Feeding critical care

[♥bunbuns♥]

 Hi

I am a new bunny owner of the gorgeous Bun Buns 3 months old mini lop.

I have sever anxiety and I think getting a bunny was the worst thing as they seem to get sick so easily.. tho I love him to death. 

Recently today he started not eating so much and sorta just laying about and I noticed he had hardly pooped so I rang the vet and took him there… she said he was dehydrated (I dunno how.. he has been gulping the water down) and his tummy felt sludgy. His temp was 37.9 she said that was alil low but ok… took his blood glucose said that was good. Weighted him 1.09kg. Gave him a fluid injection and handed me some oxbow critical care. (How long do i give this to him for? Doc didnt say. And can i give him alil once a week to just keep him extra healthy? ) He seems to have picked up and is back to pooping.. but still gotta wait overnight and see in the morning but he is gulping water and engolfing hay atm. 

I recently started giving him pallets.. could this be the cause? Im also slowly intraducing vegies into his diet too. Only one veg a week for him to get used to it and not heaps.

I also when I got home felt this large hard lump that feels like the shape of a kidney just under his rib cage.. what could that be? N then I was rubbing his belly and there it like a 1 inch round circle of what feels like a flat fatty lump?? Hes my baby and im so stressed out.. it seem he alway got something.

[Sarita]

I would not give it once a week – he won’t need it. What I would do is ring up the vet on how long they want you to give it to him though.

I would also ask the vet to do a fecal test to make sure he doesn’t have coccidia. Also ask the vet about the lump and have that examined.

[♥bunbuns♥]

Im new to vets also…

Arnt they suppose to check everything out when you go in to see them esp with symptoms of not eating much and not pooping much?
Or do you have to ask them to do theses sorts of tests?

[Sarita]

They don’t usually do a fecal test unless they feel there is a reason – I always suggest it with new rabbits though.

It’s good he is eating and drinking on his own.

In my opinion if you get instructions from a vet on taking medication or anything it’s best to get clarification directly from the vet on those matters :~)

Anything else we would love to help you with since you are a new rabbit owner :~)

[♥bunbuns♥]

I know.. id ring but there on long weekend.. ill have to ring tuesday.

Thank you

Im sure he is gunna worry me enough to ask more stuff lol

I looked up online there anatomy and there liver is very big.. is that what I can probly feel thats just under his side rib?

[Bam]

Their cecum is very big. Sometimes you can feel it when your bunny has tummy-problems. It’s where the cecals are produced. You can massage his tummy a little if he lets you, it helps the stomach-contents to get moving.

 

Here’s more info:

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f22/gi-stasis-what-everyone-should-know-23808/

 Best of luck! Please keep us posted.

[RabbitPam]

Hi, I agree with Sarita that you should call the vet for more detailed instructions. Also, critical care has some general instructions on the Oxbow website if you don’t have them or they’re not on the bag. (I thought it was printed on it.)

You know, if you are not satisfied with this vet’s diagnosis and follow up, or are not comfortable with the minimal instructions you were given, by all means get a second opinion. You may find another vet that works with rabbits in the yellow pages under Exotics vets.

Otherwise, just call, leave a message and ask for a call back. If you are anxious, try following the instructions given by your vet and don’t worry about other things unless your bunny gets worse, not better. Often the info. on the internet can be scary. I mean, do you really need to know rabbit anatomy, or would you rather put your bunny in the hands of someone who has studied it at great length and knows how to treat for problems of that anatomy? I think you can get reassurance from either your current vet or a new one.

Tummy trouble is very common, especially in younger bunnies. You are doing well by introducing foods slowly. Just keep plenty of fluids with the critical care, watch those poops and bunny’s behavior. It sounds like your bunny will be better quite soon if the diagnosis is correct. And you can always ask a vet to do another test, as Sarita suggested. Often they try the simplest first, to see if that treatment works, saving you worry and money. It’s possible that’s happening here.

[♥bunbuns♥]

Thank you everyone

He has picked up quite well he is eating heaps and pooping alot more.

Its funny… only now I have a bunny am I excited to see poop lol

He has just started stretching which is new to me.. Im curious if thats maybe to do with pain?

N sneezing.. maybe he has cold ?

[RabbitPam]

Sneezing isn’t so common, so make sure he isn’t in a draft, and keep the dust that comes out when you pour litter and pellets from being in the air – try a scooper.
Keep an eye on it since he hasn’t been that well.

Stretching is common, and they do it daily, often when they first wake up from a nap (like we do.) It feels good to them – keeps them limber.

Glad to hear he’s doing better.

[Author]

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