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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A GI stasis Frustrated…

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    • marinabunny
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        It’s now been 9 days since my bunny’s surgery and she still isn’t getting better. It seems that she has very bad GI stasis. We’re trying everything we can: critical care, motility meds, pain meds, syringing water. Nothing seems to be helping, she is not having a gradual recovery- she gets better for 2 seconds and goes right back down again. Sometimes she wont poop for hours. We had to go to the vet yesterday for sub-q fluids as she was still not improving and trimebutine (motility drug) that we will give today after not having success with another one. I don’t know what to do, I’ve done so much staying up all night, force feedings, monitoring poops…crying lol. She just seems to be giving up, she was in pain before the surgery and now again and I absolutely hate stressing her out further.The vet said if we have to come back again it will not be considered a complimentary post-op…and after spending over $1000 I don’t think I can do that.

        In the meantime, im going to see about getting pedialyte because the sub-q seemed to help, and they both have electrolytes right? Does anyone know the dosage for pedialyte?

         

        I’m wondering whether something went wrong with the surgery some complication or something. I just really wish she gets better. This has been such a long and frustrating ride. I don’t know… I guess I just need some reassurance 

         


      • Megabunny
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          I forgot what the surgery was.??
          Is there any food she likes? Can you try those mini shredded wheat biscuits without sugar? Canned pumpkin. Pedialyte is absolutely fine. I mix it 50/50 in my guy’s water bowl when I’m concerned. But I’m guessing it can be stronger tho I’m not sure. Can you try a rubber covered baby spoon with food on it to get mushy food into her?
          Sorry. I’m not on much lately and I don’t know what’s been said previously. I’ll try and find the thread. So sorry to hear you’re having such a horrible time of it.


        • marinabunny
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            She went into surgery because there was urine pooling in her vaginal vault. Its kind of hard to explain but the urine was collecting into an area it wasn’t supposed to be. That’s why she would constantly leak and it was probably irritating because she used to look like she was in pain. They said if she didn’t get the surgery she could live like that but there could be a chance of an infection starting and travelling to her bladder and maybe, eventually to the kidneys- and a kidney infection results in death. I believe what they did was take her uterus stump and tie it off lower, I think the people who spayed her had tied it off too high up letting all the urine pool in that area.

            Shes willing to eat greens. I am going to try the pedialyte through a syringe, how much mls would be acceptable? I don’t want to give too much, and is it also best to dilute in water or can you just give it like that? I have heard about canned pumpkin…does it have nutrients in it or something that helps during GI stasis because she is getting critical care but she hates it so maybe she would like pumpkin. And I wish she would willingly eat from a spoon! We have to force everything into her

            Thanks, it has been a hard year. She was healthy for the first 3 years of her life and then this 4th year all the problems started. But on the bright side it is her birthday next month, she’ll be 5!


          • Megabunny
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              I’m sorry. I don’t really know about how much pedialyte to give, but until you can ask the vet on Monday, I would just try to get SOME into her.
              That’s quite the surgery she had! Wow!! Poor baby.
              Sometimes I’ve heard rabbits will fight the syringe feeding more than having it offered on a spoon and shoved in their faces to try. You can try the spoon and get it between her front teeth or in a tooth gap on the side. Scrape up what she doesn’t eat with the spoon and put it back in her mouth. I know…easier said than done, and I haven’t had to try it yet, but that’s what I’ve been told by someone else.
              Canned pumpkin has LOTS of fibre and I would imagine lots of nutrition. I’m not sure that you could get TOO much into her, especially when it’s not like you’re syringing it in. I would be liberal with it if she will eat it.
              I also give my bun a mixture of oatmeal, mini shredded wheat and some other bunny stuff that Gus goes BONKERS over. All very dry sounding for a bun who isn’t drinking much, but another thought on foods that would be different and possibly interesting as well as very high in that fibre.
              Do you have any fun hay? I have a bunch of willow wreaths and could mail you a couple, though given my location, it would take a good week to get to you. But they sure love those. PM me if you’d like me to mail some out.
              Such a cutie. Hang in there Fluffy and start eating for your mother!!


            • JackRabbit
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                You can mix the canned pumpkin (not pie filling!) with the critical care to make it taste better too. If she’s eating greens, that’s great! Serve them very wet for extra hydration.

                You might nicely remind the vet that the gi stasis was brought on *by* the surgery and that you could really use some assistance.


              • marinabunny
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                  She was doing well yesterday and this morning running around and guess what… she went right back down. Siting in the same corner for over an hour and I had to FORCE veggies in her face. I don’t know if its because we fed too much pedialyte/water because she started to go down again after that. Why does this have to happen when I have exams in 2 days… when is this gonna end D: Seriously starting to think they messed up her intestines during surgery, I have never seen her in stasis for this long esp. after all the things I’m giving her. It should have been working by now


                • marinabunny
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                    She started to have stasis last Monday. It has now been a week


                  • Megabunny
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                      So sorry to hear all this. It sounds like a lot of stressful surgery for such a little bunny and does not mean it is the vet’s doing. Recovery from such procedures is very taxing on rabbits and we can’t expect them to necessarily bounce back quickly even from a less invasive procedure. Rabbits are sensitive and the stress alone can throw them into this. You must be horribly frustrated especially with exams looming. When it rains it pours and I feel terrible you are both going through this. Sadly just because we do everything for our pets does not mean all will work out okay. Really hoping all your good nursing care will pay off. Have you tried any other tempting treats? Raisins? Pet shop biscuits? Cereal? I really hope something will hit the spot for her and jumpstart her system


                    • Megabunny
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                        If it comes down to that I am wondering if you can bring fluids home from the vet so you do not have to force them orally. You could give them directly under the skin


                      • Megabunny
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                          If it comes down to that I am wondering if you can bring fluids home from the vet so you do not have to force them orally. You could give them directly under the skin


                        • marinabunny
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                            I was thinking of that too. I mean it is scary but my sister could probably manage. Im wondering if I can buy them at a local vet that mostly sees cats and dogs but bunnies too because my vet is just way too far, it would be a hassle to drive there again. I would probably need some kind of permission though if they have never seen me


                          • ohbonobogirl
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                              The subcutaneous fluids aren’t fun to give, but definitely doable, from one bunny parent in crisis to another. When the vet first introduced the idea I didn’t think I could do it, but they showed me how and had me administer them to my bunny right there rather than doing it for me. Luckily, bunnies don’t seem to hold grudges…


                            • Megabunny
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                                The fluids aren’t the big problem but the needles. I just don’t think it should be that difficult in these days of faxes and such to work thru a closer vet I’d think they could fax a script


                              • marinabunny
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                                  Ok im going to ask them tomorrow about the sub-q fluids. I bought canned pumpkin, thought I’d check with you guys first, this is the one I got http://www.fitchicks.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/canned-pumpkin.jpg

                                  So I can just feed it directly out of the can? I don’t need to do anything with it first right? Also it probably has to be refrigerated after opening?


                                • Megabunny
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                                    Yup That’s right. You can mix in critical care if you want, but try it straight first. You might need to put some on a piece of celery or baby spoon to get her to taste it first. Sorry I didn’t see this sooner. I doubt you can feed too much, but use your best judgement.


                                  • marinabunny
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                                      I gave the pumpkin, mixed it In critical care and she seemed to really like it. However today she did not poo for 7 hours. We called up the vet and told them the motility meds don’t seem to be working, and they agreed to let her come tomorrow free of charge. I don’t know what I should expect in terms of treatment… they said they’ll palpate her stomach and check for infection or something like that and possibly give antibiotics. I don’t see how antibiotics are a good idea though when her GI system is already upset. I don’t want to be sent home with meds again that don’t work…

                                      The appointment is right after my exam tomorrow. Vibes please!


                                    • ohbonobogirl
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                                        I’m sending good vibes your way as someone who’s also managing a sick bunny. Feel better, bunny!


                                      • ohbonobogirl
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                                          I’m sending good vibes your way as someone who’s also managing a sick bunny. Feel better, bunny!


                                        • Megabunny
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                                            {{{feel better Fluffy}}}

                                            I’d say it’s possible that they just threw out the word “antibiotic” as something to say. I feel so badly for you as well as ohbonobogirl. You two are really being put through the wringer along with your babies. I hope you both get some answers soon, one way or the other. This is awful for all of you involved!


                                          • marinabunny
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                                              Thank you guys. Megabunny- it really is hard! but all we gotta do is just keep being patient and persistent. The vets said it could even take a month to recover from something like this. Ohbonobogirl- I saw your thread, sending healing vibes your way as well.

                                              They sent us home today with antibiotics, Baytril. The vet said shes giving it just to make sure everything’s covered, I guess as a preventative. They said it shouldn’t be too bad on the stomach. But I am still not sure if I want to administer this to her from what I know about antibiotics upsetting the tummy & getting rid of good bacteria… thoughts?


                                            • marinabunny
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                                                Oh and also they said to keep her off metacam for 3 days incase that is causing a tummy upset


                                              • Megabunny
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                                                  Def. a good idea to keep her off the metacam for a bit…gotta try everything.
                                                  Baytril is going to be a fight to get down her, but really, what else can they do? I’m sure she wants to run the course of everything she can think of at this point. How frustrating for all of you! My vet told me when we went on Baytril to call if there was any indication of an upset stomach. If you want to try a probiotic from the pet store you could, just to cover your bases that way.
                                                  Take care and I hope the exams are going well.


                                                • marinabunny
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                                                    Though i’d update- I took her off the metacam for a bit and she was getting better but today seemed like she was in pain. I couldn’t bear to see her like that so I’ve restarted the metacam but changed to a lower dose. I haven’t put her on the antibiotic yet, we are going to see if its pain-related and if she still isn’t doing well then I’ll start the antibiotic.

                                                    I also have a strong feeling that there’s some underlying issue. I’m going to ask the vet if its possible at the time of her spay she might’ve had malignant uterine cancer that spread…


                                                  • Megabunny
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                                                      How old was she when she was spayed?? Poor little thing. We’re routing for you both!!


                                                    • marinabunny
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                                                        She was almost 4. Im not sure if you remember but she was bleeding blood clots and I had posted it on here and some of the members agreed that it looked like uterine cancer.


                                                      • ohbonobogirl
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                                                          I’m sorry to hear things aren’t getting better yet. The roller coaster of one day good, two days bad is a whole lot of not fun. Warm wishes your way


                                                        • Megabunny
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                                                            I was wondering if that was you. I do remember. Hmmm.

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                                                        Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A GI stasis Frustrated…