Lionhead with a swollen belly..help?

[AshleighLaird]

Hey guys, 

I have a lovely female Lionhead called Holly, she is around 14 weeks old and I have no clue what to do next. 

when I first brought her home I realized she had some mucous in her poo, her poo was also quite large and soft compared to my other bunny’s which are little solid pellets, her tummy was very swollen to the point that it felt like it could burst at any moment! I immediately took her to the vets as I thought it could be bloat.. The vet discarded the possibility of bloat as Holly was still very inquisitive, normal body temp. etc. 

She has been on 0.5ml ranitidine for 2 weeks nearly, I took her back to the vets a few days later as she started to feel emaciated, the vet didn’t seem too concerned but she gave Holly more ranitidine and 0.2ml metoclopramide and a pain killer for when she may be in discomfort. I had to limit Holly to 2 tablespoons of kibble a day as she was guzzling it down and wondered if she was eating too much therefore that was causing the problem but she isn’t keen on eating hay or kale/ other herbs. She has lost at least 100g since she has been to the vets.

More than a week later Holly’s tummy is still on and off swelling, there is still a lot (if not more) mucous in her poo, she poos A LOT.. almost like she eats within minutes she has covered her area in poo, her tummy growls/gurgles constantly, she is still inquisitive, grooming and does the odd binky but whenever I go near her she cowers and tries to hide from me and she wasn’t like this before? 

I have considered that it could be worms, as some of us in my family has recently discovered they have threadworm, could it have come from Holly? should I worm her? will it be safe to worm her with other medication? should i maybe taker her off the medication seeing as it does not seem to be making her any better? 

I’m lost as to what to do next or what is best for her.. any advice or information will be greatly appreciated! 

Thank you.

[jerseygirl]

With the distended belly, it sounds more like a gut imbalance. That a known risk for rabbits around this age or younger as their gut pH is changing. Along with what your vet has already prescribed. some probiotics added in may be of benefit. A common one people use for rabbit is Benebac by PetAg.

How old is your other bunny? If she were to eat some cecal droppings from a healthy rabbit, that might help innoculate her gut with good flora.

So she doesn’t have diarrhoea? Just softer poops but they are still formed?

[AshleighLaird]

Thank you for the reply, I will get her some probiotics tonight and see she goes with it. my other bunny is a little over a year, not entirely sure as he was also a rescue.. I haven’t noticed her eating any caecatrophs from herself, will try and get some from my other bun for to give to her if that will help?

No, not quite diarrhoea but very soft covered in mucous and also some random very dry/crumbly poos.

[Vienna Blue in France]

(((( Holly ))))
Gorgeous photo btw !!

[jerseygirl]

Are you in the UK, Ashleigh? (guessing because of your spelling of caecotrophs!)
These are some of the product available in various stores there. http://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/health-and-hygiene.html?manufacturer=98

I haven’t noticed her eating any caecatrophs from herself, will try and get some from my other bun for to give to her if that will help?

It could, if she’ll eat them. It’s the most natural form of what they need.

No, not quite diarrhoea but very soft covered in mucous and also some random very dry/crumbly poos.

Has she been drinking water okay?

[sarahthegemini]

How scary, so sorry you’re having to deal with this I don’t know how feasible this would be, but do you have the means to make a temporary cone for your other bun so you can steal (ahem) her cecals?

[Deleted User]

stealing cecals the things we do for our buns…

[Deleted User]

Is that her in your profile photo? She is absolutely adorable!!

[LBJ10]

I assume the vet checked for parasites? Worms and other parasites can cause a distended belly. Otherwise, what Jersey said is definitely a possibility.

[AshleighLaird]

Thank you all!

Jerseygirl, thank you! i will check those sites now

She is drinking water, I refill her crock at least 2/3 times a day but oddly she doesn’t seem to pass much urine..
I’ll check out the cone thing, not sure on how to do it?
And no, the vet didn’t even mention worms or parasites, she didn’t really give me any indication that she had/could diagnose Holly at all :/
I think i’ll worm her anyway and she is already showing signs of improvement from taking her off the medication?

If I can keep my two bunnies alive and healthy, having my own babies will feel like a walk in the park I think! ha

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