I do not have to squeeze the juice out of it.    I can not seem to fill her up today.   I gave her a good amount of the greens as I felt she really needed this more if she has an impaction … am I correct doing this?     I also gave her Timothy Hay … but she was more interested in the greens yesterday.   She did eat some hay.  

Her litter pan looks good …. normal droppings and she is urinating. 

Now my question is ….If she is eating all this good stuff … roughage … and drinking well and getting the pineapple in her too … do I need to do the things listed above.     (critical care and iv )     

Also note:  my vet said “he felt” she had a hairball by looking at the Xray.   He did not sound certain.    He did say the size of her stomach looked larger than normal.   

 

[HippityHopMom]

  

Yeah, I have finally been able to load an image.   I wanted to add a photo of my little sweetie here.   … well two of my sweeties. 

 

 

[Beka27]

That is a beautiful picture! I’m so happy she’s feeling better!

Impactions of hair can build up in the digestive tract over time, bunnies will digest hair when they groom themselves, but the important thing is that it keeps moving thru. You have the right idea by trying to keep her hydrated with wet veggies and increased hay consumption. Is she regresses again, I’d talk to the vet about sub-Q fluids like Sarita had recommended. The vet can show you how and this is something you can administer at home.

[Sarita]

Glad she’s better.

Most rabbit experienced vets will do sub-q’s for a possible blockage to help it soften and pass through the system. I just think your current vet who suggested pineapple juice is not as experienced with rabbits because that is very old school.

[jerseygirl]

Oh she is a sweet little thing! At 1st glance I was reminded of Binky Bunny’s Bailey but she her face markings are different. Cute how her nose is darker. : )

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