Toby is sick

[MyPets1031]

About a month ago I noticed Toby felt a bit skinner but I decided it was just from old age as Toby just turned 6, and decided he needed more pellets. Shortly after that I noticed he was no longer eating his hay. I reduced his pellets back to what they had been because I thought maybe he just preferred the pellets. About three days after this, he quit drinking. So I forced some and then the next day he hadn’t eaten or drank anything and his nose had began to run.

I examined him to find that his nose, ears and eyes were all runny and made an appointment and brought him to the vet that night. The vet had it set in his mind that it was a tooth problem before Toby even got there and never really examined him. He diagnosed a tooth infection or a problem with his roots, which would mean a costly surgery to remove his back teeth.

After being sent home with Baytril, eye drops, and critical care, things only got worse. The next day I took him out to feed him and he was falling over. He almost seemed drunk and when he was standing, there was a definite shake or tremble that overtook his body.

I made another appointment and rushed him to the vet. We got another vet this time who thoroughly examined Toby’s body and dismissed any idea of a tooth problem. She said he was VERY skinny and thought that whatever was wrong with him had been wrong with him for quite some time, perhaps longer than I could have ever thought something was wrong. She diagnosed Pasteurella, Cancer, or Kidney failure but flat out told me she was not an expert and recommended another clinic that’s very far from where I live.

She sent us home with more critical care and pain medications and recommended that we keep up with the medication we had received the previous night. She also said he should be feeling better by the time his pain meds ran out, which was this morning.

Toby is still a bit tippy and falls over sometimes but is a bit improved. He has been eating hay and some pellets and about half of the veggies that I douse in water and put in his cage twice a day. He sometimes eats the critical care on his own and sometimes I have to force it. But no water. He refuses to drink any water other than what is on his veggies.

I had been forcing 35mLs of water four times every day but it was a painful process. Eventually I started mixing apple juice with no sugar added. (2 parts water, one part apple juice) And it went a little easier but not a ton. He has been this way for a week now and I saw a little improvement in the middle where he was drinking A TINY BIT and not falling very much at all but then things went back down again.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Roberta]

Pasteurella usually involves antibiotics….
Are you able to get to the other vets office or atleast get your vet to contact them and try the antibiotics they recommend ASAP ?

[Roberta]

Are there any other vets in your area you could also call ? I would be seeking treatment as fast as possible. I understand how hard and frustrating this must be for you too.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

It sounds like the second vet you saw recommended you go to another clinic where they are better equipped-have you been already or when is your next appointment?
I honestly couldn’t recommend anything aside from force feeding until you get to the other clinic for a proper diagnosis.
{{Vibes}}

[Irina]

I do not have anything to add other than I hope things improve quickly. You must be so worried. Wishing you both strength. Please post updates.
?

[LBJ10]

It looks like the vet did prescribe an antibiotic. I’m a little confused how a vet could give a diagnosis of pasteurella, cancer, or kidney failure. I mean, how does one come up with such a vague diagnosis? Obviously the vet doesn’t know much about rabbits and they probably are not equipped to make a proper diagnosis. Is the vet they referred you to rabbit-savvy? I know you said they were quite a distance away from you, but it would probably be worth it to make the trip.

[Sarita]

Yes, get another appointment with a vet who will do some diagnostic testing like bloodwork to start out with. That diagnosis does not make any sense at all to me either. It’s really not a diagnosis at all in my opinion.

[MyPets1031]

I emailed the recommended vet. An exam is $75 and they wanted to get a blood test for $100-$350 and fluids and then however much the suggested treatment is.

[Roberta]

Can you beg or borrow the money.?.. I know it is hard but could make such a difference getting the right vet to do an exam and diagnosis.

[Tigi]

My tip on force feeding water is to put him on your lap, then try to put the syringe from the side of his mouth rather that the front.

Please try to go to the rabbit savvy vet asap. Rabbits won’t get better on their own and it doesn’t sound like he’s had proper diagnosis from the first two vets. Being prey animals, they are also good at hiding sickness so by the time we notice it, it is usually at the critical stage.

In the meantime, keep up the fluids and critical care to maintain the calories intake and just give him whatever veg he wants to eat to prevent him from getting a GI stasis.

[MyPets1031]

We were going to bring him in on Friday to put him down because nothing has been getting better… Still no water intake. :/ At least he’s eating veggies though! Anyway, I decided against it because he was so much better on Friday! And yesterday he was hopping around acting a lot better just still not drinking water. Same with today. I took him back downstairs to have some free hopping time and he raced back into his room and stood at the outside of his old cage which he is no longer aloud to use because he tips over so easily and it has multiple levels. I took him back out of the room instantly because I didn’t want him near the other rabbit. But he kept trying to go back! He was really excited and when he saw the other rabbit again they both got excited, as if they missed each other! I feel bad keeping them apart but I don’t want Phantom getting sick too!

Although he’s acting a lot better, today when i took him out, I noticed that there’s a puffy spot on his nose. I had seen pictures (not sure if it was on this site or another) recently where a bunny looked very similar to him and he had an abscesses. With all the other problems we have encountered I was thinking it was possibly cancer (tumor) because what is the likelihood that after fighting this infection he would just get another in the form of an abscess. I don’t know… So I feel that I should take him back to the vet but my mom is on a business trip until Thursday which means it is virtually impossible for me to be able to do that. The plan was to wait until she got back to decide whether or not I wanted to put him down, but now he’s acting so good I thought maybe there was hope he could live a while longer if this IS just an abscess. If it is an abscess could it wait until Thursday?

[MyPets1031]

See how the right side is a bit larger? As far as I noticed yesterday it was the exact same size on both sides. I will keep a very close eye on it.

[Roberta]

MP, that needs a vet… Please get Toby to the vet ASAP…

[MyPets1031]

I really CAN’T get him in until Thursday… I’m not sure what to do about that. I would take him, I really would if I could. I’m kind of stuck. :/

[MyPets1031]

The lump seems to be a bit smaller today… I don’t know why since I figured it would grow but it is…

[LittlePuffyTail]

. How is Toby today? Is the lump any smaller? Is he eating?

[Sarita]

I think if you can get him in Thursday that would be better than nothing.

[MyPets1031]

Spot seems to be about the same size. He has suddenly got really bad head tilt. My mom is still not home so I may end up asking my grandpa to drive me to a vet tomorrow. Praying for a miracle.

[MyPets1031]

Vet appointment scheduled for 4:30 tomorrow. It was the only spot we could be squeezed in until next week. Hoping and praying this is something treatable.

[MimzMum]

Sending vibes for wee Toby. ((((((((((((Healing vibes))))))))))))))
Maybe be sure that lump wasn’t a spider bite. Was it warm to the touch at all?

[jerseygirl]

Sending {{{vibes}}} also. If you were given antibiotics and metacam, please keep these going in the meantime.

Hopefully if you can go forward with treatment, they can give subcutaneous fluids to keep him hydrated.

At home, does he use a bottle or bowl. Try offer both and if he’s used to a bottle, check its operating properly or if the position of it still suits him.

Good luck!
ETA: I saw a picture of Toby at vets (?) via the links in your profile. Is he doing ok?

[mocha200]

I don’t think she remembered to come over here and update you all. I will go ask if she can give you guys an update. He did spend the night that night at the vet, but is now at home.

[MyPets1031]

Toby’s new vet thinks he has E. Coli. He can no longer stand and has severe head tilt. Whenever he tries to move, he just rolls. We have been giving him Sub-q fluids at home, twice a day, and also baytril, but things are still getting worse. He quit eating on his own, yesterday he was taking hay, but today he’s not taking anything. It breaks my heart to see him like this…. I thought he was pretty bad before, but this is torture.

[MimzMum]

Oh dear, I am sorry to hear this about Toby. If he has E.Cuniculi then this is what has caused his head tilt. Mimzy went thru this a year and a half ago and a few other members here have now dealt with this as well.
I just want to say Toby can be brought thru this. The rolling stage is the worst but if you can keep him eating and eliminating he can recover. What kind of meds has your vet given you for him? Do you have anything like a lidless storage tub you can line with towels to keep him from rolling too much in? Are you able to give sub q fluids yourself or do you have your vet do it?
If you have any questions please message me. I’ve been thru this and would be glad to help or just listen when things get heavy.
I will keep you both in my prayers. This will be difficult and take time. But it can be beaten.

[Author]

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