Colic- advice please!

[Marshmallow the bun]

My bun was not eating, drinking, or moving the other day so I went to the vet. He told me she has colic and gave me some medicines to give her. One of them being oxbow critical care which I mix a probiotic in. She will not take it. She will let it fill her mouth and seep through her teeth. I was also told to feed her healthy rabbit poop but she won’t eat any of that either. I know she needs to have all of this but I’m just not sure how to get her to actually eat any of it. I’ve even made the poop into a powder and she won’t eat that either. She loves bananas and took a couple nibbles but won’t eat it if I mix the critical care or probiotics with it. Any suggestions on how to help my baby feel better is greatly appreciated! She’s doing on and off better today. She will act normal for a while but then will get uncomfortable and sleepy after eating anything (which is very little). She’s pooping a little bit and they are definitely not her normal as they look like pebbles. I’m just so worried about her.

[Wick & Fable]

To confirm/clarify, by colic, did you veterinarian mean GI stasis? Colic is not a term typically used and from what quick googling shows, it may be a reference to GI stasis. Is the vet you saw rabbit experienced exotic? What medicine were you given (Critical Care is not a medicine, but a food)?

It is natural that her poops are smaller if she is not eating as much. There are some tips on syringe feeding here: https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Medicating_your_rabbit#Syringe_feeding

Is she eating hay at all?

 

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.

[Marshmallow the bun]

It might be GI stasis. He specializes in rabbits and guinea pigs but called it colitis and put colitis on our paperwork as well.
I figured out how to give her the medicine easier now but I’m struggling with the critical care. He has me giving it to her through a syringe but she just does not take much of it.

that link is really helpful, especially with the critical care! Thank you!

She has been eating a little bit of hay and romaine lettuce today. I’ve also been offering her treats just to get something into her.</p>
He gave us metoclopramide, enroflox, meloxidyl, proviable capsules, and critical care. The critical care he gave us was licorice flavored but I found some that was Apple flavor that she doesnt fuss as much about but still will not take it.
Thank you so much for your response! This has been so scary and all very new. She’s 8 years old but has never had anything like this. Especially knowing it’s life threatening I’ve been panicking.

(Edited by Wick for format readability)

[Moonshadow]

When my bunny needed critical care, the only one he willingly ate was papaya flavored. He hated the apple-banana one so maybe you can see if your bunny likes the papaya critical care.

[Wick & Fable]

I’m glad the link was helpful, and the fact that she is eating a bit on her own is promising — there are some additional guidance on at-home measures for stasis here that may be helpful” https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Gastrointestinal_stasis

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.

[DanaNM]

One thing that helped me a lot (a tip from another member) is to use small 1 mL syringes for critical care. I actually will fill a larger syringe with a spoon, and then use that syringe to fill the small ones.

There is a sweet spot in the mouth that you aim for that will trigger them to kind of chew and swallow. It could be that you aren’t putting the syringe in quite far enough.  Put the syringe in through the side of the cheek (aim between the molars and the incisors) until she starts moving her mouth in a chewing motion, and then squirt some food in and then let her swallow. She will still spit some out but will swallow some.  Using the little syringes ensures that you don’t squirt too much in at once and makes it a lot easier.

. . . 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.  

[Marshmallow the bun]

She hasn’t been eating much today. I only saw her eat a piece of hay between 4-730. She’s not feeling well today at all. I’ve tried sticking it in to get her to chew but havent been able to find the sweet spot but I’m going to for sure try the filling a smaller syringe from the big one! I requested another appointment with the vet because of her not feeling well today. She pooped a bit and peed once but very little. She’s been hiding in blankets most of the day.

[Bam]

What dose meloxidyl is she on? Pain relief is very important for rabbits. Meloxicam should be combined with a stomach-protective drug, most commonly famotidine (pepcid). Sucralfate is another option. Pepcid comes as a pill, so you’ll need to dissolve it in water and dose it with a syringe.

[DanaNM]

If you’ve been given some syringes for the medications, you should be able to use those. I usually fill a few at a time (or have a helper refill them for me as I go)

. . . 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]

My get gave me a feeding-syring with an about inch-long piece of IV-tube (plastic tube that’s used for giving IV fluids) fitted on the tip. They save used IV-tubes for this purpose. It’s flexible and very good for inserting into the buns mouth, in the gap between the premolars and incisors. Maybe your vet has sth like that they could give you? It makes feeding a lot easier. If the bun bites down on it it’s non-toxic, and it’s soft so it won’t hurt their teeth.

I don’t know where you are located, but if you are in the UK or the EU, vets often sell a pro-and prebiotic paste called Fibreplex that’s good. My bun had a bout of stasis last weekend and I got this paste for her, plus Reglan (metoclopramide), meloxicam and Pepcid (famotidine).

[Author]

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