Really Worried About Hunny

[13Tskhmaster]

I am concerned about my rabbit, Hunny Nugget. Though she was fine this morning, she is relatively inactive and has no interest in her dinner, which she normally inhales. I have made sure Hunny has plenty of hay, but she won’t touch that, either.

Hunny is shedding a lot; I brush her daily but still worry about hairballs. I found some weird poop in her litter box; one was bean-shaped, and I found a whole chain of them linked by a thread-like substance…

I called the vet and took Nugget in. They couldn’t find anything wrong with her and were not concerned about the shedding. They gave her a shot and some special paste she has to eat for extra fiber. Now I must play the waiting game, but I am really scared. Nugget is only seven months old, but she apparently lost a quarter of a pound since we had her spayed at least a month ago…

What is wrong with my girl? What can I do to help her? Can anyone offer me advice or any comfort?

[Harley&Thumper]

It sounds like she has a lot of hair in her stomach from her molt. You could try giving her pineapple juice to help break down the fur or give her treats that are high in fiber.

[Wick & Fable]

Agreed, she’s probably blocked up with fur. A bit of pineapple will help, and keep encouraging hay and water as you can.

When she sheds, it’s important to groom her at least once a day. Every fur strand you get off is one less she eats.

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.

[13Tskhmaster]

Update: Hunny is eating everything we give her, but at her own pace. Her poop is a mix of the weird stuff I found last night and regular pills. I am still worried, but she comes to greet me now. Hunny has plenty of hay, but she is barely touching it.

[Luna]

Increased appetite, poops, and energy are all good signs . Make sure to continue monitoring her eating and pooping. If either decrease, then you should call the vet back immediately.

The poops connected in a chain was probably a “string of pearls”-poops connected by ingested fur. While the others are correct that ingested fur is not good and can cause blockages, it is also good to see that the ingested fur came out because it means her body was able to move it through her. During a molt, you can decrease the amount of fur she ingests by increasing brushing, and frequently cleaning the shed fur out of her cage and water bowl

[Sirius&Luna]

A good way to remove excess fur is a lint roller

It pulls all the loose fur out quickly and easily. I find it much more efficient than a brush, and its much easier for bunnies that don’t tolerate brushing. 

[13Tskhmaster]

Thanks for the tips, all!

Update 3: Hunny is getting a bit of exercise. She has been brushed and is eating hay every now and then. I am just a little worried because she hasn’t pooped since this morning. I bought some Critical Care, but the vet said to only give it if Hunny isn’t eating. What can/should I do? The vet didn’t detect a blockage last night, but I am still worried about it….that and GI stasis…

[Luna]

How many hours has it been since she ate last or pooped? Critical care can still be needed if the bun is not eating enough. I would call the vet to see what you should do.

[13Tskhmaster]

She ate all her vegetables this morning. I would say it’s been an hour since she last ate hay, and at least four hours since she last pooped. She definitely is being very active…

[Luna]

Oh ok, that’s not too worrying then. I would still call the vet and ask if maybe you can supplement her feedings with some of the critical care. The critical care has a lot of nutrients that can help her recovery too .

ETA: She needs to poop soon though.

[13Tskhmaster]

Update 4: Hunny is eating hay as I type this. She still hasn’t pooped; I called the vet and was basically told to just watch her. I’m so scared. I can’t lose another rabbit, especially one so young… I just want her to poop! :'(

[13Tskhmaster]

Update 5: Hunny finally pooped! There were a half-dozen individual pills, and a half-dozen “pearl strings.” What can I do to break these up? I should mention Hunny ate all of her supper (veggies) with no problem. The sweet girl was binkying a lot, too!

[Wick & Fable]

To minimize string of pearl poops, you need to groom your rabbit and get the excess fur off so it’s no longer ingested. For what’s already in the gut, water and hay consumption will help move it through. A small piece of pineapple would help too. Some people say it doesn’t, but it definitely works for Wick.

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.

[Luna]

Yay for poops!

[13Tskhmaster]

Any tips on how to make Hunny drink? The vet said she was full of fluids, hence her lack of drinks today. She also gets water from her veggies…

Would regular apple work at all to help Hunny? I don’t have pineapple in the house right now.

[Sirius&Luna]

No, it’s the enzymes in pineapple that help to break down fur.

If she’s not drinking you could always syringe a little bit into her and make sure you’re serving her veggies wet.

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