Sticky Poops – again

[Jack and Noggin]

Jack has a clostridium infection. He’s been on antibiotics (0.8cc Metronidazole, 0.4cc Enrofloxacin and 0.2cc Metoclopramide) twice a day since Friday (4½ days). Though he was still eating normally, he was also put on 30-60cc Oxbow Critical Care twice per day. During this time, Jack’s poops went from sticky and leaky poo spots on the ground to hard pelleted poo balls and no smears or spots – hooray!!

Well, we ran out of the critical care yesterday afternoon but are, of course, continuing with the antibiotics but now Jack’s poops are back to the sticky, squishy balls – all over. The vet says he doesn’t need to continue the critical care and that I can increase his pelleted food to 3 Tablespoons per day (formerly 2T per day) and continue with unlimited hay and no greens for at least another week. Jack eats Oxbow Natural Science Adult Rabbit Food and he’s been getting Oxbow Organic Meadow Hay and Kaytee Timothy Hay Cubes (since I am terribly allergic to timothy hay). I also bought a bag of Oxbow Oat Hay today and gave him a bit.

So what gives? Are his poops like this again because of the rapid transition off of critical care? I don’t think it’s the oat hay because I noticed wet poops before that. What can I do? Wait it out? For how long? Put him back on critical care? He’s creating quite a mess for me to clean up four-hundred times a day. Could he be getting sicker? 

[Sarita]

I would wait and see what happens with the full dosage of antibiotics – sometimes it gets worse before it gets better.

It would also be wise to call the vet to see what the vet thinks since he is under vet care to discuss your concerns.

[bunnluff]

Antibiotics in pets, just like in humans, can destroy the intestinal flora and throw everything off kilter. And since rabbits digestive systems are very important to their health, I’d put your sweet bun on some probiotics to help restore the madness. I had to search out and buy some Benec-bac for my girl who has been having very smeary, runny poop for weeks. She is all cleared up now but as maintenance I’ll continue to give her the supplement. Hope that helps.

[Jack and Noggin]

Noggin is on a probiotic to try and not have any bad stuff over run her system too. Why did you choose Benec-bac?
Since Jack is still on antibiotics, probiotics wouldn’t do anything now but I am hoping that this current mess is just antibiotic related and that he’ll be happily adjusted eventually.
He’s back in his hunched up bunny ball today though so I’m worried he’s bloated again.

[jerseygirl]

I agree about ringing to with discuss the change with your vet. One of the abx may have known side effects and the dosage might need adjustment.

Did the vet say why metacloprimide was prescribed?

It wouldn’t hurt to trial the criti care again to see if it helps turn things around again. It would be interesting if it does. Perhaps it’s easier on his digestion while his system is busy fighting the infection.

[bunnluff]

Posted By Jack and Noggin on 10/30/2013 10:14 AM

Noggin is on a probiotic to try and not have any bad stuff over run her system too. Why did you choose Benec-bac?
Since Jack is still on antibiotics, probiotics wouldn’t do anything now but I am hoping that this current mess is just antibiotic related and that he’ll be happily adjusted eventually.
He’s back in his hunched up bunny ball today though so I’m worried he’s bloated again.

I chose it because I read about it on several rabbit sites and forums and I was desperate to help my poor girl and end the mushy poo cycle. I think what also helped was that I eliminated all greens for the most part. They weren’t helping my situation much. In the beginning I started using Oxbow digestive care tablets which did seem to work great, but I needed something a tad stronger. Pippin had recently been on strong antibiotics to combat head tilt so I think they might have thrown her off a little. I also gave a little bit of dry oatmeal on bad days where it was literally anal leakage because oatmeal does help with diarrhea. Good luck to you and Noggin!

[Jack and Noggin]

I did speak with the vet assistant and he just told me basically to wait and see and give more pellets…

Re the metacloprimide: I think it’s just to make sure the GI distress doesn’t turn into GI stasis and also to help flush the bad junk out.

I’m going to put him back on critical care if he’s not doing better tomorrow because he’s definitely not feeling good now. I wish there was something I could give him right now besides pellets, water and hay.

[Sarita]

It can take awhile for the clostridium to clear up. Yes metrocloprimide (reglan) is to get the gut moving.

Did the vet give you any pain meds? I imagine he’s in pain. Also fluids might be a good idea as well.

[Jack and Noggin]

Yes, he has pain meds as well. They gave him subcutaneous fluids at the vet on Friday, otherwise he’s been drinking water normally.

[jerseygirl]

I wish there was something I could give him right now besides pellets, water and hay.

How about something
like the oat hay pellets in the bb store?
Or he might tolerate some foliage like roses leaves, petals, willow, raspberry leaves, apple twigs and leaves. Raspberry and rose leaves are supposed to be good for the bunny gut when something is off.

[Sarita]

I have to point out those stick weird poops are due to the clostridium and not the medication. This stuff is very painful I think – my rabbit Peppermint had this and I could not get him to eat….keep on with the medication.

[Jack and Noggin]

Oh he’s eating just fine, and I’ll of course continue with the meds (fortunately he sucks them down like a baby cow drinking milk), it’s just he was doing so much better Monday. His poops were nice and dry and he was active and happy. Now he’s back to sticky poopy butt sad bun. I hope it is just a matter of getting worse before he gets better. I gave both buns some dried clover blossoms and rolled oats and a oxbow digestive aide tablet with dinner. Vet said not to give him any fresh foods though because he doesn’t want to risk introducing more bacteria to Jack’s system though.

Oddly enough, I had clostridium infection in high school. After I had my tonsils out, the antibiotics had wiped out my system and I got very sick. It took nearly 3 months to diagnose and I had to do a mega round of vancomycin. Then I had to eat TONS of yogurt for several months (I couldn’t look at yogurt again for about a decade). So I totally know what he’s going through.

[Sarita]

Don’t do the oats…this is not the answer and it’s not really a good idea. I hope he gets better soon – it’s good you can empathize with him too but frustrating that it seems to not be getting better.

[Jack and Noggin]

Just thought I’d update. After a few days of watching Jack get more and more sick, I ordered some critical care and have been giving him 1½ oz (wet/mixed) per day – which is a lot less than the 4-6 oz per day at first. He seems to be doing SO much better. No more leaky butt or sticky poos and no more bloat. I don’t know if it’s the fiber or some plant in the critical care but he’s doing great. He has a couple more days of antibiotics so I’ll just have to continue keeping an eye on things. It’s so nice to have a happy bunny again though.

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