HELP – what do you think could be causing pain around Oxo’s kidneys?

[GrumpyBun]

 As some of you may recall, Oxo has been having trouble with bladder sludge. He has also had what we thought was a kidney infection, but the urinalysis has come back clean: no infection. An x-ray has ruled out kidney stones. We’re now waiting for bloods to come back (I think for e. cuniculi). He’s currently on 8ml baytril and 2 units cat metacam once a day, and a low calcium diet.

I want to know options – what could be hurting my rabbit? What can I being asking my vet about? Has anyone had any similar experiences?

 

 

 

[jerseygirl]

First thing that came to mind was E.C. too, as kidney usually affected by this. With test for it they normally will take more blood in 2 weeks time.

Sorry, I can’t recall, did previous test indicate there is inflammation in kidneys? Was just kidneys xray or bladder and urethra tract also? Small stones or bladder crystals can become stuck in the urethra (ouch!). It could be possible this occured and has passed or even he had infection that had passed by time he had the urinalysis. Did they extract the urine from his bladder or caught a sample?
Is the pain something you have witness when he toilets?
Million questions – sorry!!!!!!! You can bug your vet with them…we can’t have Oxo feeling poorly so all the better to get to bottom of his troubles.

I believe you can have the type of bladder sand/crystals he’s producing. There is one type that a supplement can help with – commonly used for dogs. I can’t remember the name but it has “citrate” in it I think. I’ll get back to you on that one.

Also wondering whether sonogram might be beneficial? Xray is good for showing up calcium but sonogram would be able to look more closely at soft tissue of the kidneys.
 

[RabbitPam]

If the xray didn’t show any stones that’s very good, but it doesn’t mean, as Jersey suggested, that he isn’t trying to pass one. It’s a terrible difficult and painful process (I did this once) and is an enormous relief once it’s out. I am glad you’ve got him on the metacam for now. but if he doesn’t have more showing in the kidneys, a stone is not necessarily the problem. Sounds like your vet has it covered.

I would ask if you are getting him to take in enough fluids. To clean a kidney you flush it, and keep it fluid. Low calcium is to prevent the crystal build up. So see if she wants you to have him on more liquid or mushy type food. You can’t force water without risk of his aspirating, but possibly a gently flavored water might make it tastier so he drinks more of it. If he’s passing something that will definitely help push it along.

[GrumpyBun]

The X-ray covered from his shoulder to his tail – we could see the sludge in his bladder on it. I assumed that would show if he was passing a stone?
The urine sample was taken using a catheter and he had been on baytril for a week, but the kidney pain was still there. Also, the vet said they could see bacteria under the microscope – it was only being sent off to identify the type of antibiotic most effective. I’m confused about this, but unfortunately my husband took the call with the results and didn’t put it all together.
I have been trying my best to hydrate him – lots of hydrating veggies like romaine, red lettuce and cucumber all served nice and wet. I have also halved their pellet intake and replace it with veggies as they are more hydrating. He has an extra water bowl in the living room so he doesn’t need to walk back to the kitchen and he has been spotted using it. He point blank refuses any water with stuff added (I actually saw him walk past a juice bowl to get to one with just water in). I think this is working – I could get away with doing litter trays every 2-3 days but I’m having to do them every day now.
He’s still hunching in his litter box a lot. But he does seem so much better – his attitude has come back quite a lot, but its difficult to judge how much of that is down to the metacam masking his pain.

I’m just very worried about my little man, and my husband has started saying the e.c. sounds like a horrible existence so it would maybe be better just to have him put to sleep if he has got it. I know he wouldn’t force me, and I’m sure it can be managed but I’m still getting scared.

[jerseygirl]

Also, the vet said they could see bacteria under the microscope – it was only being sent off to identify the type of antibiotic most effective. I’m confused about this, but unfortunately my husband took the call with the results and didn’t put it all together.

haha, now I’m confused too. So there is possibly an infection? I think Sarita has mentioned before that Baytril is quite effective with bladder type infections. Perhaps the baytril/metacam combo is helping him if you’re seeing an attitude change.

Sorry, my post earlier read a bit oddly “I believe you can have the type of bladder sand/crystals he’s producing.” I meant have the type tested/identified. The product I was thinking of for certain types of bladder sand is Polycitra. It’s a potassium supplement that can help dissolve certain stones and can alter urines ph level I think.

As for e.c, it is super common and treated with a wormer. It can have varying effects on an infected rabbit. Many can live with it with no symptoms whatsoever. No need to be worrying about euthanasia right now what ever is causing Oxo’s trouble. Let your vet guide you in treatment and advise when she thinks his quality of life is suffering. She(or he? ) sounds like they’re on the ball.

 

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