Post-neuter, worried momma!

[sirhopsmittens3]

Hi all,

 I had hoped to introduce ourselves this weekend after Hops recovered from his neuter surgery today, but I’m a worried bunny mom and could use some reassuring words 

Hops was neutered this morning and he woke from the anesthesia pretty quickly/easily and they said he was eating pretty well at the vet.  He had some basil leaves and some hay.  I brought him home around 4:30 this afternoon and he’s been pretty lethargic.  He drank a bit of water and slept in the bathroom for awhile, then hopped to his cage and has plopped down in his (clean) litterbox ever since.  He never sits in there unless going to the bathroom, but maybe it feels good?  It’s 10:15 now, and I’ve offered food regularly to him but he hasn’t eaten since I brought him home – not even his favorite banana slice!!!!!  I did offer him some water and he drank and drank, so I took that as a good sign.  He’s hopped around a bit, but now he’s just resting in the back of his cage again.  I called the emergency vet and I’m anxiously waiting for someone to call me back…. any advice while I wait??

I’m sure he’ll be up to his usual tricks in the morning and begging for his special treats…. but, I can’t help worrying!

 

PS: he is 4 months old, a holland lop, and probably the sweetest smartest bunny ever (I guess we all think that…!)

[LongEaredLions]

If it’s been 8-12 hours, you do need to watch him very closely. This is not overly unusual, but the males typically bounce back faster than this.
So he hasn’t eaten anything since the hay and Basil? How long has that been and what have you offered him?
(((((Vibes)))))

[Bam]

I second LEL. If he won’t eat, you will need to syringe-feed him. Lethargy is a very common sideeffect of painmeds and his sitting in the litterbox is nothing to worry about – he’s a bit groggy after his surgery and that’s ok. That he’s drunk water is great. Have you seen any poops or pee yet?

I had to syringe-feed one of my buns after his neuter, so it can happen.(He then bounced back really fast). Is he keeping warm? Sometimes they get cold after surgery and that’s not good for them.

[sirhopsmittens3]

I talked to the vet and he said as long as he is eating, even just a little bit, that it’s okay, and to keep a close eye on him. Luckily I happen to have the day off from work so we’re just hanging out keeping an eye on each other

He has been a little better today- around 9 this morning he hopped around the house, slowly, and made sure everything was in its correct spot. He finally ate a good amount of parsley from me, and he ate some hay too. I was really concerned because he wouldn’t eat any of his favorite foods, but I think maybe they’re too sweet and he’s just happy to have something healthy.

He still won’t eat or drink anything unless I bring it to him and gently prod at him until something seems enticing, so I’m still a bit concerned. He has pooped and peed just a tiny bit, but considering how little he’s eaten I’d say that’s to be expected. He just drank some more water again after five hours and a bit of hay and he’s retreated to the back of his home. He’s due for his medicine soon – any suggestions on how to get him to sit still for the syringe? I had a terrible time of it yesterday and he ended up with a bit on his ears! D’oh, poor Hops.

Thanks for your suggestions – I really love how supportive everyone is here

[BinkyMom14]

After my bun was neutered I tried forcing the syringe in his mouth which ended up everywhere, then I just put it in front if his mouth and waited for his curiosity to kick in and when he started to nibble on the end I squirted it in lol. I guess this would depend if your bun is curious but it worked so well that’s how I fed him all his medicine hope he feels well soon. I was a worried mess when I had Mr Binks neutered

[Bam]

I make a bunny burrito when I feed Yohio (my bun who’s recently had stomach issues) but if you can get another person to hold the bun in his/her lap it’s way easier.

Glad to hear he’s doing better! That he eats and hops around is of course excellent =)

[Bam]

I make a bunny burrito when I feed Yohio (my bun who’s recently had stomach issues) but if you can get another person to hold the bun in his/her lap it’s way easier.

Glad to hear he’s doing better! That he eats and hops around is of course excellent =)

[kirstyol]

Bramble barely ate or drank anything for 48 hours after his neuter and I was so worried so I know how you feel. Did the vet give you something to keep his guts moving? I was given fiberplex which is sort of a high fiber food supplement and the vet said as long as he was taking that and eating even just a little he would be fine, I did have to syringe feed him the fiberplex for a good few days but he did get better around day three or four.

If you are really struggling with the syringe feeding you can mash up banana and add the medicine to that, we had to do this with Bramble after a few days because when the lethargy wore off he started fighting with us when we tried to syringe feed him and it was distressing him and us. The vet suggested either mashed banana or sugar free baby food but the banana worked for us, I just put the wee dish right next to his nose and he ate it eventually.

I wouldn’t worry about him just sitting around, to be honest that’s all Bramble did for a good few days. They say boy bunnies usually bounce back quite quickly but that wasn’t our experience with Bramble, it took maybe four or five days for him to do anything more than hop from one side of his cage to the other to use the litter box.

[Beka27]

It’s been a full day you since last posted, how is he now? Is he back to normal i hope?

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