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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sick rabbit? Please Help!

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    • Mjacqu6
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        This afternoon I noticed one of my rabbits was acting a bit strange. She was moving a bit sluggishly and didn’t come running for her food like she usually does. Now she is just sitting in one spot and not really doing much. She stretches and yawns occasionally and I have gotten her to nibble on some hay and drink a little water but she wont touch pellets or greens.

        She is still passing some cesotropes and eating most of them (but not the whole thing). There are a few more droppings around where she is sitting but I didn’t see who left them so it could have been my other rabbit. 

        I tried calling all of the vets in the area but because of a hurricane that hit us last night there are serious power outages all around and none of the phone lines at the close by offices are working. I have been trying to call some farther away ones but the phone service is spotty and I keep getting “switchboard is currently full, try again later” when I call these places. 

        I don’t want to make a 2 hour drive if its nothing serious (especially to find them closed) but I am so afraid that she has GI stasis and I can’t get in touch with any vets!   I am going to keep trying to call but I don’t even know if they are open today!

        Any advice on helping her out please!

        Thanks 


      • Mjacqu6
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          I just got her to eat a pellet by putting a few right in front of her. She sniffed at the pile after eating one but didn’t touch a second. I also noticed that she is keeping one of her eyes closed as she sits there. I’m not sure if this is normal or something that could help.


        • Mjacqu6
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            (sorry to keep reposting) She just got up and moved around. She seems to have a slightly abnormal gait and still wont eat any of her favorite treats but at least she left her spot. She sniffed around a bit and sat down in a new place.


          • LittlePuffyTail
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              Has she eaten anything unusual lately that may have upset her tummy?

              Do you have any simethicone? If not, and the drugstores are open, I suggest buying some. If it’s gas pain, it might help. The rec. dosage is 1ml every hour for the first 3 hours then 1ml every few hours thereafter. Tummy rubs might also help.

              Here is some massage info I copied and pasted:

              Massaging or vibrating your rabbit’s tummy is one of the best ways to help break up gas bubbles and encourage the gut to ‘get moving’. Sit bunny on your lap or on a towel on the counter and with your hands gently knead your rabbit’s abdomen, as deeply as she will allow. If she reacts in a painful manner, stop. You can also vibrate bunny’s tummy by holding your hand, palm up, under her belly, or one hand on either side of the belly and jiggling as quick as bunny will allow. Do these for as long and as often as bunny will tolerate.

              Was she perfectly fine this morning? If she still isn’t eating in a few hours might want to force feed her a pellet/water slurry. Make sure to syringe feed very carefully so she doesn’t aspirate.

              I suggest you keep trying to get in touch with your vet. I’m sorry this is happening, must be very stressful with the storm and everything. Hope everything is well soon. Please keep us updated.


            • Mjacqu6
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                Last week we got our rabbits a little stick toy at a pet store. It said it was made specifically for rabbits and they both loved it and proceeded to tear it apart. If she ate too much of it could it have upset her stomach? I would love to give her a tummy rub but we just recently got her and though she is warming up to us she will usually not let us touch her for more than a few seconds and I don’t want to unnecessarily traumatize her if she is feeling ill by picking her up. I found some simethicone around the house but again, I’m not sure how to feed it to her without causing her a lot of anxiety. She seems to be getting more active and is running around the room a bit. Should I still be worried about GI stasis if she is moving and passing cesotropes or could that still be the issue.

                Thanks


              • SirThumpsey
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                  Hey, I’m sorry to hear about your buns. Even though those say rabbits on them, they are very bad for buns…way too much sugar…so yeah it could be what is upsetting her stomach. Some buns are more sensitive to that stuff than others.

                  You don’t really have to pick her up to give her belly rubs, and most buns don’t like belly rubs but if they let you then it is helping. Think about it as if they were your kids….kids won’t like certain things that are necessary like shots but sometimes it’s gotta be done. Use a syringe (without the needle) and sit on her in between your legs cross your feet. You may have to lift her head up and then aim for the inner cheek. You gotta be quick about it and try to stay calm. Because if you are nervous she will be too.

                  Good luck!


                • Mjacqu6
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                    My girlfriend is a medical student so we do actually have syringes around. I also have some chewable simethicone, so I guess we can give her that. Should we dissolve it in water? … any idea how much to use? She is fairly small and I don’t want to give her too much! 

                    I still can’t get through to any vet offices within 50 miles and am very worried about my little girl.

                    Thanks for all of the help so far!


                  • LittlePuffyTail
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                      I’ve never used chewable simethicone. I used the liquid brand “Ovol”. To give it to my buns, I sit them on the table on a towel and just slowly administer it in the side of their mouth.


                    • Mjacqu6
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                        She ate a few more pellets and drank a bit, now shes cuddled up with her friend so I am going to let her rest a bit and see if she feels better. We were able to rub her tummy for a minute before she escaped from us and she has been much more active. We are preparing a syringe to give her a little bit of medicine if shes not getting any better soon. Luckily I was able to get in touch with a 24 hour vet that’s about an hour away so if she gets worse or doesn’t improve tonight I will bring her.


                      • SirThumpsey
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                          I have never heard of the chew-able stuff…I have a 2 year old so I always have the liquid form.

                          Sounds like she is doing a bit better. Atleast she is more active…Simethicone is one of those things (atleast this is what I have heard I think on BB) that if they don’t really need it, it won’t hurt them…so it’s okay (maybe even recommended) to give it to her even though she seems to be feeling a bit better.

                          (Vibes for your lil girl!)


                        • Mjacqu6
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                            She loved the medicine! Even started biting the syringe when it was empty to get more.

                            Fingers crossed. Thanks again for all of your support


                          • Roberta
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                              Hope all is OK and she is feeling better. One of my buns, Pepper, gets very upset during storms (after the ceiling fell in during one last June) and won’t eat or move for hours until it’s passed. I usually give her gentle tummy rubs to prevent any gas build up before it starts.


                            • Deleted User
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                                I really hope your little girl is okay! I can totally relate to the stress. I took my little girl into the vet for tummy issues. I would give her some belly rubs and jiggle her belly with her your hand. I noticed doing that with my girl really helped with passing the gassy build up. I really think the Simethicone will help. My doc had me give my little girl some Metacam but that didn’t really help her too much. Granted it helped with the pain but the Simethicone really helped with relieving her gas.


                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                  {{Healing vibes}}} Keep us posted!


                                • Mjacqu6
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                                    I gave her 2 syringes of medicine mixed with water (she loved it) and now she is running around, playing a bit and eating pellets and hay. She hasn’t had much water which makes me a bit nervous but she did get a lot with the medicine. Still waiting for a confirmed bowel movement, but its kinda tough to tell because I have two of them running around. She is sleeping now but she looks much more comfortable than before. She has had a long day so I’m going to let her rest and maybe give her some more meds later.

                                    Shes not 100% yet but much much better than before. I can’t thank you guys enough!


                                  • jerseygirl
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                                      Fantastic! That’s good she took the simethicone so easily.
                                      The chewable kind is probably an adult product with a different strength. But you can likely use them just reducing the amount given.

                                      Also as SirThumpsey said, when they have tummy pain it’s one if the few times they allow you to touch them there because the pressure is providing some relief. At least, that’s the case I’ve found with my rabbits. Even letting them sit on the floor and running both hands firmly down the sides of tummy area I think helps.

                                      That she’s been moving about and eating a little is really good. I hope you see her return to normal quickly.


                                    • Mjacqu6
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                                        Sh


                                      • Mjacqu6
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                                          I think she is sleeping now… She usually does this time of night but ive been sitting up watching her… I’m still very worried. She has been nibbling on her hay intermittently but I can’t be sure if she has had a bowel movement yet. Should I still be worried about her? I would have taken her to the vet hours ago but the only place open that I could find (because of the hurricane) is more than an hour away and is an emergency vet so it charges more than twice my usual bill. she has been improving so im not sure if I should bring her in.


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            If she’s been moving around, has eaten a little and also passed some poos then I’d personally wait and watch also. The stress of an hours car trip mightn’t do her good.
                                            Just my opinion based on what you’ve reported.

                                            I’d keep up fluids and encourage hay or plant material. If she took the medicine out the syringe so well, she might take water the same way. A tiny bit of juice in it if encourages her drinking. Something like pineapple, raspberry or even cranberry.
                                            If she deteriorates or you suspect she’s in pain, don’t hesitate to get her to a vet. And simethicone again if you think it’s gas pain.


                                          • Dee
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                                              Sorry that you & your lil bunny are going through this! Very nerve wracking, I know. Everyone has given you great advice and it sounds like it’s working. Both my bunnies have had gas bouts and acted just like your bunny, but often they wouldn’t eat anything. My test is I offer their favorite treat- if they refuse that, I get worried. I know how hard it is to deal with a sick bunny who isn’t used to being picked up, I used to obsess about whether to try to medicate my girl bun, Nelli, she was so skittish.
                                              As long as your lil girl is eating and not hunched up in pain, you can probably relax. maybe get some sleep and check her in a couple hours. I do that when I have a semi-sick bunny, just to be safe. If shes back to normal tomorrow, looks like you’re all set! If she is still off, I would keep trying the vets. Good luck!


                                            • Mjacqu6
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                                                Just letting you guys know she is completely back to normal. Gas pain I guess. I can’t thank you people enough for your advice and support. I am so thankful I found this caring community! I am a new owner and will admit I have NO idea what I am doing but I just want the best for my girls and you have been an invaluable source of information and support.

                                                Thanks to everyone who responded.

                                                In my opinion this was caused by a “toy” that had too much sugar in it and some stale hay that they don’t really like…. 

                                                I got them a new bag of hay right before the storm and they do eat it but seem to not prefer it. Usually I have to refill their hay feeder more than  twice a day but with this new stuff I have noticed that there is still some left in the mornings.Should have been a warning sign I guess       I got them orchard grass in the past and I switched to timothy hay and they seem to hate it. The hay in the bag seemed a bit stale and im slapping myself for not getting another before everything closed. The pet stores are all still shut down so now im feeding them fewer pellets and veggies so they will eat their hay but I was just wondering if there are any particular brands that are better than others. 

                                                Thanks again!

                                                Matt


                                              • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                  I’m so glad to hear she is feeling better! I’m glad you found our advice helpful. That’s what we are here for.

                                                  What brand of hay are you feeding now? I like Oxbow. A lot of BB members use Oxbow or American Pet Diner (you can buy this brand online).


                                                • SirThumpsey
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                                                    For some reason I think the orchard grass has a sweeter smell than the timothy and is what my Bud prefers but he will eat timothy if I mix some in…

                                                    Oxbow is a great brand. In the years I’ve been on the forum, I have heard a lot of good things about it. I recently found it at petsmart and I was so excited.


                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                      I am a new owner and will admit I have NO idea what I am doing but I just want the best for my girls and you have been an invaluable source of information and support.

                                                      Well your rabbits are in great hands with you guys. Your wanting the best and willingness to find the info ensures that.

                                                      I was exactly same when I got my first rabbit. I knew so little. I got books and on the Internet and this site just kept drawing me back.

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                                                  Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Sick rabbit? Please Help!