reoccurring tummy aches

[lwayne]

 In the past 3-4 months, Arduina has gotten 3 tummy aches.  We give her the simethicone and she’s better within a few hours.  I think it is partly due to heavy shedding (didn’t know rexes shed that much!) and partly due to her over eating (she eats 2x as fast as Leo and when he’s not hungry she’ll eat everything).  We’ve tried to cut back on veggies, down to 2 C per day for the two of them (each 6.5lbs) and they also share 1/4C pellets per day.  They both eat a ton of hay.  

This last time she got sick, I was away, so it was definitely more stressfull for all of us (sitter and I).  I’m going to take her to the vet this month (wait until after payday) and see if the vet has any suggestions.  Last year the vet said Arduina was over weight.  Our scales not accurate enough for me to tell if she’s lost any, but I can’t cut out any more food.  I’ll see what the vet says on her diet and if there is anythign else I can do (papaya tablets?).  Until then, let me know if you have any suggestions.  Thanks!  

Oh and Leo has been healthy as a horse.  He’s good about not over eating and eating slowly and lots of hay. 

[Monkeybun]

Maybe spread hte veggie amounts over the day, instead of all at once. And what kind of veggies? It could be she is sensitive to one type that she is getting

[BinkyBunny]

Yes, I agree, it could be a particular veggie/green is sensitive too.  Let us know what she gets. 

[lwayne]

That was my first thought, but I haven’t been able to correlate the tummy aches with a specific veggie. Through the winter they usually get the standard celery, lettuce, and cilantro/parsley, plus a little of what we eat (ends of carrot, chard stems, ect). In the summer they get a lot more variety from our garden (radish tops, turnip tops, carrot tops) and whatever leftovers we get in our CSA share.

This last time she got sick, she had eaten the standard celery, lettuce, cilantro. Our pet sitter said Leo didn’t want veggies (he some times gets like that) so I think Arduina just chowed everything down. I’ll see what the vet says.

[RabbitPam]

I’d stop the celery. Also, try a mild lettuce (green leaf) for a while. The broccoli family which includes Kale and possibly Romaine may be a bit gassy. Not sure if cilantro is taxing – I can’t eat it at all. Could try sprigs of mint instead of it and see if that goes down well. Mint sometimes is good for digestion.

Fresh papaya if she like fruit might help. Also canned, unsweetened pumpkin is gentle on the digestion so is often given if a bunny is sick. She might like a bit of that, too. The less you feed the greens, or the less you vary them, the more they eat hay (better for passing the fur during shedding) and the more settled they get. Sometimes it’s a change in diet that throws them off.

[lwayne]

Last time I took Arduina in for a checkup, the vet said she was over weight and recommending giving her celery every day and cutting back on the leafy greens. Also due to her weight issues (she’s a rex), I go easy on the treats/fruit. She only gets about 3 raisins/small pieces of fruit per week. I could switch to dried unsweetened papaya or papaya tablets. I’ve heard pineapple is good too?

I think maybe when she’s shedding real bad I should do some no veggie/limited veggie days. I think it was just that she wasn’t eating enough hay. We have to watch Leo eating because he likes to take his time. If he’s not in the mood for veggies at night, I sometimes take away their bowl until morning so Arduina doesn’t eat everything.

(I’ve tried unsweetened pumpkin, she only likes it if its pumpkin pie… last thanksgiving, I tried to give her some before I made pie, didn’t even try it, but when I went to eat a slice of pie afterwards, she came running in to steal a bite! Can’t eat anything sweet on the couch nowadays.)

We’ll see what their vet says. On the subject of bunny health, here’s an article that our vet wrote up: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientEd/bunny.aspx

[Monkeybun]

Honestly, I’d cut out the fruit period, and go witht eh leafy greens. Greenleaf lettuce wouldn’t cause weight issues, whereas fruit can/will. Pellets as well.

[jerseygirl]

Are you certain each time it has been stomach discomfort? What does she do when she gets like this? Just wondering if something else like bladder that may appear like stomach discomfort.

You might talk to your vet about giving acidophilius (lactobacillis acidophilius). It’s not known if these probiotics really survive in the stomach or cecum but from what I’ve read, it’s not known to harmful to give. Nothing to lose really and it might help combat any gas producing bad bacteria if any. Also maybe investigate if any stomach ulcers or trying a supplement for that?
Thanks for linking the article. Opened but yet to read… :p

[lwayne]

I’m pretty sure it is something with gas (like GI stasis) because the simethicone works within an hour or two of giving a dose. The next day we usually see a string of poops with lots of fur. So I’m pretty sure its because of shedding and not enough fiber (aka hay). I just worry because its happened several times this summer.

[Author]

Messages