UPDATE-Bunny Posturing Again- Good vet needed!

[Dee]

Hi everyone,

I’m so upset… last night BunBun seemed to be hitting the litterbox a bit too often, but wasn’t strained and seemed fine otherwise. This morning I just got an odd feeling,. and when he went to the litter, he was posturing worse than ever before. He did it a few times, I was getting scared that he had a blockage, he was straining so hard, but he did pee quite a bit. Of course it’s on a Sunday. I’m starting him on his Metacam again (the vet said I could sto on Thursday) and he’s still on Baytril. I feel awful cuz he only got one dose yesterday, we were getting really off schedule, like giving him his meds farther and farther apart. My husband has to help me, so I’m kinda dependent on his schedule. I hope that this has not allowed the UTI, if there ever was one!- to come back. If anyone has had a bunny experience this kind of relapse during treatment for UTI/bladder sludge, please tell me about it.

Here are my questions for the day.

Does anyone knows of a GOOD rabbit vet, who actually specialises in rabbits, near Milford, Mssachusetts or Worcester, Massachusetts? I don’t like the fact that the vet we just saw was so afraid of doing Xrays and stuff on Bunbun. And there is no other ”rabbit”  vet there today, so if I take BunBun today I would have to see him.

Do you guys think I should take BunBun to see the vet we just went to today, rather than waiting til tomorrow? Or do you think that since I had meds, I should wait for him to see a possible better vet tomorow?

Does our recent vet sound capable of handling BunBun’s issues? For those who didn’t see my former post about BunbUn Possible Sludge/UTI, the vet was very nice but said he didn’t want to di a urinalysis/Xray on BunBun unless absolutely neccessary, since rabbit’s can break their backs during procedures. He said it’s happened twuce before there (not to him) and because of this, rabbits are his least favorite animal to see. Also, he never mentioned trying to express some urine/sludge from BunBun’s bladder- isn’t that a common option?

I have been feedinghim his usual parsley and dandelion greens with other greens, cuz the vet said it was more important that he keeps eating now and we can address his lower calcium diet when he recovers from this. Could that have caused him to become sludgy again, or did the sludge probably never really go away?

Thanks,everyone! I was so hoping that this was the end of BunBun’s problems. I feel like crying

10 mins later: I gave him his Baytril, .15ml of Metacam and some Critical Care. He has been to the litterbox 3 times now in the last 1 1/2. Each time he postures, this time a bit less, but he does it 2-3 times each visit to the box. He postures, strains and pees, moves to diiferent spot, and repeats at least once. Each time he pees though, thank God. I don’t remember seeing him go as much even in the beginning of this ordeal. Does this constitute an emergency, or is that only if he is straining but not peeing?

 

 

[Sarita]

I think you need to go to the vet that actually see’s rabbits.

I’ve had many rabbits have x-rays done with no harm. The vet and technician just need to know how to handle a rabbit.

You may be able to express any sludge yourself. The trick is that the rabbit has to be upright like a human so the sludge can drain down to the uretha and then you massage the bladder area and the rabbit will get the sensation they need to urinate and will express the sludge – I recommend you ask the vet to show you how to do this.

Sludge may never ever go away no matter what the diet is. Sludge is one of those rabbit medical mysteries. Most vets will tell you to do a low calcium diet to help control it….not sure that this is going to help though but it’s pretty common to do this. Really your pellets are more concentrated in calcium than vegetables are.

I’ve had many many bladder sludge rabbits. And read up alot on this and gone through tons of different vet exams and procedures for it with my rabbits.

A few of my rabbits we did bladder flushes but the sludge always came back and they don’t guarantee that it won’t – it’s only a temporary fix. I used to do alot of sub-q fluids on my sludge rabbits to help dilute the sludge and then would express the bladder.

It’s a terribly frustrating disease in my opinion and I feel for you. But you really need to have x-rays done to see if it is sludge and see if the vet can express the bladder. The urinalysis doesn’t hurt but it’s likely that there is some kind of infection.

Most of my sludge rabbits also had urine scald – that is a very typical symptom of bladder sludge.

[runawaybunny]

What about the Foster Small Animal Hospital in Grafton? I’ve never had the need to use them but they are on my emergency contact list for after hours bunny emergency as they are the closest 24 hour vet that sees rabbits.

[KatnipCrzy]

I can’t recommend a vet since i am not from that area.  But doing a urine test while your bunny is on Baytril would not be as accurate as doing one before the baytril was started.

I would recommend finding a vet that will do an x-ray.  I have seen x-rays from a bladder sludge rabbit and the sludge is very obvious on the x-ray and that way you would know for sure what you are dealing with bladder infection vs bladder sludge (or possible combo of both?).

[Dee]

Thanks, all of you, for your replies. I’m really feeling discouraged today, afraid he’s just not gonna get better. Today he smells like he has poopy butt for the 1st time on Baytril, and he’s not doing any normal poops. I’m taking him to the vet at 1:10- 45 mins away but praying he can help. The vet that I read about can’t see him til the 30th, so I rememberd a vet I took my hammy to. The Foster Animal Hospital would be great, but it’s with Tufts and I don;t think I can afford them. I will let you all know how it goes. It hurts just to watch him pee today- this vet has gotta be able to do at least diagnose him. I will check back later- thank again

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Please keep us posted-and I do hope you find a vet who is confident and competent with your bunny! {{Bunbun}}

And if this helps-this is the House Rabbit Society vet listing for Mass. -they don’t endorse vets etc of course, but a bunny owner has to submit a vet to the list, so somebunny somewhere likes the vet.
http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/vets.shtml
Also see http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html to help you screen.

[Dee]

Went to the vet today in Acton, MA. It was such a relief to find a vet who knew what he was doing! He examined BunBun first, felt his bladder, took his temp (normal), and then took an Xray. The Xray revealed some bladder sludge- it wasn’t full the way I have seen some Xrays online look, but it was definitely showing a good amount of white. Then he gave BunBun some SubQ fluids- it was alaming, how puffed up BunBun got! He said it was normal, then I remembered someone on here saying the same thing. Bun had this huge dewlap when he got home- he didn’t seem to mind though.
So the vet said I should give BunBun SubQ fluids at home for 7 days. He showed me how but I am terrified! He said that most people find that they can do it, and it’s not very traumatic to the bunny, so I know I must. BunBun didn’t seem to feel a thing really- the only time he seemed uncomfortable is when he shivered a bit because the fluids made his body feel cool- the vet told me that.. The syringes are 1.2mm x 25.4mm- is that a normal size? They look so big to me but the vet seemed to have no problem, and he did a good job taking his time and showing me how.

He also switched Bun’s antibiotic to SMZ suspension liquid. I remember this with my hamster- I seem to recall that it’s easier on the stomach, but I might be wrong. He gave me more Metacam too- he really gave me lots more medicine than the other place, for a better price too!

I asked about expressing BunBun’s bladder, but he didn’t want to do that at this point. He felt that we would mainly get urine and not enough sludge to make it worth it, and that the SubQ fluids should help flush BunBun out so everything will come out as he pees. I must say I’m pleased with the results so far- since we got home Bun has peed several times without posturing! I just wish he would poop normally though. He’s eating hay, but he’s only done one poop that looked like a cecal since this morning. Both buns have done this before, so I’m trying not to panic, but I’m anxiously awaiting some little BB’s in the litterbox- lol.

So I’m hopeful that things will get better and I feel like Bun is finally getting proper vet care. I just hate inflicting all this scary stuff on him- I feel like I’m torturing the poor little thing, and he is becoming less trusting of me and Rick after we medicate him- I’m sure the SubQ’s won’t help his emotional state toward us either. But logically, I know that this is what he needs- I know most of you have felt he same way too.

Well, that’s the latest. I’m sure I will be reporting again tomorrow. I feel like I’m going for a record of posting on the same ailment here… I would like to have a happy ending to this saga soon!

[Dee]

Sorry about all the blank posts- my computer finally got back online and posted my update 4-5 times. So I deleted all but one.

[Sarita]

SMZ is also called Bactrim and yes, it’s easier on the stomach.

Once you figure out the sub-q fluids it’s not too difficult. It’s just getting over your fear.

Continued vibes to Bunbun.

[Dee]

Thanks Sarita you have been helpful and patient with all my ?’s through this whole thing- BunBun says thank you too! Yup, I know I have to just get past my fear of hurting BunBun with the sub-q fluids. It looked pretty simple- and I’m sure if there was even a modferate chance of someone screwing up and killing their bunny, vets would not let people administer it at home… right?

BunBun is doing pretty well today, eating hay and a bit of greens- a little posturing thi AM, but not too bad and he’s peeing more too. Had some pudding poops today, just like yesterday morning. At 1st I thought of the SMZ, but that shouldn’t hurt if the Baytril didn’t… then I remembered I got some arugula and watercress 2 nights ago. I think arugula may give Buns some tummy issues, so I will stop feeding him that and hope it improves.

I was all happy cuz I thought the SMZ dose was only .1 ml- way less than the .6 of Baytril. I gave it to him last night, then got to thinking today… the dosage is 1 ml, not .1 ml. Oh boy… well good thing I fugred it out- whatta genius I am lately. He’s due for meds in a couple hours, so I will give him the 1 ml then. I’m sure it is 1 ml and not a typo- if that doesn’t sound right please let me know. Thanks so much!

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