Dorian acting in discomfort, worried

[prince dorian the bun]

I am not sure what is going on, but Dorian has been acting a little off this morning. Didn’t catch it right off, but tried to give him some pellets and he didn’t take them. He’s been sitting kind of huddled or flopping, but in a way that makes me think he can’t get comfy. He is leaving couple pellets about (usually he is very good about not doing that). I gave him some simithicone (~.3ml, some of it didn’t make it in mouth) about 20 minutes ago, not sure how long to give it if gas is the issue.  He was fine last night and came out of his room like usual, not sure what could be up. I am not sure if I should call and take him to vet right off or if monitor him and see if I can get him to eat. He is still moving about the room, though right now sitting in corner.

 

[prince dorian the bun]

I massaged his tummy a bit and ended up with a lap full of poops, they all look like good healthy ones. I think that’s a good thing? Still not eating but gave him another dose of the gas drops. Saw an older thread that suggested giving every hour for first 3 hours, so hopefully that’s right.

 

[DanaNM]

Sounds like it could be a bit of gas, so keep up the tummy rubs and simethicone. Will he eat favorite greens? Healthy poops are great.

The other thing to do would be to syringe some fluids (water or really watery CC). You could also take his temp to see if he’s cold (an indication of more serious pain).

I would call the vet at least and see what they say if he hasn’t perked up within the next hour.

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks DanaNM! He won’t eat his pellets or his favorite treats yet, he is ignoring the greens but he sometimes does that so that’s less a sign. Also not eating hay which is weirder. I’ll try a syringe of water here in a little bit. I haven’t had a chance to take temp yet, but he doesn’t seem in serious pain. He isn’t hunkered with his belly on the ground or grinding his teeth and his ears are upright for the most part, more acting like he is not able to get comfy. The not eating his favorite treat is the part that worries me. His tum doesn’t feel hard when I rubbed it, though my son checked and said it feels softer than from before the 2nd dose of simethicone. Hopefully that’s the case and that plus the belly rubs is helping. I’ll definitely call the vet here if he isn’t showing improvement in an hour like you said, sooner if getting worse. He is starting his winter molt by the looks of it, wondering if that could be part of it… his last tummy rub brought out a 3 poop necklace. I have been plucking trying to comb him the last couple days, but he is not a fan so I can never get it fully. (It wasn’t super bad though like his summer molt)

[prince dorian the bun]

well he just ate some hay and definitely seems perked up! Also took some mint and his body language is way more peppy. Should I continue with the simethicone?

[Bam]

You can keep up the sinethicone, it will do no harm but possibly some good. Dana Krempels says 0.5-1 ml every hour for the first three hours, then every two hours, then 1-2 times per day. We dont know why it works, but since it does seem to work and its safe to give, there’s no harm in giving it. (If he’s eating and seems ok, don’t wake him up to give him simethicone during the night, both you and he need a good night’s rest).

 

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks @Bam! Yeah he is in his hay box right now chowing down, he ran around, re-adjusted all his tunnels and did some important cardboard destruction with some little happy wiggles for a bit too… so something got moving between the simethicone and the belly rubs, and what ever was bothering him is done. Maybe it was just that one poop chain stuck in there? So hard to know. I will wait until he is done chowing down and give him another dose, as think the hay may be a best medicine for him right now. Also will try and get him to put up with a better grooming session later in case that’s the cause.

[Hazel]

I’m glad to hear he’s doing better! 🙂

Oscar often gets tummy troubles while molting. Simethicone has always done the trick so far, I usually give him 1 ml every hour, I don’t think it ever took more than two doses before he made a miraculous recovery. That stuff is almost magic, and very safe since it doesn’t get absorbed by the body. I also try to encourage him to take a few laps around the room every now and again, movement can help get things unstuck.

Give Dorian a cuddle for me, poor little bugger.

[DanaNM]

It does sound related to molting. This happened with Myra and we’ve been getting tons of calls at the shelter. Seems like the seasons changing tend to cause issues like this for lots of buns!

Glad he’s perked up. 🙂

. . . 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.  

[prince dorian the bun]

Thanks @Hazel, @DanaNM and @Bam! Appreciate the support! He’s such a sad little bun when he doesn’t feel well, especially he still wanted to do his morning snuggle and be close by. I am very happy he’s back to his usual self. I have never had the belly rubs cause cascading poos before, so that was interesting (so glad bun poos are mostly scent free and easy to clean up as I had a lap full 😛 !). He seemed to sort of like them too and usually the tum is a no go zone. I gave him a couple more doses of the simethicone for good measure, but he has been acting like a completely normal bun so probably just let him be the rest of the night as he hates it. Anyway will give him some cuddles from Hazel on top of the ones he has been getting.

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