Stasis Scare…

[Gravehearted]

My bun Hareiette just posted this on myspace and I wanted to also share it with everyone here too.

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So my sister Pandora is a fraidy bun, she’s just nervous around people.  That doesn’t stop her from being a pain to me of course – but that’s another story…

Last night she and Viktor snuggled into the litterbox right next to my cage and she let mommy walk right up and pet her. Normally she will get nervous and debate running away, so Mom wondered if she was feeling ok. Mom shook the box of auntie em’s bunny treats and on cue Viktor and I started dancing around.  Pandora wasn’t interested, which was a sign that she wasn’t feeling well. She also hadn’t eaten her veggies.

First they gave Pandy some baby gas drops (simethecone) to see if relieving the gas would help.  Her tummy didn’t feel hard, but did feel a bit bigger than normal. After waiting about an hour she didn’t seem better. Since Viktor is such a piglet they weren’t sure if she’d even eaten her morning pellets.

Then Mom & Dad mixed up some critical care(available from rabbit savvy vets)  and assist fed her with a big syringe.  They also gave her some clear unflavored pedialyte to help re-hydrate her. Dad gently gave her some belly massaging to try and help too.  I wasn’t too happy that she was getting so much attention – but at least no one was shoving food down my throat with a syringe.  Talk about undignified – yuck!

They decided if she wasn’t eating by this morning she’d have to go to the vet.  But luckily, she was eating both hay and pellets this morning and is feeling much better.

One thing to know about us bunnies is we’re prey animals so we hide that we’re feeling sick for as long as possible. If we look sick then we’re REALLY sick. So it’s a good idea to keep an eye on our appetites and litterboxes for clues to health issues. This time of year is high shedding, so make sure to brush often, often fresh water daily, give papaya tablets as treats.  If your bunny hasn’t eaten or pooped in 24 hours it is an emergency and you must get into a vet ASAP.

So – the moral of the story is that it’s a good idea to think ahead before there is an emergency.

1) Make sure to research and find a rabbit savvy vet (HRS has a helpful list to get you started: http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

2)  Have a bunny first aid kit on hand.  This isn’t in lieu of vet care, but might help prevent a crisis situation. If it had been 1 am and we didn’t have a first aid kit , Pandy might have become  more ill and needed to be hospitalization.

You can put together your own kit with this list http://www.mnhouserabbit.org/care/firstaidkit.html/

or even buy a premade emergency kit  from House Rabbit Resource Network http://www.rabbitresource.org/emergency.html

[osprey]

Yikes, I am glad she is feeling better.  Bunnies are such fragile little things.

[ea hurse]

My Chino died a couple of weeks ago after suffering the same symptoms.  It happened overnight and I took her to the vet first thing in the morning after noticing she hadn’t eaten/drank/toileted all night. Her abdomen was so bloated like a balloon and she was very weak. Unfortunately she was too weak and the vet said she was so poorly she wouldnt survive an operation; he gave her some meds and pain relief and she didn’t last very long. She was a very tiny bunny and has had bouts of diahorrea in the past so i guess she had some G.I issues to start with. 

I have learnt through the experience though and as Gravehearted says, its SO important to be prepared and to know what you’re looking out for- its also really important to get a vet that knows rabbits well.  Even though he couldnt save Chino my vet did everything he could and then made her comfortable and allowed her to die pain-free and with dignity.  I dont have to deal with the guilt of not getting her the best treatment. 

I also think insurance is a great idea – you know you dont have to worry about the bills and so dont have to pick a vet you can afford rather than the best.

On a happier note, Lollo picked a new girlfriend from the rescue today – she is currently called Ethel (not my doing and not sure how long before its changed…!) She is a lionhead cross and is really beautiful; she’s  already starting to look at home – my boy has good taste! so fingers crossed for the bonding process and a good few tiring weeks ahead…!

 

 

[MooBunnay]

I’m so sorry to hear about Chino – its very tough when they get stasis to be able to take care of them, its so nice that she had someone to make sure that she was well taken care of.

I’m glad to hear Lollo is getting a girlfriend! Lionheads are so cute Was it love at first site? Or are they still in the bonding process?

[Gravehearted]

I’m so sorry to hear about Chino 🙁 *hugs*
But i am glad to hear that Lolo has found a new lady love

[ea hurse]

Ethel who is now (i think anyway!) called Rosie just came to her new home yesterday morning so i want her to get used to her new surroundings before starting bonding her with Lollo.  As for love at first sight – well, he ignored her a bit then licked his bits for a while then tried to bite her. Neither of them postured aggressively at all and she didnt mind the biting thing and seems quite taken by him. Im not so worried that he tried to bite because he did that with Chino at first – i think he is just a bit enthusiastic and Lollo and Chino ended up best buddies.

She spent a good 20 mins sat on my knee whilst i groomed her this afternoon and was very submissive which is good cos i know i’ll have to groom her more often than a short haired bunny- both to keep the tats away and to prevent her getting hair-balls. But its only really round her head she’s got the longer hair, the rest is short so it’s not a chore. Of course after the 20 mins she’d had enough and tried to dig/ nibble her way through my jeans. Bless!

 

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