Bun out of sorts

[Buckley's Mum]

I’m hoping someone out there can help me or tell me I’m imagining it, but one of my buns is “out of sorts”, she’s just not her usual happy friendly self.  She’s spent all evening just laying squished against the floor refusing to move.  I would not describe myself as an experienced bunny slave and I have never had to deal with a sick bun so really don’t know what to look out for.

i thought she was a bit lethargic earlier this evening but we all have tired days, it doesn’t look like dinner has been touched much, if at all and not sure if there is poop output, purely because my two share a litter tray and the smaller one could have pooped on top of the larger one’s poops.  Yes I can tell who’s poop is who’s (yes very sad, I need a life).  When it came to bedtime Sweet Pea wouldn’t budge, normally I must put in a handful of fresh hay and she’s in like a shot, each time I tried to encourage her to move by pushing her bum she just backed into the corner further.  I then laid with her trying to hear any rumbling tummy noises but couldn’t hear anything (but not really knowing what to listen for). I stroked her lots and pressing gently down her sides but could feel nothing unusual.  She even let me stroke her feet, she has never done that before.

i laid with her for about an hour stroking and talking etc but have no idea what, if anything, is wrong.  It’s well after midnight now and after a bit of a shove she went into her cage, and went straight to the litter tray and laid down squished against the floor again and ignored herbs that I’d put in there, which is unlike her.

is something wrong? Is she just having an off day? Should I be worried (‘cos I am) what should I be looking for?

any advice from an experienced bunny momma would be very much appreciated.

many thanks

jane x

[RetroSquid]

If they’re not eating, it could mean many things, but tummy uspets are the most common, with dental issues a close second.
One of our buns gets regular tummy problems, she’s just a nervous thing, and each time warrants a trip to the vet as a lack of eating (and pooping) can be very dangerous for buns.

Normally they give us emiprid which stimulates the gut, but, on occasion, she has needed a number of injections on consecutive days to get it all working again.

Our bun, Navi, when she has a sore tummy ,she generally presses her belly against cold surfaces.

[mrs. coach]

Aw, sorry to hear that, Buckley’s Mum. This sounds quite a bit like what was happening with Mrs. Coach on Sunday night, which I’m pretty sure wound up being gas. She was very lethargic and pressing her tummy to the floor, sometimes circling like she couldn’t get comfortable. I, too, had never seen a sick bun before, and it was pretty scary! More experienced bunny parents might have better advice, but it may not hurt to try to administer some gas drops and do some tummy rubs just in case. I think that if the gas drops work, you should know within a relatively short time frame (1 hour or so).

[Buckley's Mum]

Thanks for your advice ladies, are ‘gas drops’ something you get from the vet, or is it the drops you give to a baby for wind? Here it’s called infacol? I have no idea how to massive a bun’s tummy. Does she require a trip to the vet? x

[mrs. coach]

Again I’m not the most experienced, but: any infant gas drops should be okay.  Here they are called simethicone, but there are a variety of brands/types.  They are available at most pharmacies or grocery stores — no Rx needed.

This is the video that I used for info on massage:

[LittlePuffyTail]

How is your bunny doing today?

I tend to be concerned about any change in behaviour. True, bunnies can have days when they are just less active, but any more serious change often indicates a problem. Animals don’t usually change their routine unless something is wrong.

[RabbitPam]

I would say that if she is still behaving this way today, she should be seen by a vet, Usually with gas, after a gentle tummy rub and some time, they are able to go and then feel much better. If it’s an illness or a blockage (or teeth) it really might need stronger vet meds or care.

And yes, the baby gas med (simethicone here) is fine. But if she’s still doing it, it’s probably not just gas.

[jerseygirl]

We have infacol here in Australia also. It’s a bit stronger then GasX or Ovol (available in North America)
I usually give 0.4ml doses.

How’s Sweet Pea doing?

By the way, it’s a good thing you can tell their poop apart! Lol.
Especially when you’re monitoring things when one is poorly.

[Author]

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