X-ray & ultrasound results…

[Boing]

Towards the end of June I came home to find Cincinnati hadn’t eaten or drunk all day.  I called his vet.  They refused to see him, though it was an emergency, because they had booked appointments that evening.  After calling practically every rabbit vet in town, I found one that would see him.  They stayed late, and he has since made a full recovery!  It was GI stasis.  He would’ve died.  Needless to say I’ve switched vets!

The first night he got subcutaneous fluids and injections of painkiller and a drug that stimulates the gut.  The next morning he had relapsed, despite a bunny buffet (much appreciated by Daisy).  So they did blood work, urinalysis, x-rays and ultrasounds, and repeated the injections and fluid.  He kept spitting out critical care and puréed fruit on the vet tech.  The following evening he returned for yet more injections. 

The lab results were sent for a second opinion.  His liver readings are still off (were in October too).  They said that his bladder is huge, not a surprise – he drinks and urinates an absolute ton and always has.  

The odd part was that they “could see a little fluid in his lungs.”   He had no respiratory symptoms that I had see.  So they said that if he was asymptomatic they would let it be.  He has since taken to sneezing a few times a week and immediately washing his face.  Is there anything I can feed him to boost his immune system?  I don’t want him to develop pneumonia next.

Thank you for reading! 

[Muchelle]

To boost up my bun I feed him a slice of orange that I have cleaned of the seeds and of the connective tissue (basically I dig out the pulp of the fruit). Before his stomach surgery I’d do it once every 20 days or so, now I just do it once in a while ^^

[Boing]

Thank you, Muchelle, I will start doing that!

[jerseygirl]

Im sorry he’s been having some health issues.Sending some {{{vibes}}} !

What happened back in October? Was that a stasis episode also? 

It sounds like the vets you are now seeing are pretty thorough.
Sometimes fluid accumulation in lungs is connected to underlying heart conditions but since he has had xray and uktrasound, the vet would have likely detected any heart abnormalities. The only thing I’d ask about is whether and ECG would be worthwhile.
Also, whether a medication like furosemide (lasix) would be of any use.

Ive been giving my rabbits echinacea as an immune booster. I soak some hay pellets until it’s a mash, then stir in contents of a capsule. They think it’s a treat. There are tonic forms of echinacea, and the plant (fresh or dried) of course. The powder and tonics are more potent forms.
You could look into other herbs that are rabbit safe and good immune boosters too. And good for the respiratory system. Off top of my head, plantain, meadowseet, goldenseal are good, I believe. Oregano and basil, sage. Though not certain if it’s the teas or oils that are of more benefit, but feeding those 3 will probably go down well with most rabbits!

[Boing]

In October he and Daisy went for their annual check up. It was supposed to be a routine visit, and it was for Daisy. Cincinnati was found to have dropped a couple of pounds since the spring, for no particular reason. He was put on digestive supplements, and they did blood work that revealed the liver issue. He was supposed to eat critical care too, but he spits it out.

I will ask about an ECG. I’m not sure which expert they sent the results to for a second opinion, but at least two vets never noticed a heart abnormality. He doesn’t have much energy though, and never has, so that’s definitely a possibility.

The list of supplements you gave is extensive. I will try some new ones. He loves some of the ones you mention already, but I will up the quantity that he gets.

Thank you very much!

[Author]

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