Now Sandy’s Sick…need help syring feeding

[skibunny8503]

My other post about Gracie being sick was finally solved (or at least I’m 99% sure) from taking the green leaf lettuce from them, I think it might have been bad because after I took it from the menu and gave them parsley they were all over it and now Gracie’s pretty much back to normal (except she poops EVERWHERE at night).  Sandy’s had parsley on Sunday night and Monday morning just like the two of them.  I put her bowl up last night with a mix of romaine, turnup greens and parsley.  I know she’s slow at going up stairs to get her food and waits later on to eat so I showed her the food and put it up on the 3rd level.  My husband came home at 7am and fed them their pellets and came to bed telling me that she was on the 1/2 level and she never ate her food, didn’t run to her pellets and there was pee on the floor and also it seemed all over her.  I tried to sleep more but I was too worried and at around 9:45 I went out to check on her.  She hates being held on her back but yes she had pee all on her behind, and she is ALWAYS clean   She peed some more by her litter box (really light yellow) and I tried to give her some parsley and she refused.  She looks like she’s in discomfort and she isn’t moving around.  I’m starting her on Critical Care after I eat breakfast and figure out how to divide it up.  I don’t understand she’s been eating the green leaf like them all this time and just now she gets sick, did it take it longer to go through her system??

 

ETA: I fixed up the Critical Care and tried to give Sandy it…yeah try syring feeding a stubborn rabbit   I spent 40 min. trying to get it in her and probably got a tsp or two in her.  I tried bunny burrito which sometimes she gets out of, I tried putting her between my lets as I sat down on top and bent down and tried to give it to her….nothing.  Clamped her jaw shut and kept shaking her head no when I tried to feed it to her.  Ugh, so stubborn!  My husband was in bed (he’s working midnights) so I couldn’t ask him for help but once he gets up maybe it’ll be easier (yea right).  Anyone have any suggestions to make this easier?  I called the vet but she wasn’t in today and they wrote it all down and said if she calls in that they’ll tell her but to do critical care for now until she’s in tomorrow and they’ll give her the message.  

[babybunsmum]

is she adjusting to the shift in diet maybe? hmmm… i haven’t had time to catch up on the history of your bun’s being sick so i don’t have much useful insight to offer. saw your fb status and wanted to pass on some healing vibes. (((((((((Sandy)))))))))

[babybunsmum]

oh dear… just saw your eta. stubborn girl! re:syringe feeding… i’ve had pretty good success with this method:
-wrap in bunny burrito with head sticking fully out,
-hold filled syringe in one hand poised & ready and use that arm to hold bun secure against me ,
-give calm head pets with other hand. while giving head pets slowly start feeling the sides of their face with each stroke. the goal is to eventually get a finger to part their lips so you can stick the syringe in their mouth behind the front teeth.

good luck!!!

[skibunny8503]

Here’s the link when Gracie was sick https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx

Well she’s had parsley before (she never came up last night to eat the turnup greens which they never had) and she had been eating it ok.  She even ate most of the green leaf. 

Do you put your bun on a table or just on the ground?  She absolutely hates being on her back but when I tried that and she was tightly secure (until she kicked her feet) in the burrito she was freaking out but I could hold her…I just couldn’t hold her AND feed her   I’m debating if I should give her that medicine I was giving Gracie to help move her gut but I don’t want to give her something if she’s not backed up because she was going to the bathroom fine last night.  We’ll see how she does today.  

[skibunny8503]

UPDATE: I wanted to give her some more critical care and Archie was climbing the cage for it and I put the syring by him and he licked it, Sandy saw him do it and I put it by her and she immediately started licking it!  Goofy bunnies!  She ate all of her critical care for that hour and she seemed more lively.  I put some parsley by her and she did eventually eat it!  I think she had a tummy ache and it’s getting better.  On a side note, we found the blockage that was making Gracie sick.  Gracie is all back to normal now too.  Sandy seems to be getting that way but I will keep an eye on her.  Hoping she eats tonight.  What should I do with the critical care I didn’t use?  Just keep it in a container or throw it out?

[MimzMum]

So is the lettuce now ruled out as a cause in making the buns ill? You said something about a blockage, but didn’t elaborate in your other post about Gracie.
Critical care has to be thrown out 24 hours after you mix it. (I know, what a waste!) I never finish a whole package with my bunnies, they won’t eat it all.

I am curious about the green leaf lettuce because I’ve been having trouble with Fiver and Pip eating that, it tends to give them runny cecals. I wonder if there’s something bad in those greens of late? And I just had hub get me a new head of it today too, darnit. >.<

[KatnipCrzy]

I have kept the opened CC pouch in my refrig with no problems.  Mixed should be discarded after 24 hours.  You should not try to feed a bunny that is “toweled/burrito’d” on their back as it would be much easier for them to aspirate into their lungs.  I would recommend putting them somewhere they never are like a kitchen or bathroom counter- that seems to help “freeze” them sometimes as they are out of their element.

Julie

[skibunny8503]

Posted By MimzMum on 03/23/2010 06:59 PM
So is the lettuce now ruled out as a cause in making the buns ill? You said something about a blockage, but didn’t elaborate in your other post about Gracie.
Critical care has to be thrown out 24 hours after you mix it. (I know, what a waste!) I never finish a whole package with my bunnies, they won’t eat it all.

I am curious about the green leaf lettuce because I’ve been having trouble with Fiver and Pip eating that, it tends to give them runny cecals. I wonder if there’s something bad in those greens of late? And I just had hub get me a new head of it today too, darnit. >.<

I’m thinking the green leaf had something to do with it.  She was also shedding a lot so she could have had blockage too.  I haven’t the darnest clue and will probably remain a mystery.  But since all three of them got sick I’m going to play it safe and throw out the green leaf.  Oh geez what a waste!  There’s still a little left in the bag to make up. 

Thanks Julie!  I will remember that next time when having to feed one of them.

[MimzMum]

Ah, I didn’t know you didn’t have to mix the whole bag at once, thanks Katnip!
So as long as it’s still the dried powder, you can keep it past one day? Good to know!

Yeah, I had a few packets from when Mimzy was ill and I’ve got them in my freezer. $50 for those suckers! Yikes on toast!

I’m really thinking there’s got to be some contaminant going on with the lettuce. I wonder how long it will take until we hear about it on the news?

[BinkyBunny]

Makes me wonder about the lettuce too! Hmmmm. Well hopefully she will be back to normal soon or at least the vet will be in tomorrow??

Keep us updated!

Mimzmum – I sure am glad you found out through katnip that you don’t have to use the whole bag at once. If I had realized you thought that before, i would have let you know as well. Sure an expensive waste with all that you have had to go through! Sorry I somehow missed that that is what you were doing. But better late than never as bunnies will always give us an opportunity to use it on them again at some point.

[RabbitPam]

Glad your other bunny showed her how to lick it. Just an aside, when you have to syringe feed, put it in the side and back of their mouth, not the front. They take it more easily if you come at them from one side and insert it that way. It’s possible that they can see what you are doing as well, so are less resistant.

[skibunny8503]

I also used most of the bag, I followed the instructions that the vet gave me and I used 6 tablespoons of it but at least I have a little left and I’ll eventually get another bag to have on hand. She waited until I wasn’t looking and started munching on the lettuce and this morning she was eating her pellets! So I think she just had an upset tummy and seems to be a lot better today, thank goodness! I hope she keeps this up!
Yup I was giving it to her through the side of her mouth (she has a little mouth though) and she was so stubborn. She kept moving her head around. It’s amazing how rabbits follow each other! If I would have known sooner she’d lick it after she saw Archie do it it would have saved me so much time lol!

[Deleted User]

Interesting and weird. I am glad they are all better.

[Monkeybun]

I’ll be keeping an eye on the lettuce I buy too… and very thoroughly washing it all! Don’t want my babies gettin sick

[RabbitPam]

I just brought home a head of red leaf lettuce and it’s covered in dirt! And they sold it for people, not bunnies, so I’m washing it off first and muttering “what were they thinking?”

[skibunny8503]

I can’t wait until warmer weather when I can start my garden again. Hubby’s going to try to make a nice garden box. I want to figure out how to grow lettuce in the winter so I can save money and know there’s nothing on them.
They’re all better now yay!

[Author]

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