Thoughts for Archie

[skibunny8503]

I am taking Archie to the vets tomorrow.  For those who aren’t up to date, he has been peeing outside of his litterbox alot lately.  First it was here and there and I just cleaned it up, thought maybe he just had his butt sticking out of the litter box if there was a lot of hay in it but after his vet visit the other day I had told our vet what was going on and she gave him some fluids and oxbow urinary tract tablets and said to keep a close eye on him and update her.  (I have a little one so sometimes I do kick myself for not paying as much attention as I used to with them ).  Sat. he peed 3 times, Sunday once and Monday twice.  We cleaned out his whole cage and I sprayed the floors down just in case maybe he was marking (I wanted to think that but in my heart I knew it wasn’t and there was something else with him).  But today he peed again.  I had told our vet online the day before how many times he peed and she said she wanted to check his urine and also blood glucouse.  So tomorrow we’re bringing him in.  I hope it’s something simple that we can treat with antibiotics.  It reminds me of Gracie so much when she started peeing outside her litter box and got worse over the months.  I don’t want that to happen to him, he’s our first pet together, our X-mas bunny.    I just wanted to update you guys on him.  Sandy is doing well by the way.  I never did get them bonded, I started to but then got busy, hopefully I will eventually.

[Beka27]

Vibes for Archie!

Keep us updated on what the vet does…

[LBJ10]

Aww, poor Archie! I hope it is something they can treat. =(

[Monkeybun]

Aww little Archie man! Get better, little dude! *hugs*

[MimzMum]

Oh poor Archie All the healing vibes I can muster for your little guy coming your way with all possible speed! xx

[LittlePuffyTail]

(((((Archie)))))) Best of luck at the vet!

[TBpony414]

Thinking of Archie (and you!) Please let us know how the visit goes!

[breannaloo]

(((((((((((vibes for Archie!))))))))))))

[skibunny8503]

Thanks for all your thoughts!  The vet’s went ok, just took urine and blood to be sent out and she gave me Orbax to give him to see if that would help.  Well she just called and urine and blood came back normal   So good that everything was normal but bad because we still don’t know what’s wrong   She said that if the Orbax works we should see an improvement by Monday and she’ll call back then.  If not then she can do X-rays on him with a new X-ray gun that they got for small animals that works really well.  

Has anyone gone through this with their bun that they would know what’s wrong or what to look for?  I’ve been through it with Gracie and I pray that this is not what’s happening to him. 

EDIT: I forgot to add that it seems he’s drinking more too…

[Sarita]

I think you should have her file those teeth – excessive drinking is a sign of molar spurs most likely – they drink water to soothe their mouth.

[skibunny8503]

Ok; but that doesn’t explain the peeing though…

[Sarita]

Well that could be a mobility issue….like arthritis.

[skibunny8503]

I didn’t even think of that! He’s about 6 years old I think. When I looked it up online one site said it can start at middle age. So I will tell the dr about that. Can X-rays show if he has it?
I finally know what Gracie had; it was paralysis (could be due to EC but we’ll never know) http://www.petmd.com/rabbit/conditions/neurological/c_rb_paresis_paralysis#.UbEnWOuaNEo

[Sarita]

Yes, x-rays can show that – I had a rabbit at the age of 4 begin to show signs of arthritis and Elrohwen’s Otto has been diagnosed w/arthritis and he is 4 years old.

[MimzMum]

Mimzy was diagnosed with arthritis at 3 years, so yeah, they can come down with it young. He’s been on metacam ever since and it seems to be taking care of things well. If Archie is 6 and he’s just now showing signs, that’s encouraging that it may be managed easily.
So no kidney trouble then? That’s the thing I’d be looking for. Did Gracie ever get a test for E.C.? (Not that it’s very reliable, but sometimes you can catch it with a right timed urinalysis.)
Thinking of Otto and you ((((((((sending hugs and healing vibes))))))))))) xx

[jerseygirl]

Xray sound like a good next step. It certainly should show if there is any skeletal inflammation. Also a way to look for bladder or kidney stones though i was told its difficult to get good views of the kidneys. Hopefully their new X-ray tool overcomes that. : )

Even though the bloods and urine hasnt shown anything, the readings are good to have anyway for comparisons down the track.

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I agree there’s a lot of indicators about his teeth. If at all possible, could they do dental work while he’s under for X-ray?
I know the peeing and dental connection seems far-fetched but I recently read unusual habits can be a pain response with some rabbits. (This comment was by an experienced rabbit owner).

I hope you’re able to get some clarity on what’s going on with Archie. I know it’s frustrating right now.
Lots of (((vibes))) for the beautiful boy!

[skibunny8503]

Thanks guys! Mimz, I think Gracie was tested but I really can’t remember, she was at a different dr’s a 1/2 hour away because our vet recommended we go to someone else that specializes with rabbits. I remember him saying that he thought it could be EC but there was no test to really be sure. So I dunno if she had it or not.
Nope, everything came back fine in the tests. He’s on his 3rd day of meds and today he didn’t pee at all but I am still leaning towards some arthritis because he does had a lot of poo outside his litterbox. I did order a geriatric litter box for him to see if that will help (http://www.bingalingstore.com/geriatric-litterbox/). I’m not promoting, I just wanted to show you guys what it looks like. We’ll see if it works or not.
I am going to see if she can do x-rays on him and look at his teeth too just to be sure. I’d rather pay these bills now than have something go wrong with him and it being something major we have to fix. Thank God for the credit card we have that has 6 months no interest for our vet! We’re already up to $300 with their exam and the tests o_O

[MimzMum]

Glad to hear the meds are helping so far.
Mimzy is kind of fecal incontinent. He leaves rabbit raisins everywhere. And he was always a very tidy bun as a youngster.
Continuing vibes and prayers for dear Archie.

[skibunny8503]

Ah, they were but it’s hard to tell. He peed twice on the 8th, once on the 9th and so far nothing today. But he has poop everywhere (a lot in his litter box but a good amount throughout his cage). His new litterbox just shipped so hopefully that will help him.
I wonder why Mimz does that, have anything to do with how high the litter box is?

[skibunny8503]

Got the geriatric litter box last night and put it in his cage. Yesterday he hadn’t peed (this was with his old box) but today he peed twice. I think tomorrow if I remember to tell my husband to bring the big bag of litter in, I’m going to put his old one by his hay and the new one next to it with his food in it. See if that helps at least. He’s getting x-rays done next Thursday.

[MimzMum]

There may be some false starts with the meds. Perhaps just getting him to a level where the drug remains constant. They cycle medication through their systems so quickly.
Mimzy I think is just not able to feel much correctly ‘back there’. Or perhaps it hurts too much to really ‘hold himself.’
If I’m examining him he’ll just start pooping…while I’m checking for mucky bum and such. They just roll out…like a Pez dispenser. 0_0
He doesn’t use a litter box anymore. Ever since his head tilt, he can’t manage it. I’m thinking of trying a paint can (a new one of course) and see if he can waddle in and out of that okay. But otherwise he uses the towel bedding I put on his pen floor. Needless to say, I do a lot of laundry.

I hope Archie feels better soon. (((((((((Vibes)))))))) xx

[skibunny8503]

She found some arthritis in his legs like where the ends meet the hip I think. Right now he has 2 litter boxes and that’s working well for him. I’m going to take one out to see if he pees anymore and we can always start him on metacam too. But he has been running around so that’s good. I’m just glad she didnt’ find any tumors and bladder stones.

[MimzMum]

That’s great news that he can have treatment and has litter boxes he can use!
Yes, Mimzy’s got a spur right at the hip joint. It was growing quite quickly last time he had an xray, but that was years ago.
(((((((((((More healing vibes))))))))))))))) for dear Archie.

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