CHOKING :(

[quirkygirlx]

It never ends… so I have a 1 year old healthy mini lop.

Two nights ago I fed him his pellets and he went BANANAS like crazy and dug in.. I walked away for a second and watched him all of a sudden sit upright, not moving at all, and immediately knew he was choking… he throw his nose up, then began running around and “throwing up” all over the apartment and was obviously terrified. It was traumatizing to say the least but I know how he eats pellets so I took them away, fed him a papaya tablet, and gave him just unlimited hay and water… and he was immediately fine.

Then last night (mind you he still hasn’t had pellets, just unlimited hay and water) he must have gotten sick again because I woke up to more vomit (or spit up… whatever). And this time I can’t blame the pellets L

Keep in mind—he HAS been shedding like mad (I’ve been brushing off rabbit-sized clumps of hair every day or two… he’s not even a long-haired bun, but he has some bald spots now he’s shedding so badly&hellip and I’ve been giving him HUGE bowls of water all day every day and tons of hay…

I’m really nervous because I had to go to work this morning (Mondays are the ONE day I really can’t telecommute—of course)… and he has a vet appointment scheduled for tonight. I’d HATE to take him if I don’t have to (he gets SO mad when we bring him—he goes from loving bun who follows me everywhere to sulking in his cage for the days after) but I know rabbits aren’t supposed to choke like that and he might not get so lucky a 3^rd time!!

Any ideas what this could be, or how to prevent it? I’m really worried about him!

[niniliefie]

Sjo!!! That’s horrible, I’m sorry to hear! I don’t know about in rabbits, but my job includes dysphagia(swallowing difficulties) in humans! What often happens to my patients is that they choke and then develops a habitual gag response! ( So if in the humans, I tend to ensure that whatever they eat is finer and doesn’t cause a gag-maybe cut everything a bit finer?) But a vet visit is NB! He could aspirate(get the vomit in his lungs) and get aspiration pneumonia! I wouldn’t put off in this case as feeding and respiration are in close relation!

[manic_muncher]

Rabbits can’t vomit, their physiology makes it impossible. This is why its safe to feed them prior to surgery, because aspirating it isn’t an issue. The sudden panic does seem like choking though. Since he’s shedding heavily right now, you might want to double up on the grooming, and even try plucking “loose” hairs, they will come out freely and in clumps if moulting.

I am curious about the residue you are seeing afterwords though. I hope someone else here may have some ideas.

This is a great reference (I think we all should know this) about giving the Heimlich Maneuver to rabbits, because choking does happen!

http://www.bunspace.com/groups/topic?tid=9871

[niniliefie]

http://www.rabbitmeadows.org/shelter/faq.asp?id=27

This is a link to an account of 3 rabbits doing similar things “vomiting” . 2 died… And necropsies were done.

It is still not generally proven, but it is apparently possible and warrants a vet visit. The one account-one that lived… Seems to have pigged out just like your bun. Look at it! They also refer to the “craddle swing” which is apparently a replacement for the Heimlich in rabbits.

It is still believed that feeding rabbits prior to surgery is fine. Its just some more accounts of the same.

[niniliefie]

The link mm provided is a demonstration of craddle swing, we use it in basic life support training. Some of the accounts from the meadows link were related to other medical conditions, yours seems to be like the pigging out mentioned first… Still, the repeat of it all is a little concerning. Please let us know what the vet said? Since there is apparently not any scientific proof, only personal accounts, I think it would really great to know and just to know how your little baby is doing! No one likes when their bun is under the weather(and you are SO right-it never ends… When one thing CLEARS up, something else COMES up)

Good luck quirkygirlx! Good vibes all the way to you and you baby!

[quirkygirlx]

Yea see that’s why I’m worried if it was just the pellets it’d be fine, he’s a crazy quick eater anyway…but the substance he “spit up’ wasn’t even really like thick or pellet-like, it was pretty thin…
and he hasn’t been on pellets since (including this morning or last night) and the spit up this morning had a reddish brownish thin look to it, almost like bloody so I have NO idea what he could have brought up this time… very scary.
Thanks I’ll update with how tonight goes, I’m really worried about him.

[manic_muncher]

Thanks for that link niniliefie. Very informative! Personal accounts is how new things are discovered. Perhaps because “house” rabbits are still somewhat new, not many were observed in the past, causing a leap in medical assumption (we know how THAT is commonly done even in human medicine).

ok.. looking at it from the choking on pellets part… they are pretty hard and rough, perhaps the red streaks is blood, from damage to the throat from the pellets not being chewed properly. I wouldn’t give pellets at all in a bowl to him at this point. Maybe hand feed one at a time, like treats, or getting one of those treat balls with the adjustable holes so he can only get a few out at a time.

Looking at it from a non-species specific point of view, I know blockages can cause vomiting, so there could be a chance with his excessive moulting, he could have a blockage. I hope this isn’t the case and he improves swiftly, but a vet visit may be in order.

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