post-spay eating. no pooping either?

[bunnyfriend]

 Wilbur was spayed yesterday around 12:00. Since then she’s eaten a little hay, some peach and some apple. The vet tech said that she had her face in her pellet bowl but there’s no noticeable amount gone. She drank some water but not as much as normal. I have seen 3 poops since I’ve had her and she has peed a couple times. So I am wondering, how long does it normally take for them to start eating more? [Luckily my vet is open today until 4:30 p.m., they said to call if she hasn’t eaten by the afternoon] She has been rotating between laying in her litter box and laying on her bed. 

[bunnyfriend]

 Update: I got her some Critical Care and was able to syringe feed her about 3 tablespoons (1 tbls Critical 2 tbls water). She is not happy, I’m giving her a break and then trying for another 3 tbls. She looks like she’s in so much pain, she’s all hunched over in a corner and making noises that sound kind of like crying. Only 1 more poop since the other 3 last night. I can’t give her another dose of Meloxicam until 6 p.m. Is there anything more anyone can think of that I should be doing? She needs some healing vibes 

[Stickerbunny]

My girl didn’t eat more than a few nibbles until day 2 during the evening, then it was just a little bit more greens and a bite more hay. She didn’t touch pellets for a few days. Pellets are always the last thing they eat. Try soft, wet greens that she favors and try hand feeding her those, that worked for Stickers. She wouldn’t eat unless I shoved food under her nose, she was too sore to move to get food but the smell made her want to nibble a little. It’s normal for their appetites to be low, you just want her to get SOMETHING in herself so the digestive tract keeps moving.

[bunnyfriend]

Oh that is good to hear, so maybe later on tonight she will start eating more. I’m just so paranoid about G.I. stasis and whatnot. I’ll try holding some wet greens under her nose. It says on the take home instuctions that my vet gave me that the anesthesia can make them nauseous? I know rabbits can’t throw up, but can they actually get nauseous?

[Stickerbunny]

They can’t throw up, but it will make them feel yucky that is for sure. Stickers felt AWFUL for about three days, then started trying to do binkies and jump around and I had to keep her from pulling too much at her incision. Stickers actually acted a lot like a human who was so sick the thought of food made them want to throw up, she’d sniff the food and then move her head away like the very idea revolted her. I got her to eat a little alfalfa hay and some greens on day 2, then a pretty good amount of greens on day 3, she even nibbled a couple of pellets out of my hand but only about 2-3. She just had major surgery, so her feeling really bad for a few days is perfectly normal.

[bunnyfriend]

Very understandable, I can’t even imagine how she must feel! (never have had any surgery)

[bunnyfriend]

I know it’s normal for there not to be much eating, but what about no pooping? I gave her another 3 tbls of Critical Care and her Meloxicam dose, oh I was so happy to be able to give her that. I plan to set my alarm for sometime in the the night so I can check on her and maybe feed her again, I just want things to start moving. Maybe once the meds kick in she’ll feel well enough to eat a little bit of something.

[Stickerbunny]

Stickers had very few droppings the first day or two and the ones that did show up, were small and unusual in shape due to how little she was eating + the meds she was on.

[bunnyfriend]

Oh okay! Thanks for all of the advice/info you’ve been giving me, I really appreciate it.

[Stickerbunny]

No problem. I was a bit freaked out with my baby so sore too – she just kind of sat half asleep for so long, was even worse when my male went in since he didn’t drink anything for 3 days!

[bunnyfriend]

Agh that would scare me

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Girls have a harder time with it than boys-it’s much more invasive. The meds don’t help in terms of tummies-they make their tummies upset and can cause mushy poops. However the meds are very important for feeling better. Try giving critical care when you give the pain meds (metacam probably) to help as they do better on a full stomach. So long as she is eating a little she’s probably doing well. Empty the litter pan so you can monitor poops and pee starting from a fresh litter box. And try anything that is her favorite. A quick check for me that everyone is fine is offering treats. If they won’t take treats, something is wrong, as they normally claw my legs for treats So if your bunny responds crazy for treats, and will take one I would say she’s good (though keep treats VERY limited-maybe one or two) but that’s a quick check that they are doing ok.

Did your vet give you an on-call number or e-vet number in case of any concerns? It might be good to just find an after hours clinic just in case. You’ll sleep better

{{{Vibes}}}

[bunnyfriend]

 Thanks for your advice 

Today is a new day for Wilbur. I came in to check on her and she stood up on her hind legs (her way of begging for treats) so I gave her a papaya tablet. I switched out pellets and hay for fresh ones and she started eating hay and hasn’t stopped since! I will continue to moniter the litter box. If she continues to be able to eat then I’ll hold off on the Critical Care today. My vet doesn’t have an on call number but she has a clinic you can call after hours. I think Meloxicam (the medicine my vet prescribed) is the same as Metacam.

[BinkyBunny]

Yay! Sounds like she is on the road to recovery. Keep us updated.

[equalsign]

 Glad to hear she’s taking a turn for the better!

[bunnyfriend]

Thanks! SHe’s now eating more normally and going to bathroom. She even did two binkies! She wants to come out of her cage so badly!

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