Thislte not eating, drinking and peeing in wrong places.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Hi, something is wrong with Thistle, he is not eating or drinking and he is not peeing in his litterbox (after being perfectly trained for about three days.

He also seems to have difficulty finding a comfy position, he keeps shifting, and when he does find a comfy position he just lyes there, not very active.

I just noticed this all this morining. It really worries me. At first I just saw pee all over the place and was like ARG, but then I went to clean up and shooed him into his litter box and he did not sit up and eat hay like he normally does, he just lay down. So then I thought, maybe he is tired, so I gave him and Fern thier daily paypaya tablet, Fern gobbeled hers as usual, but he turned his nose up at it!

I tried to give him some lettuce which he loves, but he did not  eat it at all. I tried offering him water, nope.

So I am worryed about thistle boy, Fern seems to be oblivious to his sickness. He has also been shedding a lot lately.

So I think it might be gas, or he might just feel a bit off. Anyhow, I can’t take him to the vet today anyway because the vet is not open on sunday. So it is time to treat him.

Should I force feed him critical care, he is lethargic enough that it will be fairly easy to feed him. Should I give him motility drugs? I have some left over from when Fern had a non eating episode. The drugs are not overdue at all, but do you think it is safe?

EDIT: I will not take him to the emergency vet because they do not do rabbits and the last time I called them they asked if Fern had thrown up.

[KatnipCrzy]

I would not give the gut motility drugs until Thistle is seen by a doctor.  Depending on which drug it is- the drug works on different parts of the GI system and if there is truly something “stuck” it could cause a rupture- at least that was what was recently explained to me with Schroeders recent GI stasis episode.  So it would probably be best to hold off on gut motility drugs until a doctor can look at Thistle- and either palpating the abdomen or more clearly an x-ray would show what is going on in the gut.

Yes- you could force feed some Critical Care- especially if Thistle eats it pretty willingly (as opposed to refusing to swallow, etc)- any fluid he is getting from the CC or from any source- greens- will only help the gut.

 

[KatnipCrzy]

You could definitely give Simethicone.  Simethicone only works “mechanically”- it is not absorbed into the gut- it works physically to help break up any gas bubbles.  So Simethicone and belly massage could be helpful.

I guess when a bunny stops eating and acts abnormally- 2 things pop to mind first- gut or teeth.  And short of a complete obstruction- Critical Care, Simethicone and tummy massage can only help if it is the belly- and the massage and Simethicone will not hurt if it is the teeth.

I would continue to offer greens in small amounts- so you can replace them if they wilt.  You could also try Pedialyte- but Schroeder did not like the Pedialyte by itself- so I offered some to Cotton to see if she would drink it (and she has a major sweet tooth- and there is SOME sugar and artificial sugar in it) and she would not drink it either and she was perfectly healthy when Schroeder was sick.

EDIT:
Does Thistle’s belly feel gassy at all?  Do you hear any gurgling? 

It sounds as though the odd behavior just started hours ago- and I am only recommending this until you can get Thistle into the vet tomorrow if there is no improvement.  But if something seriously changes- becomes unresponsive, etc- I would then recommend the Emergency Vet- even though they are not experienced in rabbit care- they could still help a rabbit that is critically ill like that.

Cotton had an episode like what you described before I had any other bunnies- she was just “off” and seemed like she just wanted to sit- so I gave one dose of Simethicone and she was better within hours.  Did the Simethicone help?  who knows- but it just seemed like she had a bellyache and then got over it.  So that can certainly happen.  But if it is more serious like with Schroeder and is more than a simple bellyache it can require vet care.  But I know that Thistle could not have a better bunny Mom watching out for him!

Looking back- the night that I took Schroeder to the EClinic after only 8 hours of noticing ANY off behavior- I was scared and worried since he showed so much discomfort.  Knowing what I do now and having experienced it- I would wait till the am- and first thing in the am get him seem by a bunny vet and give supportive care thru the night- Simethicone, belly massage, etc.  But if there was any doubt it was more serious- I would not hesitate to go to the Eclinic again.

[Sarita]

I’m thinking a urinary tract infection since he is peeing all over the place.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Thanks guys, Thistle seems to be doing fine now, he is eating and he drank a little.

I gave him the critical care, and he did eat it willingly once he got a taste. I gave him some Simethicone and he actually liked it! His stomach was making loud gurgaling noises but it seems to have died down. He gave me such a scare!

I think it was just gas, and I think the peeing everywhere was because he did not feel well so he was too lazy to get into his litter box.

I am happy Thistle has improved greatly, I think the Simethicone really helped!

[jerseygirl]

Good to hear! Perhaps a gas episode. Good job MLW!

[KatnipCrzy]

I am glad to hear that Thistle is doing better.  Naughty bun for worrying you!

[MimzMum]

Hm. I wonder if this had anything to do with the earlier thread you made about his peeing outside the box, MLW? Was that ever resolved?
Because when Mimzy has a gas episode, he thumps. At almost NO other time does he thump for any reason, except when his tummy hurts from gas. I wonder if Thistle was trying to let you know something was wrong with his tummy before?
At any rate, *whew!* glad to hear he’s better! There is nothing scarier than when bun is ill. It makes you feel like you have only seconds to act before they really go south.
Nose rubs for Thistle! (And some nice calming vibes for you!)

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Thanks guys, now Thistle is back to his normal self, eating and drinking like a maniac. (He is even eating too much I have run out of my big 40 oz bag of hay in less than a week, I really need to get a bale of hay.)

Yea, thistle’s peeing solved itself, he just needed to get used to the area, and I *hope* that once he gets used to Fern then he will not pee in any new place I put him. But he is doing well so far! But I have put off cleaning the bunny area because I don’t want him to start peeing in it again if all his smells are gone…
I don’t think the peeing issue was gas as well as this issue because he always peed when he was in a new area, not just randomly. But at least now I will have a easy way to tell if he is not feeling well- if I see pee everywhere- “Uh, thistle is not feeling well today,”-
I know mimz it is so scary when a bun is sick, because most of the time it is life threatening! When a dog is sick most of the time it is just something little. Why do buns have to be so darn delicate? But I still love them all the same.

[BinkyBunny]

WHEW!! (wipes brow)

[katie, max & penny]

they are soo delicate! everyone thinks i’m crazy for watching their pooping and stuff haha. i’m so glad thistle is doing better. binkies for thistle and MLW!

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