Will Bunny in Pain Flop?

[Dee]

Sorry I’m being such a pest- I’m just at a loss with Bunbun. Every time I think i have everything sorted out, he does something that gets me worried again. There is a big long thread on his possible UTI/bladder sludge that I have been updating for a couple days now.

 

Okay, my latest problem/question is: Could BunBun be in pain? He has been bright and happy theses past few days- Wed. night he was kind of off, but then recovered. Obviously in the litterbox he experiences some pain while peeing- but only sometimes, other times he does fine. He peed several times in the carrier on the way to the vet, no problem. But since we got home from the vet, he has been quiet on and off- sitting with his back to me, refusing greens sometimes, just not being himself. He has been eating hay much of the time though, and comes running for treats when he hears a bag crinkle.

  So I have noticed that when he is sitting quietly, his eyes are often half closed today. When I pat him he closes them all the way, maybe in relaxation. But when he is in his litterbox straining to pee, he closes his eyes halfway too and I know that’s from pain. Then I read that a bunny who is uncomfortable sits hunched up, grinding teeth, eyes half closed… Bunbun only has 1 outta 3 of those symptoms. I was really getting worried, then he was eating hay with Nelli, and he flopped! Would a bunny in pain flop?! I thought that was a sign of happiness. I’m so confused… thinking maybe I’m reading into things now cuz I’m so concerned. Maybe he’s just tired from his vet trip, and doesn’t quite trust me again yet, since I was the one that bribed him over with some papaya, then grabbed him and popped him into his carrier. Mean old mommy- I always get to do the dirty work.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

I’m not sure about your situation specifically, but when Momo had gas issues she flopped, got up, flopped again, got up, etc. etc. It was like she was trying so hard to get comfortable but just couldn’t do it.

I imagine if he got up and down over and over again it would be a sign that he couldn’t get comfortable. But if he flops and stays relaxed, I would take that as a good sign.

Please don’t take my word for it… I would be interested in hearing what others have to say.

[Michelle&Lolli]

When Eddie had his tummy issues, he’d flop as well. So perhaps it depends on the where the pain is. ???

I’ve read your other post and I think since you are so worried, you might as well take him in to be checked out. I know it’s money gone if there’s nothing wrong, but if you’re like me, you’ll just worry and worry until you take him.

And you couldn’t possibly beat me in the “pointless vet visit” category. Eddie wasn’t eating as many pellets once so I was convinced something was wrong with his teeth only to take him and be looked at weirdly by both the vet AND vet tech and told his teeth were perfect. See what worrying a lot can do to you? LOL LOL LOL

[Dee]

Thanks for your reply, LizzieKittyBun. My lady bun, Nelli, does the same flopping thing on the rare occasions that she gets a bellyache. She is way too wild for me to give simethicone to, so thank God she has a pretty strong stomache. It’s weird though, the way they do that when in pain. At first I thought Nelli was playing.. then I realized she was not having fun .
Well, BunBun just flopped once, but then he was just laying around, not getting up and bothering me for his dinner… very unlike him. When I gave them their “dinner” -greens w banana/apple- he ran over, but just took a few bites. That’s when i knew that I had to give him some meds. He is obviously not getting better on his own- now he’s acting sick as well as straining to pee. I have some Metacam and Baytril pills. So I crushed up 1/2 a Baytril pill (it’s 1/2 pill 2Xday), mixed it with a little apple juice and honey. Then I measured .1 ml of Metacam- the strength is 1.5 mg/ml so I hope this is the right dosage. I think it’s on the low side- it was only twice what what tiny hamster got.
It was awful giving Bun the meds. I watched a video, and a vet tech had showed me before, but I was horrible at it. I tried to roll him up in a towel, but he kept jumping out so I had to pick him up, then wrap him up. Then I couldn’t find his mouth! He was thrashing his head all around and struggling to get his paws free, and my hands were shaking like crazy… and his mouth just disappeared. So I squirted the 1st dose of Baytril all over his chin/dewlap. Then I had to crush/mix up another Baytril dose while holding Bunbun, cuz if I let him down, I never would’ve caught him again. He was so scared at that point he just lay there in my arms- poor thing. On my 2nd try I did get most of the Batril down, then did the metacam right after. That waas in a smaller syringe so it was easier to get into Bun’s little mouth. Next time I will use the same size syringe for the Batril too, if possible.
He is very traumatized, but he was picking at some hay already, so that’s good. He has a rather sensitive tummy- I really hope the Baytril doesn’t make him sick. Well, I had no choice- I can’t watch him suffer and go downhill when I have these meds sitting here. Now I just wait, and watch, and hope. .. and of course read and post here constantly. I would’ve already lost it if you guys weren’t here. Thank you so much.

[Dee]

Hi BunBuns- our posts must have crossed, so I didn’t se your reply til after I posted. I definitely relate to the worrying thing! I get obsessed with anything I think is wrong with my pets. Now I just have my 2 buns, but it was really bad when I had my hamsters cuz they are SO fragile, and by 2 years old, they are pretty ancient and prone to all sorts of health problems. I drive everyone crazy cuz all I will talk about is the pet’s issue- my family doesn’t wanna be around me. But I think it’s better to notice things and take them to the vet than just assume every weird little symptom is “nothing”- then find out it was “something” later.
It was smart of you to take Eddie to the vet over the pellet issue- if he did have a tooth problem, he could’ve stopped eating because of it. So there- us worriers are just a step ahead of everyone else!
I finally took BunBun to the vet today- I won’t repeat the whole story, but it’s way down at the end of my “Update on possible UTI/Bladder sludge. He was great, offered to start BunBun on Metcam and Baytril, but said it was probably wise to wait since at that point, BunBun was acting fine. So I think I did the right thing, starting Buns on the Baytril and Metacam- it’s what the vet would’ve done had I asked him to. I gotta call him tomorrow and get new meds, as I don’t have enough on hand to see BunBu through this. I just hope it helps.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Oh gosh.. syringe feeding bunnies can be like a lesson in futility. During Momo’s gas issue, I wrestled with her for about an hour and 1/2 trying to force-feed her mushed up critical care and water.

BUT… even though it was horribly stressful and I was near tears the entire time, it ended up being the right thing to do and she felt better an hour or so later and began eating on her own. From what I’ve heard, and from what our vet says, the main thing is to keep digestion going, even if you have to bend over backwards and jump through hoops to do it. The things we do for our lovebuns!

I’m really glad you took him to the vet. I’ve had vet trips where absolutely nothing was wrong, and it is hard to think that you might be throwing away the money. But the relief that I feel after positive vet trips is such that I think it must be worth it. We’re buying a little peace of mind.

Obsessive worriers assemble!

[Dee]

Hi LizzieKnittyBun, that’s exactly how I feel after a vet visit results in a clean bill of health- it’s worth it to be able to stop worrying. I’m glad I took BunBun to the vet yesterday too- now that he had suggested possible treatment with Baytril and Metacam, I felt comfortable about giving them to Bun. Not too comfortable actually administering the meds, but oh well. Thank you for telling me about your experience with Momo’s gas issue, although I’m sorry you had to go through all that. It helped me to realize that I’m not the only one who wrestles with her bun forever trying to syringe feed something. And I’m really glad that it worked out and she got better . You must have felt so proud of yourself for hanging in there and insisting that she take the Critical Care. I’m feeling pretty good right now about giving BunBun his meds- he seems better today! His eyes are wide open, he is hopping around instead of just laying there and he’s more enthusiastic about his food. Not completely back to normal- he’s still picky, only selectively eating small amounts of greens, and spitting out his papaya after one bite. But he is eating hay- I have to keep reminding him. I have to kind of shake the hay around while telling him to eat it, then tickle his nose with it if that doesn’t work. The nose tickling usually works- he gets aggravated and starts biting the hay, then remembers that he likes it- lol. I also made Critical Care cookies, with pellets mushed up in water, mashed banana, oats, a tiny amount of granole that he loves, raisins, and a dash of honey and apple juice. His wife Nelli gobbled one down, but BunBun isn’t too sure about it. Just as well- with my luck all the other ingredients would give him poopy butt on top of everything else.

Now I need to call his vet and ask for a prescription for Metacam and Baytril- he said he would presribe them if I called him. I’m not sure if I should tell him that I already gave BunBun a dose of each from leftover (still good and up to date) meds. I don’t want him to be mad that I didn’t consult him, but it was 1AM and BunBun was getting sicker by the hour and seemed to be in pain. My main point that I will make to the vet is that I think this will work, since after one dose of each, he is improving. He even strained less in the litterbox today. Wish me luck!

[GrumpyBun]

Hi Dee,

Baytril and metacam is exactly what Oxo had for his bladder sludge, and he is much better now. His infection is gone and he is pain free (and has passed a lot of the sludge). I think you are on the right track, and am pleased you and he are feeling a bit better – good luck dosing BunBun!

((((((((((BunBun))))))))))

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