Post spay behaviour – Not eating

[Andrew]

Hi everyone,

We had Bailey spayed yesterday. We picked her up for the vet at around 6pm last night. The vet said that Bailey had been eating a bit at the vet and she had been hopping around the room and climbing the vet for attention which is about right for her.

Once we got her home last night she refused to get out of her carrier. She stashed herself at the back of it tucked up in her blankets which we expected due to the fact her temperature probably dropped. She refused to eat anything last night.

This morning I’ve gone in to check on her and she’s not touched any of the pellets/romaine lettuce leaves or hay we left for her. There are two poops on the floor. She was just laying down against the cage but has hopped back into her carrier and hidden away again. I’ve just put some baby spinach leaves in her face and she begrudgingly ate four leaves from me but she won’t eat anymore.

The vet said to bring her back in the morning if she hadn’t pooped by the morning. Like I said, she’s left two poops but that’s it. Is that enough or not quite what the vet probably had in mind? How long do you think I should leave it before getting in touch with the vet/if it at all or is the fact she’s eaten four spinach leaves encouraging enough?

Sorry for all the questions, just really worried about the lack of eating.

Thanks

[Bam]

I think I’d call the vet and say exactly how she’s doing. They might think the 4 spinach leaves are encouraging enough, or they’ll want to put her on a gut motility drug. That she ate the spinach leaves is a very good sign though.

Two poops could be “old” ones that just fell out now. Theyre not really enough to determine that her tummy is working. Have you seen any urine? Do her ears feel very cold?

[Andrew]

I put fresh litter in her tray last night and it looks like she’s wee’d on it. She’s hopped out of her carrier this morning and had a little roam and her ears don’t feel cold at all…they feel typically warm if anything. She’s strayed away from her blankets now and is just chilling in the middle of the room.

She’s been picking at leaves every now and then. I just watched her hop over to her food and eat a couple of more leaves and then hopped off again. So she’s eating very sparingly.

[Bam]

Eating sparingly is normal. She can be picky for days. Your description of her behavior (plus the wee in the box) is very positive. A bun that feels really crappy tends to try to hide away. Try to get her to eat, she can have treats if she wants them. And keep an eye on poop.

[Bunny House]

If she’s not eating, she should be force fed critical care. Did the vet tell you to do that? Try and offer things like mint and basil to see if she’ll eat that.

[Andrew]

I took her to the vet this morning just to be on the safe side. Vet didn’t seem too concerned but gave her a shot of more pain killer to help her.

Since we’ve been home she’s eaten 6 large romaine lettuce leaves and picked at a bit of hay so it’s fair to say she has eaten quite a bit in the last couple of hours. She’s even nibbled on this carrot treat stick I got her. Still no sign of any poop yet but the vet said that the food she’s been eating today should make an appearance at some point this evening so I hope so.

If there is still no poop by the time we wake up tomorrow morning we need to call the vet again

[Bunny House]

Did the vet give you pain meds to give at home? You should have up to a week or so for spays as they are very invasive surgeries

[Andrew]

Nope nothing given from the vet. The handover doc they gave to us says they’ve administered pain meds but no further needed for the rest of the week so just gotta go with that.

In better news…. POOOOOP! She’s been pooping. Never thought i’d be so happy to see poop haha

[Bunny House]

That vet doesn’t seem rabbit savvy as any bunny vet would give you pain meds for a week as those bsr shots can last a day or so depending on the buns metabolism. I strongly suggest you ask the vet for meloxicam so you can try and help her pain so she will want to eat on her own.

Keep us updated.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad to hear she’s improving. I’ll never forget how awful my late girl was after spaying. I thought she was going to die, poor thing. It is a pretty big surgery, after all, and they should definitely be sent home with pain meds.

POOOOOP! She’s been pooping. Never thought i’d be so happy to see poop haha

Haha! Most of us have been there!!!!

[Author]

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