Support and Advice needed very worried bunny mum!

[Moomin95]

Hi guys, I’m new to the site and also a new bunny owner!

I have adopted the most gorgeous chinchilla rex whom I’ve named Ronald (Full name: Ronald Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore-Reid).

 I’ve had him a month now and decided to get him neutered. Everything went fine with the operation it just took him a lot longer to come round than most bunnies, however he is now eating and drinking well, if a little disinterested in his nuggets. However it’s been two days since his operation, and I was checking his wound and he’s managed to pull the glue off so I am able to see his stitches, although I can’t see inside the wound nor has he torn anything. I don’t know if he’s been licking it (I have been watching him like a hawk and not seen anything) or has maybe pulled at it when he’s had a more energetic moment! 

I have taken him to the vets who gave him two injections of antibiotics and after trying to place a pet shirt on him informed me that I would have to have him put under anaesthetic again in order to have the site glued back together again; a procedure that would cost £350, more than the actual neutering which seems really odd. I’m hesitant to have him put under again, so soon after the original procedure and don’t think he would survive it given his reaction last time. I spoke to another veterinary nurse who said that his wound is not that bad, that I should clean it twice a day with an antiseptic and stop him licking the wound. I have tried putting a cone on him but he hates it, he can’t eat or drink properly, he can’t groom and he can’t eat his cecals; which makes me really worried about GI Stasis.

I’m sorry for such a long post, I am just really worried and its breaking my heart to see him like this. If anyone can give me some advice on what I can do to keep him away from his wound it would be greatly appreciated. Also has anyone had any experiences with vets like this? I’m just so worried I don’t want anything to happen to him but it’s confusing on what is the right decision to make when vets are saying different things.

Again sorry for such a long post, but any advice/support that can be offered would be greatly appreciated.

[meridiian]

You wrote: ‘I would have to have him put under anaesthetic again in order to have the site glued back together again; a procedure that would cost £350, more than the actual neutering which seems really odd.’

Others here would be better qualified to answer your concerns but that does, indeed, seem odd. And excessive. And, your hesitancy to put him under again so soon is totally understandable.

Ill leave it to others to give you advice But I wish you and Ronald the best! (((Ronald)))

[Mikey]

Is it possible to put a cone on him while you cannot watch him, like when you sleep? Or can he not eat/drink at all with the cone on? If he can eat and drink, but its awkward for him to do so, it may be worth it to have when you are not there anyway to help avoid him opening his stitches

Im curious why your vet would have you pay so much to reglue the wounds. Also curious why they glued and stitched. I was told most vets do one or the other, but never both. Is your vet certified to work on rabbits? Have they taken classes on rabbits and have gotten verified?

[meridiian]

Mikey is right. Many vets aren’t qualified to work on rabbits – it does require more specialized training, as we all know – BUT some of the the same vets see rabbits as exotics and charge what they like. Be careful.

You are watching little Ronald carefully, so should you use an antiseptic make sure it’s known to be bunny safe. People here should know what is best and google has lots of info. also.

xx

[Moomin95]

Thanks guys this has been really helpful! Yeah I think I’m going to have to cone him on a night so then I know 100% he’s not touching them. I didn’t know about the glue and the stitches, it’s safe to say I probably won’t be going back to that vet.

I’ve got leucillin and using that to clean him twice a day so hopefully that should do the trick!

Now to find Ron a better vet

[Muchelle]

Hi! My bun had a huge abscess removed from his abdomen and had to live with 12 metal stitches on his belly for a couple of weeks. We were not given a cone because the vet said it would make it impossible for him to properly eat/drink/groom and eat cecotrophes, so he didn’t have any restriction. He licked himself a bit and bit off a couple of stitches when they came lose but nothing bad happened. We were to clean the wound and then massage Hypermix (an ointment to make it close faster) 2-3 times a day.

As long as he licks and doesn’t nibble he will be fine. If during the day you see he’s not trying to rip the stitches off, I think you can leave him without cone (maybe check on him every few hours at night if you can afford to). It’s a hard job, but luckily rabbits heal very fast! Good luck!

[meridiian]

Good luck and let us know how he goes!

[LittlePuffyTail]

The cone is just awful for us humans to have to do to a bunny but sometimes a necessary evil. When my first bunny got neutered, he had to wear a cone for a week because he wouldn’t stop licking and opening the area. We would take it off him for supervised 1/2 hour intervals here and there.

[kirstyol]

£350!!! I would find another vet asap, the most I have ever paid for a vet visit is around £130 and that included anaesthesia, tooth filing, meds given at the time, meds and rescue remedy (like critical care) for home and two follow up appointments!

If the wound has not opened up I wouldnt be too concerned. It does seem strange that they would glue and stitch the wound. Is your bun on painkillers? My vet reckoned that chewing at the wound was a sign of pain when Bramble was neutered and gave us painkillers for a few days. Bramble also had a really bad recovery after his neuter and was at the vet every day for a week (with no extra charge other than prescriptions i might add).

[Bam]

You can make a softish “cone” yourself out of a hair-band or sth of the sort. Just make sure he can’t strangle himself. He’d still hate it but maybe not as much. And you must take it off so he can eat and drink and groom.
350 dollars is outrageous for closing up a wound, imo.
I agree about the pain. It’s often pain that make them open their wounds.

[LBJ10]

My vet did internal (dissolvable) stitches and then glue on the outside. So I guess that part doesn’t seem off to me.

[Bam]

How is Ronald doing?

My vet too used dissolvable stitches inside and glue on the outside. So that’s not weird.

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