Upset stomach

[Karla]

2 weeks ago Jack had his upper incisors and the remains of his lower incisors removed…it took him a few days to get back to normal and to seem okay. But since then he has had running stools. I can tell wherever he has been sitting as the floor is brown there, and sometimes it just drips out of him as he is jumping.

 Only thing I changed after the surgery was giving him pellets, which I don’t normally feed them as it is no good for the teeth.

About 4 days ago I removed the pellets as I read these can upset some bunny stomachs, and I thought that might be the cause. I have cleaned him thoroughly (I was shocked to see the amounts of poop piled up under his bum), and I have tried to force him to eat hay (which he never ever does) by only serving this and nothing else, but mixing it up with some favourite meadow mixes and hiding raisins in it.

 

It has helped immensely. I checked his bum this morning and could only find a small wet poop. But I have found a brown spot on the floor this morning as well (it is improving greatly though). I am at home today and he is sleeping next to my desk – and now and then, I can hear his stomach rumble…

 

Other than that, he is acting fine.

 

Any suggestions on what I can feed him? I know some of you recommend yoghurt – should I feed him a table spoon of this (or more?)? And what is the actual difference between feeding him this and then give him yoghurt drops? I know that both contain sugar and milk bacteria and both are normally banned in the bunny world, that’s why I wonder.

 

 

[RabbitPam]

I think it would be helpful to follow up with a phone call to your vet and ask for advice over the phone. since his situation is unique, he may have unique needs that she’s aware of, and require a diet especially for his situation. We can only guess. It does sound like you’re on the right track, but if the runny stools are not the direct result of what he’s eating, but rather a different condition entirely, you would need the advice of your vet as well.

[Karla]

I really don’t like the vet, that is why I am hesitant to call him. Although he is specialised in rabbits, I really don’t think he likes them or has any interest in them. He has said so many things that are just purely wrong regarding rabbit care, that I trust his ability to pull out teeth, but that is it.

I was just hoping that others might have experienced an upset stomach. Meanwhile, I think it is time to search for a new vet (how, I wish we had a car right now!)

[Sarita]

I do suspect this is the pellets. How is he managing his hay?

Loose stools don’t necessarily mean they have an upset stomach either. Dental problems can be a huge problem with stasis problems as well.

No yogurt – this won’t help at all. You could try some Benebac.

Also a stomach rumbling doesn’t mean upset stomach either.

[Karla]

Oh, thank you! A heavy stone just fell from my heart. Just me being overly fuzzy perhaps.

I will see if I can find Benebac somewhere. Thank you for the tip! It is going okay with the hay…I did cheat and give them some veggies last night, as they all seemed hungry, but they fooled me ’cause they weren’t really that interested in it, so I was happy to see that he wasn’t starving hungry as I had dreaded. It works wonder with the meadow mix in the hay, he actually eats quite a bit. I will continue my hay diet

[Sarita]

Veggies are fine – too bad you can’t interest them in veggies though. Silly rabbits.

[Karla]

Just called the vet and I am picking up some FibrePlex later today (they had never heard about Benebac). I am so hopefull right now!

He was having problems with loose stools/diarrhea when I first got him as well just 2 months ago, so I think his stomach could use some Benebac/FibrePlex

[Sarita]

I’m not familiar with FiberPlex – I hope it works, let us know.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Is your bunny still on meds-like metacam? That’s a classic cause of wet poops. I’d just do the tried and true-and really try to encourage hay eating-maybe try alfalfa.

Fibreplex actually sounds really awesome-it’s a fibre supplement with probiotics http://www.petmeds.co.uk/p-3345-fibreplex-for-rabbits-and-small-animals-15m.aspx

[RabbitPam]

Denmark

The House Rabbit society, http://www.rabbit.org, has lists of recommended vets that are experts with bunnies. I copied the section on Denmark for you in case any of these are located near you. I am not familiar with your location, but maybe someone here is a possible option for a new vet:

 

Dr. Knud Steensborg
Abild Dyreklinik
Hovedgaden 41
DK-8220 Brabrand
Denmark
Tel: 8626 3511
fax: 8626 1078
email: abild@image.dk

Dr. Ingeborg Mølbak
Dyrehospitalet i københavn
Poppelstyket 11
2450 københavn SV
Denmark
Tel: 3617 5711
spays/neuters
(She teaches rabbit
medicine to vets.)
http://www.dik.dk 

Dr. Anne-Marie Svendsen
City Dyreklinik
Kronprinsessegade 76
1306 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Tel45) 3393 9800
Suggested as interested in rabbit medicine.

Other Helpful Danish Links:   http://dk.groups.yahoo.com/group/huskaniner 

[jerseygirl]

Ditto on the meds maybe contributing to runny stools. Hay diet is supposed to be good for drying things up. Since he’s off pellets, you might be able to try a small amount of rolled oats too. I can’t remember – did you have to treat him for this poop problem before? Has he had the stool tested for parasites?

[MimzMum]

Sarita, may I ask, will Benebac clear up overly mushy cecotropes as well? I’ve pretty much cured Mimzy of his desire to eat pellets (well, his teeth have anyway) but Fiver still likes them and they still make his cecals too nasty for him to eat apparently because they are all over his hind feet, again.
I’d give him some of the Benebac I have here if you think it would help while I try to wean him off pellets too.

Karla, I often find most commercially produced rabbit pellets (it must be whatever binding agent they use for them) upsets all of my bunnies’ stomachs to certain degrees, and they are all different rabbits (mini-rex, lop, lionhead) so I would guess this could at least be a contributing factor to your Jack’s tummy troubles. But I would also urge you to find a rabbit savvy vet, because there are other reasons a bunny would have diarrhea or soft stools and we don’t want him getting dehydrated. Plenty of water by either crock or bottle, if he’s picky about greens.
If his stomach is gurgling very loudly and he is in a hunched position, he could have gas too. Does he seem to be in any pain? Is he grinding his teeth?

I love the quote in your signature btw. I have that book too, it’s really good for a chuckle.

[Karla]

Posted By RabbitPam on 01/27/2010 03:25 PM

Dr. Ingeborg Mølbak
Dyrehospitalet i københavn
Poppelstyket 11
2450 københavn SV
Denmark
Tel: 3617 5711
spays/neuters
(She teaches rabbit
medicine to vets.)
http://www.dik.dk 

Thanks for the posting. I didn’t know I could seach for Danish vets in there! I used to use this vet, as she was just 5 minutes away from us when I lived in Copenhagen. She has neutered both Karl and Molly. Never got to meet her though as she only does ops. She didn’t find it necessary though to give Molly metacam after the spay

JerseyGirl:Jack is not on metacam. Again, that wasn’t necessary either according to the new vet… I haven’t tried a stool test. I should. Is this something I collect myself and bring in without bringing him to the vet? The new vet is a 40 minute walk from us down a busy high street, so I hope I can limit that experience as much as possible for him.

 

[Karla]

Posted By MimzMum on 01/27/2010 10:55 PM
Karla, I often find most commercially produced rabbit pellets (it must be whatever binding agent they use for them) upsets all of my bunnies’ stomachs to certain degrees, and they are all different rabbits (mini-rex, lop, lionhead) so I would guess this could at least be a contributing factor to your Jack’s tummy troubles. But I would also urge you to find a rabbit savvy vet, because there are other reasons a bunny would have diarrhea or soft stools and we don’t want him getting dehydrated. Plenty of water by either crock or bottle, if he’s picky about greens.
If his stomach is gurgling very loudly and he is in a hunched position, he could have gas too. Does he seem to be in any pain? Is he grinding his teeth?

I love the quote in your signature btw. I have that book too, it’s really good for a chuckle.

I love the quote too! ‘Cause it is so true  People think I’m weird, yes our apartment smells of hay, my boyfriend is annoyed…all in all, it is so, so true.
 

He drinks a whole lot of water, so I am not concerned about dehydration…but it is a good point ’cause his drinking might be a result of it. It’s a shame a lot of people don’t know about the pellets and their effect to some bunny stomachs. He doesn’t seem in pain. But now I am beginning to think: he is very different from the others, and not as active. But he has been like that ever since I got him, and I have always just considered him a quiet, sad bunny. He doesn’t grind his teeth though, other than when I pet him. He snores a whole lot, which the others don’t. I told the vet, but he just said everybody snores…

[MimzMum]

A snoring bunny? xD Okay, I’ve got a snoring dog and husband, but that’s something I have yet to hear. ^_^ Sounds delightfully adorable though!

It looks to me like you’re on top of this, whatever it is, so I’ll just send some healing vibes. (((((((((((((Jack feel better))))))))))))))))

[Karla]

Jack is still leaving brown spots on the floor. Not as much as before though. I have finished with the FibrePlex treatment (which he absolutely loved! It’s the best thing he’s ever tasted, I think). My boyfriend suggested I cut down on the raisins, which they have been given the past 3-4 days, as that might cause some loose stools, which I will do. And then I have bought dried papaya today to see if that might help.

I will try a different vet on Wednesday to see if they have Benebac. If not, then I could try one of those recommended vets from rabbit.org. One of them is situated two hours from where I live, but thankfully that is just where I work

[Author]

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