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Forum DIET & CARE Questions about Critical Care

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    • Otti
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        Sammy has a respiratory infection and is still not eating hay or pellets (although I saw him eat his first strand of hay in three days yesterday) so he’s on critical care. He’s not a huge fan and I can’t force feed him, but he is getting through about 5 out of the 6 tbsps he’s supposed to eat per day, and he’s eating some veggies (only arugula so far) as well.

        I’m wondering how long can he be on critical care and be okay? Is he going to keep losing weight on it even if he’s eating the necessary amount? And at what point can he be off it again?

        I’m wondering if it’s possible that when he feels better, he’d still not eat his hay and pellets because he’s on the critical care, and therefore whether I would miss the signs that he’s ready to go back to his normal diet because his critical care diet isn’t allowing him to be hungry for normal food.

        Does this make sense? What are your experiences with critical care and with rabbits getting better and returning to their normal diet?

         


      • Sarita
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          Well basically Critical Care is a ground up pellet mixture with extra added nutrients and stuff. It’s full of fiber and very filling which is possibly why he isn’t eating anything else.

          I know some rabbits who only eat critical care due to dental issues.

          Obviously you don’t want him on this though indefinitely.

          Have you tried not giving him the critical care to see if he will eat what he wants on his own?

          Also is yours the banana/apple flavor or the regular flavor?


        • Otti
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            Hey Sarita,

            I have the banana apple, and I’m mixing it with just a bit of organic carrot juice, which is making him eat it more willingly, though I still have to encourage him.

            I guess the issue is that I’m at work during the day. I’m worried that f I didn’t give him the critical care in order to test whether he could eat his pellets and hay, if he was still unwilling to eat his normal food, he’d be without food he could eat until I got back at night. I could try to make the switch on Saturday when I can monitor him more closely.

            I just wish there was a way to know that he’s ready to eat his pellets and hay without removing the critical care. Could I maybe try reducing it slowly? I just want to make sure he doesn’t lose more weight or go without nutrients though….


          • Sarita
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              Yes, do it when you are home. You certainly could try to slowly reduce it a tablespoon at a time.

              I have never ever been successful in getting any of my rabbits to eat this without torturing them with a syringe feeding. They are suspicious of it.


            • Otti
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                Hmm well thank god he’ll eat it then! I can’t hold him no matter what I do so force feeding is not an option. It’s probably the carrot juice. He ate it but less happily when I just put crushed freeze dried mango and water in it…

                I guess it is worrisome that he has a taste for it though, with regards to weaning him off of it eventually LOL I’ll either try the decreasing in the next few days or do the Saturday test – or maybe both. THanks!


              • Elrohwen
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                  Like Sarita, I’ve only been successful with force feeding. Since you say he’s not eating all he should and not eating solid foods either, I would try the syringe at least a couple times a day.

                  Have you tried having him on the ground and “holding” him between your knees? Hannah is impossible to hold and very squirmy, but I was successful with her by having her face a wall (so she was less likely to try running forward), kneeling over top of her and using my knees to gently hold her still, then putting one hand on her shoulders to keep her from going forwards. This method was really easy and I could quickly get it over and done with.

                  At least if he’s not thrilled about eating it (because it’s not as tasty or you’re force feeding) then he’ll be more likely to go back to regular foods. Hannah was on Critical Care for three days after getting her teeth done and when she was ready to eat she just started eating again.


                • Otti
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                    Hmmm I could try the kneeling method you suggested. I have tried holding him between my knees and then pressing him down from above on his shoulder before, but never in front of a wall. He’d always escape forwards but the wall would stop that like you said. I guess since he’s sick I’m such a wimp about potentially stressing him or scaring him, or even hurting him. I know it’s for his own good but its so overwhelming to have to treat him like that when usually we’re all cuddles and kisses lol

                    How do you feed her if you have one hand on her shoulder? The other is holding the syringe but don’t you have to pull her lips back on the side to get the syringe in the side of her mouth? Do you just stick the syringe in the front of her mouth?

                    He is eating arugula, maybe just short of 1 cup per day.


                  • Elrohwen
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                      I just hold her shoulders with my left hand and use the syringe with my right (dominant hand). I’ve found that you don’t need to touch the mouth at all – just stick the syringe in from the side (where they have a gap between the big front teeth and the molars) and squirt. I usually held the end of the syringe in my teeth or set it down nearby so I could use both hands to help get her in position. I did it in her pen and positioned her facing the pen so she couldn’t go forwards.

                       


                    • Otti
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                        Is it better for the Critical Care to be more liquidy for syringe feeding? I make it more like a spread consistency for Sammy with the carrot juice… that probably wouldn’t go through a syringe that quickly or be that easy to slurp up.


                      • Elrohwen
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                          I make it fairly thick – I think I just followed the directions on the package and it was good enough. It’s a little tricky to get in the syringe – I put it on a spoon and then mashed it into the syringe a little at a time. It wasn’t runny enough that I could suck it up through the syringe, but it came out just fine.


                        • Sarita
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                            What size syringe are you using? I use a 12 cc syringe. Not the big old feeding syringe they give you – no way can I maneuver that.

                            I usually fill the big syringe w/the critical care and take the plungers out of the smaller 12cc syringes and fill them up that way and then put the plunger back in. The 12cc syringes are usually used for flushing and have a curved pointed syringe that I cut down and smooth out to make it a regular syringe. This size is much easier to handle.


                          • Otti
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                              I was given a few of the smaller curved syringe type you’re talking about Sarita, but I cut one down to make the hole much bigger. I can make one that’s also slightly cut down like you said, but leaving a smaller hole.

                              I just don’t want to force feed him if he’s eating 5 out of 6 tbsps of it on his own anyways. I only add maybe 1 tbsp of carrot juice per three tbsps of critical care, so I don’t think that can be too bad for him right?

                              I call the vet’s office today and found out to my dismay that Sammy’s vet won’t be back until next Friday (she had said she’d be back this Thursday to me). The other really rabbit-savvy vet in the practice is going to be in the office tomorrow, but then out till Sunday, and he’s completely booked for tomorrow.

                              He seemed to be encouraged by the fact that Sammy’s pooping is normal but he did seem to think Sammy definitely has to go back for another checkup since he’s still not eating his normal food. The earliest appointment i could get was for Sunday, but they did say that if things get worse in the meantime, I can just bring him in and they’ll have someone look at him regardless.

                              I’m just not sure how fast the Baytril is supposed to work and if he’s supposed to have his normal appetite back by now, or if the fact he’s still not eating confirms the abscess suspicions.


                            • Sarita
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                                Can you just do a drop off for him on Friday with your vet in the morning? I would consider this and the vet can see him in between appointments – I would consider doing this – I do it all the time because it works best for me and I know the vet will see my rabbit.


                              • Otti
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                                  do you pick them up after work? He gets super stressed during car rides and at the vet, so unless he was really sick, I don’t think I’d feel okay leaving him there all day.

                                  Or do you usually pick him up and take him home at lunch?

                                  And the drop-off would have to be Thursday. Friday and Saturday the vets at the office are not technically rabbit-savvy. They could see him though in case of an emergency.

                                  I don’t mean to sound like I’m not considering or taking your advice LOL All advice helps!


                                • Sarita
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                                    Yes, I pick them up after work. I do it all the time because it works well for me and for the vet and if it’s an emergency sometimes that is the only way to get the vet to see them. In fact this is the only way I do it. I like that it allows them to do xrays or feedings or sub-q’s and monitor my rabbit.

                                    Do my rabbits like it, no they don’t but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get your rabbit the care they need and to make sure that you don’t miss work. My vet is very good about always calling me too.

                                    There can be many benefits to a drop off appointment.


                                  • Sarita
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                                      And if you ever take him to an emergency vet where they must monitor him, then you are going to have to leave him. Or if they do any kind of procedures like dental trims or draining the abscess, you will have to do a drop off. Just bring veggies, hay, instructions for the staff…


                                    • Otti
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                                        It does sound like a really good option. I think I just feel like I’d want to be there myself because of my control issues lol I want to approve the xrays, the fluids, have near-constant updates etc. I’d just be sitting at work on the edge of my seat feeling like my rabbit could be dead and I wouldn’t know :/ Okay maybe not that bad but close LOL

                                        Since Sammy is pooping and acting normally except not eating his pellets and hay, I’m hoping it’s okay to wait till Sunday. He isn’t grinding his teeth in pain and is peeing enough. However, I’ve never had a rabbit on critical care or sick before, so since you’re more experienced, if you believe he should be looked at sooner than Sunday I’ll call the vet tonight and let them know I’ll do the drop-off tomorrow.


                                      • Sarita
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                                          I really think that having him in sooner is totally up to you. You know Sammy best and you know how long you feel comfortable waiting too.


                                        • Otti
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                                            Yeah… I realized I’m not comfortable, not because Sammy/s current condition seems so dire, but because the rabbit-savvy vet won’t be in Friday or Saturday. Should Sammy’s condition worsen in the meantime, he’d be stuck with the regular vet, and that’s no good.

                                            I just called to see if I can drop him off tomorrow. Better safe and stressed out than sorry LOL


                                          • Otti
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                                              So just dropped off Sammy at the vet a few hours ago. The bump on his jaw was more noticeable to the touch yesterday, so I’m really worried it’s an abscess.

                                              I also realized I’ve been forgetting to shake his baytril before giving it to him, which I’m guessing makes it less effective. I’ve just been so overwhelmed and stressed with getting him to eat and monitoring his poop that I didn’t even realize lol oops.

                                              I’m really worried that he’ll need to have surgery and end up with a hole in his cheek But I left a two-sided sheet of info with the vet, including questions about the Pen-G shot option like you said.

                                              Please keep your fingers crossed that he’ll be okay!


                                            • Sarita
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                                                Sending vibes to you and Sammy…please keep us updated. It’s stressful when our furbabies aren’t feeling well.


                                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                  {{Sammy}}

                                                  Noot was on critical care for his teeth for months and it is a complete diet-so it should be good. It’s not ideal-they should be eating hay but I see (and have not heard otherwise) that they cannot be sustained on it. Noot didn’t need me to feed him, he ate it off a plate himself (the banana apple one) and his guinea pig did too (it’s full of vitamin C and I have about 200$ worth of critical care here now so guinea pig gets it as a treat now!). The apple banana is such a good flavor that while torturing Kahlua during a stasis scare today she just ate it right out of the syringe with no forcing necessary.

                                                  So…in summary I don’t think there is a time limit and I would feed as much as Sammy will eat. If you can, pick up a scale at walmart-weighing a bun who isn’t doing well, if you can weigh accurately in ounces, will tell you quickly if they are gaining or losing

                                                  {{Sammy}}


                                                • Otti
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                                                    Thanks for the advice! I will pick up a scale asap! Seeing the vet to decide on whether to get surgery tomorrow. Updated about sammy’s condition in the qa section


                                                  • kristinturner167
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                                                      I think my bunny could have the same issue. Not eating much unless I syringe feed him, still pooping but excess drool from the mouth only on one side. I took him to the vet who said that he was very healthy, skin looked good, teeth looked great but he had ear mites. A few shots later he should be ok. He gave me antibiotics just in case it was a stomach problem and I’ve been administering them for 2 days now. Still can’t eat, you can tell he really wants to but just can’t. Help me please, I’m getting worried  


                                                    • jerseygirl
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                                                        Kristin, that does sound worrisome. Would you consider a second opinion?
                                                        You rabbit might need pain relief and a more thorough look at his teeth under sedation.
                                                        I’d also ask they check he’s able to work his jaw & that he has full feeling in his face.
                                                        (((Vibes))) for your little guy.

                                                        You can start a new thread for this concern about you rabbit. This is an old thread and your post could easily have been overlooked. A new thread will allow others to give you some more advice without it being confused with the original posters situation in this thread.


                                                      • Sarita
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                                                          Hi Kristin, I’m sorry you are having this problem with your rabbit – I am going to keep this thread open because you do have a concern but it is an old thread and tagging onto another thread is really not a good idea or responding to old threads – please feel free to PM an Forum Leader if you need help adding a new topic.

                                                          I believe you need to get a second opinion from a more rabbit experienced vet as I suspect he DOES have dental problems and your vet most likely will need to sedate him to get a good look at those BACK molars as Jersey has suggested.

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                                                      Forum DIET & CARE Questions about Critical Care