Rabbit W/ UTI & GI Stasis

[labrubach]

I took my 4 year old lop to the ER vet last night. He was fine in the morning–had been eating, binkying, drinking water…and then by dinner he had stopped eating, and was peeing blood.

We got to the vet last night, and after testing, they confirmed there was blood and bacteria in his urine. There is no blockage at this time, but after an X-ray, they noticed some undigested food sitting in his GI tract, not blockage, just not moving.

They started antibiotics, fluids. They called us about an hour after we got home, and said that his respiratory rate had sped up, however his x-ray showed that heart and lungs looked fine, and said they would keep a close eye on him.

Our rabbit has a hx of breathing heavily, fast, and making snorting sounds when he sleeps. We’ve had it checked multiple times, only to be told it’s how he is, and it’s him snoring.

Today, they put him on oxygen. We’ve just hit the 24 hour mark, and he hasn’t improved. Still no BM/urine. Some syringe feeding, and while we were there, he took a few bites of lettuce. They claimed they’ve had a hard time syringe feeding him due to his breathing, however they only try 2x a day. We rescued him, and he has not been handled much throughout his life. He loves people, but we always let him approach us. I truly think he’s just terrified, and that’s contributing to the breathing. As I said, heart/lungs are doing ok based on the x-ray.

I see a lot of home care strategies for rabbits online, and after talking to multiple people, they’ve all agreed this vet is throwing in the towel and being rather careless towards him. As she said tomorrow we can talk about ‘quality of life’ care for him. 

I grew up rescuing/rehabilitating animals with my mom. I know how to syringe feed, I have all the time and the patience in the world to do so. If they give us his prescriptions, I’m truly debating bringing him home to continue his care. I just wanted to know if anyone else had experience or advice with this.

I have a threshold that I’m holding myself to, I will do what’s best for him, especially if living is just too painful. However i want to do everything in my power beforehand. 

[Bam]

I’m very sorry you are going through this. I have no experience myself with a bunny that doesn’t urinate in spite of having been given fluids. The lack of bm could be about an empty stomach, but he out to have urinated after the fluids. Two attempts at feeding per day is way too little in my opinion. Most vets recommend 4-5 feedings for a bunny that’s not eating anything of itself.

If you think he’s terrified (the fact that he ate some lettuce while you were with him does indicate that he feels better when you are around) and you don’t feel he’s getting the care he deserves, he could perhaps be better off at home with you. It’s of course nothing I can recommend, none of us are vets here. He’d need more fluids, preferably sub Q, a heating pad or warm water bottle to keep him warm, continued abx and perhaps a motility drug to induce bm. Pain-relief would also be sth to discuss with your vet. If you can look after him at home 24/7 that’d be a good argument for taking him home.

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