weight loss

[Cheyann]

Maddie has lost some weight. She is eating a lot, acting normal and she is otherwise healthy. She is older. Around 8 years. Could it just be old age? What else could it be? How can I get her to gain weight?

[Sarita]

It could be age related. The majority of my rabbits are over 8 years old – I highly recommend a vet check up with some blood work when they get this age. I just had my 4 seniors checkups done with bloodwork.

[Cheyann]

How much does that cost?

[Sarita]

Check with your vet to get costs because they vary.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Vet checks can be anywhere from 25$ to around a hundred. But a senior bunny should be checked at least once a year if not twice. Weight loss ‘due to old age’ isn’t really a thing…old age in itself doesn’t cause weightloss…There will be a cause, age related or not. The cause can be teeth, or gi problems…as animals age they feel less need to eat or drink etc. There also could be an illness going on too.

Most importantly weight loss can often be your first clue something is very wrong-so off to the vet is best.

Let us know how it goes!

[Cheyann]

I will bring her in tomorrow morning.
What should the vet look for with the blood work? She said it starts at $45 and it will cost more depending on what I want them to look for.

[Sarita]

The vet will be able to interpret the bloodwork and let you know if he/she has concerns about it.

[Cheyann]

Just got back from the vet. They did a fecal and urine test. The fecal test was normal. Her urine was not as concentrated as it should be. When the vet palpated her abdomen she noticed her bladder was full and she has a small pea sized bump. I dont know exactly where the bump is. I left her at the vet so they can do some blood work. The vet thinks she may have something wrong with her kidneys or she could have a tumor somewhere.

[Sarita]

Oh, poor thing. Please keep us updated.

[Cheyann]

One of the blood tests showed she is a little dehydrated and her liver values were a little off. I need to wait until Monday to get the results of the other blood test. I will put water bowls all over my room so she doesnt have to go far to drink.

[bunnyluvr]

Hope she feels better soon.
((((((((((Maddie!)))))))))))

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

{{{{{Vibes}}}}}}
Please keep us posted!! Maddie is in my thoughts.

[Cheyann]

So I got the results of the other bloodwork. Shes almost anemic. Her kidney values are a little off. I have her on antibiotics just incase there is a kidney infection or an infection somewhere else. Im really hoping its just an infection. If she has more serious kidney problems then there is nothing I can do.

[Sarita]

Continued vibes to Maddie.

[Cheyann]

Shes being a good bun. I will put the pill (antibiotics) in her mouth and she will chew and eat it. I got different hay to make sure shes eating enough. Its timothy, bluregrass, brome and orchard mix. She loves it. I also put the hay in a big box so she can sit in it and eat. She loves her hay box too. I also see her drinking several times every day. I started giving her more veggies to get her to eat more and to get more water in her. I started feeding her more pellets to get her to eat more too. She used to get them as treats every 3-4 days. She now gets them every other day. If she does not get poopy butt (she usually gets poopy butt from pellets) which she has not yet then I will give pellets every day. And shes acting normal. She playing, eating, running, trying to hump Minnie lol. So all I can do for now is keep giving her her antibiotics and weigh her to see if she gains weight.

[Sarita]

That’s great!

[Cheyann]

I weighted her today. She is still losing weight. If she continues to lose weight even after being on antibiotics then its probably not an infection and she probably has kidney disease. If she has kidney disease she will eventually die from it. I will continue to monitor her weight.

[Sarita]

Ask your vet about doing sub-q fluids at home. If she is not too far in kidney failure this may help her feel better. My only experience is with a rabbit in acute renal failure and he wouldn’t eat or drink and slept all day and the sub-q’s were the only thing that kept him going as long as it did until we did the bloodwork and discovered he was in acute renal failure and we helped him cross the bridge.

I would find out the degree of the kidney problems before you decide there’s no hope.

[Cheyann]

Shes still drinking a lot. I dont think she needs sub-q fluids yet. But I will ask the vet about it. She still is doing good so far. Shes eating, drinking, playing and just acting normal. She has just lost weight. Shes at 5.5 pounds. I dont know what she was before but I know it was around 6.5-7 pounds.

[Cheyann]

I weighed her again. She didnt lose any weight. Hopefully she will now start to gain weight.

[bunnyluvr]

fingers & ears crossed over here!

[Cheyann]

I noticed her gums and the bottom her nose (where there is no fur) are grayish. I called the vet and she says she may be bleeding internally maybe because of a tumor or she may not be getting enough oxygen.

[Cheyann]

I weighed her again and she gained weight. She is now at 6 pounds. Her gums are still grayish. Maybe its because shes not getting enough oxygen and maybe she lost weight because of an infection or from being slightly dehydrated. I dont know for sure but shes gaining weight. I have 2 more days of antibiotics. Should I get another 2 weeks worth or should the infection (if there was one) be gone with 2 weeks of antibiotics?

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