Post op spay appetite

[Deleted User]

Ophelia was spayed yesterday, her procedure was around 1pm so it’s been about 21 hours. I’ve noticed about 30-40 small poops in her cage. She has nibbled on hay but she won’t eat much of it. I have her one handful of chopped romaine twice last night and she ate both servings. I don’t think she is drinking water though. Should I keep just giving her lettuce if that’s the only thing she wants to eat?

[Deleted User]

Oh and she will also eat some pellets, but just a few at a time and then she goes back to laying down. Since I’m supposed to work tonight I just wondered if she is on track with eating and pooping or if she should be doing more by now. My husband will be home with her but I’m still worried to leave her side

[Sarah]

Hey! I recently just got my Bun Penelope spayed, and went through her refusing to eat as well, so I understand your panic. Part of it depends on how much Ophelia is used to eating, if it is a huge decline in what she normally eats I would recommend calling back to your clinic to let them know what’s going on since bunnies should go back to normal eating pretty close to immediately (granted it also does depend on her pain levels, since some buns won’t want to eat if they’re in pain. Is she on pain medication?). My vet gave me a critical care supplement that you mix with water, and I had to force feed my bun for a couple of days before she picked back up on eating. But I recommend calling back to the clinic and discussion it with them and see if they have any recommendations for you. I hope Ophelia starts eating and feeling better soon! 

[Bam]

It’s to be expected that her appetite isn’t back to normal yet. Pellets is often the last food they go bak to. If she wants lettuce, give her lettuce. She can basically have whatever she wants to eat today, in sensible amounts. 30-40 poops is good. Her not drinking is probably because she was given fluids during/after surgery, plus she hasn’t eaten very much dry food.

Tell hubby to keep an eye, give her a blanket and a hot water bottle if her ears feel cold, but she must have space enough to move away from the heat source if she wants to. Hubby can offer her a treat and speak to her now and then, so he can see if she seems normally responsive.

If you dont have Critical Care, pellets soaked in water can be fed with a syringe, but it’d be very tricky for hubby to do that on his own, I think. You often need two be 2 people, handling a bun with a operation wound on her belly isn’t the easiest thing. It sounds to me like she’s doing good under the circumstances though. Empty her litter pan and put in fresh litter so hubby can keep track of poop and pee.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys! I replaced the litter before I left so he would be able to tell if she is pooping. She’s eaten several handfuls of lettuce and basil so far today, and I’ve caught her nibbling a few pellets or pieces of hay. She is mostly staying still but she seems aware and is able to hop around without obvious discomfort. I’m just worried that she’s not eating enough yet, and I’ve only seen about 10 poops in the last few hours. How long does it normally take food to pass their digestive tract? Hopefully everything I’ve given her in the last few hours comes out soon.

[Sarah]

I hope they start moving through soon too, my vet warned me that after the surgery it was possible that medication was slowing everything down. So it could take longer than normal for everything to pass.

[Deleted User]

Yes I’ve just been informed there are a few more poops in the cage now. I’m just hoping she’s ok. Is it very bad if they are just pooping a little bit? She’s grooming herself and active. Seems like she’s starting to eat more I’m just not seeing much poop so far. She’s scheduled to get pain meds again at 8. should I give her them or will it make her not want to eat? The vet said she could have an upset stomach from the meds which may cause her to not want to eat

[Luna]

Even if it is just a little bit, poops are great! I agree with Bam – it sounds like everything is normal. Offer her some veggies before you give her the pain meds. You can rinse the veggies under some water to help get some water in her. If she doesn’t eat the veggies, then I would give her the pain meds anyway. Pain can cause a bun to not want to eat.

[Bam]

Yes, pain can absolutely cause a bun to refuse food, so give her the pain meds. It’s quite a big surgery so she’s bound to feel sore.

[Author]

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