Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Took Gracie to the vet yesterday

Viewing 17 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • skibunny8503
      Participant
      1338 posts Send Private Message

        We drove the hour down to the rabbit specialist in Akron, OH yesterday.  The good news is that she doesn’t have any form of cancer or anything seriously major that she needs surgery.  But the bad news is that the dr said it looks to be e cuniculi.  Everything we told him she was doing points to that.  He did this interesting thing where he picked her up and let her feet hang and moved her above the edge of the table so that her feet would hit the edge and then they would slide across the top.  He said that normally when a rabbit hits that edge their feet would go up and not drag.  He explained what e cuniculi was in more detail.  And for anyone that would like to know he said a lot of rabbits pretty much carry it but not all of them show it later on in life depending on the rabbit.  It’s usually passed when they’re a baby either from the mother or from being with other rabbits through urine.  It’s like a fungus and they get the spores in their system.  They can be there for quite some time before showing symptoms.  The spores are all out of her system but what they did to her isn’t.  It causes inflamation and that’s why her back end isn’t working as well as it should.  She basically has deep pain and doesn’t have much feeling on the surface.  That explains why she sits in her pee, she doesn’t realize she’s done it and is sitting in it.  She poops a lot in her sleep too sometimes.  And when she hops around you can see that she’s putting more force on her front paws than back.  Also explains why her nails have gone crooked because of how she sits on her back legs.  There’s nothing we can do to reverse it but we can help her be comfortable and help the inflamation go down.

        He gave us a metacam that she will get daily (.3 for the first week and .25 for 3 more weeks).  Once we figure out the correct dosage then we might be able to give it to her every other day or every 3 days.  Once we get the inflamation down then she will be able to develope muscle tone and strengthen her back legs.

        He also gave me a syringe of Transdermal Tramadol which is a morphine type that goes through the skin.  She gets .03 that I put on my finger (I have to wear gloves) and I rub it on the inside of her ear twice a day (switching ears each time).  She’ll get that for 10 days.

        I have to appologize someone asked before if she had e cuniculi before and I was saying yes; I got confused she had cocidia when we first got her (the dr. had said something about e cuniculi but it was cocidia).

        He also said to excrete her bladder twice a day (which is easy since all you have to do is put your hand under her kidneys and gently push) so her bladder isn’t being pulled.  I can’t remember why we’re suppose to do this; possibly from the E.C. and maybe not realizing when she has to go to the bathroom….but don’t quote me on that.

        I am so glad we finally have an answer and can help her.  If we hadn’t been able to go to this dr. who knows what might have happened, she might have lose feeling in her back legs   But now we can help her and hopefully prevent anything else.  We started her on meds yesterday and so far so good.  I’ll keep you guys updated but yeah I think she’ll be on meds the rest of her life….but we don’t care, because we want her to live a long happy life.


      • Elrohwen
        Participant
        7318 posts Send Private Message

          I’m so sorry to hear about Gracie, but I’m so glad you guys have an answer and a plan for how to help her. I hope she can still have a great life with less pain thanks to your care. {{hugs}}


        • Sarita
          Participant
          18851 posts Send Private Message

            Yes, this is common in rabbits but you don’t need to be scared of it. The reason he probably wants you to excrete the bladder is because of her paralysis and this will help excrete any sludge because she isn’t as able to posture correctly.

            Glad you got an answer.


          • skibunny8503
            Participant
            1338 posts Send Private Message

              Thanks Sarita for explaining that! He was telling us all that stuff and we couldn’t remember why exactly we had to do that but I figured it was because of that.
              Does anyone else’s rabbit on here have EC in the back area?


            • Monkeybun
              Participant
              10479 posts Send Private Message

                I am glad you were able to take her to the vet, and found out what was wrong. Hopefully the medicine will make her more comfortable


              • RabbitPam
                Moderator
                11002 posts Send Private Message

                  It’s excellent that you got a thorough diagnosis and plan of action. I found in the months of feeding Spockie Metacam for his legs I developed a regular routine that was part of giving him his breakfast, and he took his meds well like a good boy. Just became a sort of morning coffee, cut the apple, syringe feed the bunny, sprinkle the vitamin, treat the bunny, etc. etc. We both handled it pretty smoothly, and it was clear how much better he felt within about 15 minutes. You will see her improve, which is uplifting.


                • jerseygirl
                  Moderator
                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                    I agree, it’s good to know what you’re dealing with. The vet sounds like he knows his stuff and communicates well.
                    I’m very hopeful you will see an improvement in her! {{{Gracie!}}}


                  • LoveChaCha
                    Participant
                    6634 posts Send Private Message

                      i am sending vibes to lil gracie you can do it little girl!


                    • Beka27
                      Participant
                      16016 posts Send Private Message

                        (((Gracie!)))

                        I’m so glad you at least have a direction. This vet sounds fantastic. Would you be able to PM me the name so I can tuck it away, just in case? Akron is not far from me.


                      • Juli
                        Participant
                        115 posts Send Private Message

                          be sure you check the side effects on the tramadol because sometimes it can have bad side effects. It is more of a pain killer than a muscel strengh


                        • Juli
                          Participant
                          115 posts Send Private Message

                            ((((Gracie))))))

                            Hope she feels better soon.


                          • skibunny8503
                            Participant
                            1338 posts Send Private Message

                              Beka, I messaged u on FB. I couldn’t find what the side effects were but she only gets it for 10 days


                            • Beka27
                              Participant
                              16016 posts Send Private Message

                                I also did not see any side effects for Tramadol. This is a pain killer, but I think the thought is that if her pain is under control, she will be more comfortable in terms of moving around and getting some exercise. When you hurt, you just don’t want to move.


                              • Dee
                                Participant
                                704 posts Send Private Message

                                  I’m sorry that Gracie has EC, but what a relief for you to find out exactly what’s going on- and also that it’s not anything progressive or fatal. It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job caring for Gracie. I found it so scary to have to do medical stuff with BunBun at first- just giving meds was mad stressful. But Rabbitpam is right, it does get to be more routine after a while. You’re right- whatever it takes to give our bunnies a happy, healthy life is well worth it. My BunBun needs sub q fluids every other day due to bladder sludge and will most likely always need them on/off to keep him healthy. It’s getting to just be part of life. The bladder expression is a great thing to know- I’ve gotta learn that one!
                                  Your vet does sound great- that makes all the difference. I like it that he explained the reasons for all the symptoms to you so you have a good understanding of it all. I’m sure Gracie will be feeling much better- especially now that the pain is being controlled. Sounds like things are looking up !
                                  {{{{{{{{{{{{healing vibes for Gracie}}}}}}}}}}}


                                • skibunny8503
                                  Participant
                                  1338 posts Send Private Message

                                    Thanks Dee! I’m starting to get on a schedule with her pain meds in the morning with their pellets and papya table, metacam after lunch (like a snack), and before I go to bed the pain med again.
                                    I don’t ever think I could do sub q fluids, that’s through an iv right? I freaked out just watching them give it to her once (and fainted o_O). The bladder expression isn’t very hard to do on her at least; I started doing that before I took her to the vet when I would give her a bath so she wouldn’t pee all over the place. I didn’t know if that was right for me to do but it is. I think she has a weak bladder too because I don’t even put that much pressure by her bladder and she pees.
                                    I wish he lived closer to us. I do love the one here but she’s not as an expert as he is, but at least she knew a point where she didn’t know what to do and gave me a referral. He’s an hour away from us; which isn’t too far but I hate to drive all that way, especially in the winter time. Maybe we’ll bring Gracie/Archie there for check ups and Sandy could go to the one by us. We’ll see. Since they are the same price as ours here.


                                  • GrumpyBun
                                    Participant
                                    643 posts Send Private Message

                                      I’m glad to hear that you have an answer, and that you’re working out a way to work with this. Many vibes to Gracie!


                                    • LittlePuffyTail
                                      Moderator
                                      18092 posts Send Private Message

                                        Sorry to hear about Gracie. At least it’s something treatable. It’s great that you got to see a vet who seems very knowledgeable.


                                      • skibunny8503
                                        Participant
                                        1338 posts Send Private Message

                                          Here’s a little update on how she’s doing….

                                          She’s all done with the Tramadol and I found out last night that it did have a side effect.  It dried out her ears!  Her skin is peeling where I’ve rubbed it in, even though I was alternating each ear.  I have udder cream so she’ll be getting some of that in her ear.

                                          I called the vet last week and he called me back and asked how she was doing and said to tell her hi   I told him my concern with the urine scald and he said to get either baby wipes (they’re more sensitive to skin) or Dreft laundry detergent.  I ended up getting the Dreft, which is a detergent used to wash baby clothes.  I have to make a solution of that and water.  She needs a bath today so hopefully I can get some time in to wash her a little.  I’ve been so busy baking and I still have to clean the house

                                          She has started the .25 of the Metacam this week and will be on it for 3 weeks (then I’m not sure, I’ll have to call the vet).  Does anyone know where to get metacam for cheap?  We have a 1.5 mg bottle and it was $21 (petmeds.com is $22).  I’m sure I will be buying this for the rest of her life (but I don’t care )

                                          It seems to be really helping her.  She has had less peeing issues outside her litter box (as long as I excrete her a few times a day, it probably helps).  And I’ve noticed that when she gets up from a nap that instead of running and dragging her legs, it’s more running and her front legs are going faster than her back legs and they’re a little behind instead of dragging on the floor YAY!!!! 

                                          I can’t remember if I put this but dr. said to put vasoline by her eyes for the crusties she gets (sometimes they really stick to her fur) and that’s been a real help too!  

                                          She seems to look at me different a little like more appreciative and grinds her teeth in pure bliss

                                      Viewing 17 reply threads
                                      • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Took Gracie to the vet yesterday