Post neuter recovery?

[Bianca]

Hi guys,

As many of you many know, I adopted Greebo yesterday from a local shelter. This shelter does not usually take on rabbits, so they aren’t the most experienced with them, but they will take them on when they need to rather than the rabbit have nowhere to go.

Greebo was neutered less than 48 hours ago, which I only just found out. I was originally told he would be done early in the week, but due to some concerning things such as tiny poo, not eating much, and not really drinking or urinating (I’m about to go check his litter trays properly, just woke up) I re-checked the vet forms I was given and discovered I would have picked up him yesterday probably no more than 24 hours after being neutered – and the place he was neutered at is a 2 hour drive away, so he has had some long stressful days poor thing. Mentally he seems quite active – he badly wants to be with my other two rabbits but I am keeping them separated by a barrier so they can’t touch or see each other very well. But they sit next to each other a lot and he is playing a bit. Obviously not letting them bond until he has had a few weeks recovery alone.

But anyway, I don’t know what kind of diet he was on at the shelter but I think it was a cheap, high starch, low fibre commercial food. I have sent a message to ask. I also asked about pain killers but I don’t think he was given any and I thought they should have a pain killer for a day or two post-neuter? 

I’m thinking as well I should put him on critical care as part of his diet for a few days? He is eating a little bit, I saw him have a few mouthfuls of celery, spinach, and hay (I gave him a variety of things to try) but I suspect he is dehydrated and not enough fibre. 

The vet who neutered him isn’t open today so I can’t call them for a follow up, but my local vet who are great with rabbits open in 10 minutes so I plan to call them for advice too. But I was wondering what everyone here thinks?

[Mikey]

Many male buns do fine after being neutered and dont need a pain killer. Since hes doing well, I wouldnt worry about the pain killer at this point. For food, get him to eat as much as he can without adding critical care. If hes eating his greens and hay, he should be fine. If you notice his diet decrease, add critical care into his diet once or twice a day. To add more water to his diet, leave some water on his veggies after you wash them. Veggies also have natural water, so if he is eating a lot of them, he will drink less.

I would stick to your rabbit vet who is local over the one who did the surgery. Poor bun shouldnt be going on 2+ hour drives with all of this

[Bianca]

Thanks – my concern is that he isn’t eating enough. When I say a little bit I really mean a little bit. In the 12 hours I had him he has eaten a couple of mouthfuls and his poos are still way too small. Like, sprinkle sized small. My vet is about to open so I will see what they say. My thought was that a dose of critical care might get thing moving for him a bit?

[Bianca]

I called my local vet and they said that I should give him a bit of critical care to help get things moving and that I can call back to make an appointment if he doesn’t improve. I gave him a watered down critical care because he is eating a bit so I wanted to get lots of water into him – he absolutely loved it so that was good!

I have also tried putting some of his food in the corner where he is closest to Terry and Maggie. They are spending most of their time as close as they can get to each other – Terry and Maggie even moved their hay over next to Greebo so they could eat next to him. So I am hoping that by putting a bit of his food nearer to them he might eat a bit more when they do. And they are super greedy, eating is their favourite activity.

[Q8bunny]

Poor little teddy bear…. he has had a rather rough go of it these past few days. I think if he enjoys his critical care AND it’s helping to rehydrate him, go for it. You should see his appetite start to increase soon as his GI kickstarts again.

It’s sweet how tour buns just wanted to be near their new fellow even without having properly met him. I hope they end up a happy trio as effortlessly as your other two pairings

for Greebo.

[Bam]

I think Critical Care sounds like a good idea. CC can really perk a bun up. It won’t hurt and it could give him the kick start he needs to start eating properly on his own.

[Bianca]

Thanks guys!

After the watery CC this morning I was out all day. Got home to discover he has had lots of fun digging his litter tray (I haven’t inspected it for poos yet) and he has eaten some of the food I put closer to the other rabbits. I will give him some more CC tonight to be safe, and probably tomorrow too, because he still isn’t eating or drinking as much as he should, but he is certainly eating, drinking, urinating (I found some in his litter tray earlier, yay!), and pooping. The poos are still mostly too small, but I don’t think he has had the best diet for a while. I prefer small poos than no poos! I think he just needs a lot more fiber and water and he will get there.

The shelter lady hasn’t replied to my question about what she had him on, which is a bit disappointing.

[Bam]

Small poop is way better than no poop =)

[Author]

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