Neuter got infected; need advice

[GhostHelwig]

So as it says in the subject line Bunnicula’s incision got infected. He’s been stuck in his cage since the day he returned home, and with the incision having gotten infected, he’s miserable. Yesterday the vet gave him Baytril, a medicine to keep his gut moving, more pain meds, and Critical Care. Unfortunately, he hates his Critical Care, and the only way to get him to take it is by mixing it with plain, unsweetened apple juice. Which I know isn’t great for him, but when we make it with plain water he fights us so much he ends up in more pain after, with very little of the Critical Care even getting into his stomach. He never stopped eating his regular veggies and hay, just not much of either, which is why the vet prescribed the Critical Care, but I’m very worried, because he seems to eat even less now that he’s on it.

It doesn’t help that the vet he saw for the infection is not his regular vet (who is the one who did the neuter). She’s a rabbit savvy vet, too, but Bunnicula has only seen her once before this, so I don’t know how good she is. They work out of the same office so they share his records, but I already put in a request for his regular vet to call me the next day he’s in just in case. I think that’s tomorrow (Sunday).

I guess what I want is advice on a couple of things. Is it better to fight him on the Critical Care and remove the apple juice, even though it will probably hurt his incision? Or should I cut the Critical Care down anyway, to see if he eats regular food more without it? The vet also gave him a plastic e collar to stop him licking his incision (I guess that’s how it got infected maybe? She didn’t say), but once I took it off so he could eat, it became impossible to put back on. He fights so hard I’m afraid he’s hurting himself. But what else can I do to help him beat this infection? I don’t work (that’s a whole other story), so I watch him during the day and try to stop him if I know he’s licking it, but I do sleep (even if it’s only four hours or so a night). Is there anything else I can try besides the e collar? I’ve already tried socks and gauze, neither of which stayed on him for longer than a second or two.

His poops are normal again – they weren’t for a bit there – and he pees normally. But I’m really, really worried anyway. Any comfort or advice anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. I’m trying really hard not to freak out here.

ETA: The vet told me to feed Critical Care every hour that I’m awake, but she didn’t tell me how much. He’s a Netherland Dwarf who weighs 2.2lbs, if that helps. Also, he’s been sitting and shaking a lot, which he never used to do. Why is that?

[Beka27]

Definitely try to talk to your vet as soon as possible. You might have to bring him back in to have the cone put on and you will just have to leave it on. I think you can cut the front down a little so he can eat with it on.

As far as the critical care, I think I would not force it but rather try to let him eat whatever he wants on his own, even if it’s just veggies and hay. Pellets are usually the last thing for them to start eating after surgery, but as long as something is going in and something is coming out, I don’t think it’s worth stressing him over the critical care.

I am not a vet, this is just my opinion on the situation, so definitely discuss this with your regular vet.

[GhostHelwig]

Thanks for the advice. He doesn’t actually lick the incision that often (I actually think laying on his poop might have infected the incision, but of course, that would be where crazy bunny wanted to sit even though before the neuter he rarely did that at all), so I’m hoping the cone won’t be necessary. I’m definitely wanting to bring him in to his regular vet, though he may say it’s not necessary when I hear from him tomorrow.

As for the Critical Care… Bunnicula is actually on a no-pellet diet at the recommendation of his usual vet, so eating hay and veggies only is completely normal for him. It was just that he wasn’t eating as much as he used to that made me worried, and I’m not certain the substitute vet understood that. So I’m not sure what to do about it. I’m wondering now whether I should just try and stop for a bit and see if his appetite picks back up. Is it normal for a bunny on Critical Care to not eat much else? I know most bunnies on it aren’t eating at all, so it’s hard to find any info online.

[Beka27]

I’m going to send that post as an alert to our other forum leaders to weigh in as well. I haven’t needed to feed critical care myself and I don’t want to give you wrong info.

Has Bunicula eaten any veggies or hay since? If he likes herbs (parsley or cilantro, etc) you can try to hand feed that.

Keep us posted today…

[GhostHelwig]

Bunnicula has nibbled a bit of hay today (very little compared to normal), and eaten some Critical Care. Mostly he just seems tired and miserable. He has a vet appointment later today, thankfully. When we looked at his incision earlier, there was less pus and dry skin, but it looked like maybe he had pulled up a scab, because there was some wet blood. It’s not seeping or anything, though.

I don’t know what a healing neuter incision looks like, though, and it scares me. I just want my baby to get better.

[Beka27]

You might have mentioned already but did he get pain meds for you to give at home? They are not always given with boys…

[GhostHelwig]

He does have pain meds, thankfully. He’s on Metacam every 12 hours, and he has been since the neuter this past Monday. They gave him more doses when I took him in for the infection.

[RabbitPam]

I’ve only used Critical Care when Sammy wasn’t eating otherwise, but many of us have used it in the past. I can also suggest that if he doesn’t like the apple juice (or if you don’t) you can mix it with unsweetened pumpkin (sold in cans at your grocery store) or mushed banana in small amounts to flavor it. If he needs it really soft, use the syringe to feed and put it in the side, back of his mouth so he sort of chews on the tip of the syringe as you push it in, rather than coming at him from the front.

Critical care has alternative consistencies as he eats more, so you can add less water and form little balls like cookies that he might like to chew on himself rather than using a syringe. Again, flavoring can help. It can go all the way from liquid to dryish tough cookie dough.

I’m hoping by now he’s doing better.

[Beka27]

Thanks for your response, Pam.

I had Internet issues all day and could not get on BB… How is he doing, today?

[GhostHelwig]

Thanks for the advice on the Critical Care. I think next time he needs it we may try the pumpkin, although the vet didn’t say the apple juice was bad like I was half expecting him to. I guess anything to tempt him to eat is good.

I ended up taking Bunnicula in to see his vet yesterday, and the vet said he needed “tough love” (in other words, to be watched carefully and forced to stay in his e collar) because he’s been at his incision. So he’s keeping Bunnicula for at least four days, so he can be monitored and given the kind of treatment we couldn’t do at home. Feeding him his many meds was impossible for me to do with his collar on, but once it was off him I couldn’t replace it; but those are things they can easily handle at the vet’s office. Thankfully there’s staff there 24/7, so he’s perfectly safe. I’m allowed to visit, and I just came back from the first one an hour ago. Already he’s eating and pooping better than he was at home. And they put some ointment on his incision to help heal it faster. So he’s doing much better, I think. Just miserable in his collar.

Poor little guy. He was so happy to see me, and I just wanted to scoop him up and take him home. But I’m visiting him every day, and he’s getting the best care possible, so I’m happy about all that. Just missing him.

Thank you so much for all the support and advice. It kept me calm, being able to come here and talk to people who understand the worries and have been there before. Thank you.

[Beka27]

I’m glad he’s in capable hands (not that YOU’RE not capable, but you know what I mean!)

He’ll be happy to home. I’ll keep you guys in my thoughts. 🙂

[manic_muncher]

I’m glad he’s getting the care he needs too. The upside: you aren’t the bad guy giving meds now and be the hero who rescues him in a few days!

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