Rabbit’s stomach is a hard?

[Rainn]

Hello, today I noticed right off the bat that Rain was being reluctant to come out of her cage. Her poop and everything seems to be fine but I will clean her box again to check for fresh ones. I noticed that one side of her stomach felt harder than the other, and a little bit more bulging? She also seemed unusually against me touching her stomach, I know rabbits usually don’t like that area touched but  I was being very gentle and she ran all the way back into her cage at the slightest touch, which  she never does. I gave her gas drops, but I’m worried that it could be bloat instead of gas. I think the issue is that she’s eaten a lot of spinach lately, because there was a spinach version of her usual spring mix which was unavailable. She might have gas from my dad forgetting to remove the spinach leaves when giving her morning salad. But how do I tell the difference between gas and bloat? If it is bloat how do I convince my parents that it’s serious enough to take her to a vet?

[DanaNM]

How is she doing now? Bloat is a very serious condition and a true medical emergency. It also tends to progress very rapidly and cause extreme pain. My understanding is that the whole abdomen can become distended and hard. Has she eaten at all since her symptoms started? Has she shown other signs of pain, such as grinding her teeth?

Here are some articles about bloat:

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Mechanical_diseases/bloat.htm

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Bloat/Bloat_ena.htm

My suspicion is that it is more likely gas, or some other gastric discomfort. I wouldn’t think extra spinach would cause something as extreme as bloat. Keep offering her hay and encouraging a bit of movement. If it is just regular gas, that will help.

 

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[DanaNM]

How is Rain doing today?

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Rainn]

Ah hello I completely forgot to check this thread again, sorry if it caused any worry :/ You were right that it was gas and it eased up quickly after some drops. Sorry again.

[Author]

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