Sick Lop

[brit_onatuesday]

Hi guys.

Do you think my rabbit is dehydrated or something more serious?

Mochi is around 3-4 years old, spayed. For the last few days she’s been pooping all over her pen, I thought this was odd as she’s usually a clean lady. Some of her poops were darker and runny in consistency. I also noticed over the course of 2 days that she’s not eating her cecotropes anymore. Lately around the house she’s been laying in 1 spot under the couch for hours, flat on her belly, and I noticed that the shape of her lower back has changed, as in it’s no longer round, it’s like…flat, or elongated. She seems tired, and withdrawn and not interested in eating all of her pellets. I picked her up to look at her behind and it was all covered in pee and poop and now I’m really worried.

[Bam]

It seems she’s having stomach trouble. If you have simethicone baby gas drops, give her 1 ml of that for starters. When a bun gets tummy trouble, gas will ensue as a consequence, and that is very painful for a bun. Gas drops help the gas escape.  You can help by elevating her butt slightly, after you’ve given the gas drops. The fact that her behind is flattened could mean that she is pressing her belly to relieve pain.

Also make sure she isn’t cold. A rough estimate can be had by feeling her ears, if they are cold, give her a warm water bottle or handwarmers wrapped in a blanket (you can make a quick heat pad by microwaving a sock filled with rice together with a glass of water to spare the microwave). She must be able to move away from the heat source if she doesn’t want it. If she will accept sitting in your lap, your body heat will work as a heat pad to warm her in a safe way.

I do think this is a case where you need a vet. Rabbits often need fluids sub q and a gut stimulant plus painkillers to get the tummy to start up again and appetite return. Don’t wait too long to contact a vet, time is very much of the essence here.

 

[DanaNM]

Runny poops are alarming (especially along with lethargy), agree with Bam that you should get her to the vet right away. Communicate with them that this is an emergency so they get you seen soon.

You can also syringe her some water in the meantime. My first thought was coccidea, so bring a poop sample with you to the vet. It’s a parasite that most rabbits actually carry, but can cause symptoms if the rabbit is under some other sort of stress. We’ve been seeing a lot of it at the shelter due to the heat wave recently. You also need to keep her clean, rabbits in this condition can get fly strike easily.

 

. . . 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.  

[brit_onatuesday]

Update:

Mochi was diagnosed with a heart valve deformation, arrhythmia, and murmur. The vet believes her symptoms are from heart failure. She also had crystals in her urine, we were given meds to keep her happy and comfortable until it’s her time to go.

[Bam]

Oh, I’m sorry ☹️ I’m glad you have meds for her now so she’ll be comfortable. 💗

[DanaNM]

Oh no, I’m so sorry. 🙁

 

. . . 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.  

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