How to get bunny to drink more water?

[senatcha93]

Today I found out bunny still has bladder problems…he arches his back when he pees, something he hadn’t done in a month. He’ll stay on the toilet in the same position for minutes only to pee very little. I literally can’t go back to the vet and pay another 100 bucks every month. I’m sorry, it just drives me SO mad. (If you’ve followed us, you know that we’ve been to two different vets over a course of 2 months almost daily… I’ve spent a fortune and still no cure)

I’ve tried everything to get him to drink more. Some Apple Cider Vinegar, Diluted Juice, Different Teas, Soft Water, Hard Water… He goes days without drinking. In general, I’ve increased the amount of fresh greens he gets but today he is barely eating them and he pushes my hand away when I give it to him. He’ll only reach for the hay but more scarce than usual. I tried to syringe feed him water but he won’t have it at all. I tried for almost ten minutes until I gave up – me sweating him panting. I was afraid he’d just faint or die so I stopped. He didn’t even have a drop of water. The only thing he’ll drink is 100% juice(no sugar added), but I don’t want him to have diabetes so obviously I don’t give it to him. Today is a rather bad day for him. He seems depressed and down… Now he’s hiding under the bed.

Any ideas to get more water into him?

[Deleted User]

Wet his veggies. That will help a lot. Has either of the vets tested for E Cuniculi?

[senatcha93]

Yes, I wet them but by the time he gets around eating them they are already dry and I can’t re-wet them when I’m out at work. I just googled the symptoms for E. Cuniculi. I doubt he has this as it doesn’t seem to match and the vet has found everything alright with his kidneys.

[Deleted User]

It’s more than just the neurological symptoms (that’s what I was getting when I googled it after my vet appt). Bombur has been having a lot of urine problems and was on a a two week course of Sulfatrim. It didn’t really do anything, so the vet gave him a blood test for EC and he tested very positive for it. So next time you are at the vet, it’s worth a shot.
I don’t know what else to suggest, as it seems you’ve tried everything. Does he have a bowl and a bottle? That might give the choice of which to drink from. You could rub some banana on the bottle to entice him. The hiding under the bed and the lack of appetite are concerning. He could be developing stasis as a result from whatever the underlying issue is.

[senatcha93]

I just read that a bloodtest is limited as it only says that the rabbit has been exposed to E. Cuniculi at some point in his life. Do you have a rabbit savvy vet? I guess I have no choice other than to go to the vet… I was hoping for an answer here because I’ll have to borrow money again as I’ll get my paycheck by next month, which is pretty embarrassing to do… Every couple of weeks or so he’ll hide and eat less and his poop will be very small. It only lasts for a day though (sometimes two days) and he’s back to normal.

[Deleted User]

I literally have the best vet (yes bunny savvy). Bombur had severe enterotoxemia months ago, which is usually fatal, and she brought him back from the edge of death. EC was actually her first inclination, and we only ran the test after the antibiotics because I didn’t want to spend more money than needed.

I totally get the paycheck thing. Bombur has cost me more money than my wedding, and I am by no means well off. So I understand that it’s frustrating. Maybe you could do a payment plan?

[senatcha93]

You and Bombur are so lucky to have found her! How does he live with the condition? Does he behave like he normally would? I’m thinking because you noticed it early on he’s just fine but has to take medicine to prevent a possible outbreak?
Wow… Bunnies sure are expensive, right? Unfortunately I can’t do a payment plan with my vet. I’ve asked already.

[Deleted User]

He’s been given a 28 day dose of Oxibendazole because he’s clearly having a flare up. It’s a very strong drug so he has to get tested to make sure his white blood cells are in check. My vet thinks he’ll have chronic incontinence because of it, which is a total pain having to clean his cage 4 times a day. He acts like his usual snuggly self but tuckers out quickly. I mainly just always have to monitor him because of his history. If he has a flare up again, all I have to do is call her and pay the $20 for the medicine instead of the $110 for the visit and another $200 for any tests plus whatever medicine would cost.

That sucks you can’t do a payment plan. Look up Care Credit. I actually had to take this out for Bombur, and I only have to pay like $25 a month on it.

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