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Forum DIET & CARE Mimzy – TMS for next month – or not UPDATE

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    • MimzMum
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        After his first week on this medicine, I’ve noticed a few things:

        He does seem to eat, but his wastes are diminished a little and he’s not crazy about eating…plus he still seems depressed.  Smaller size poos, less per day-today all the ones I cleaned up this morning were on the floor of his habitat, not in his litter box. He’s drinking a ton of water and filling the box up with pee, then going on the floor. He’s also leaving cecals. Usually he never does this. He sleeps much more than he did without this medicine. I can’t tell if he’s miserable or just comfortable.

        However, I think his nose is staying pretty dry, although he’s still sneezing and wheezing, and I don’t hear him stumbling around as much anymore, leading the vet to think he’s either had an ear infection this whole time, or (I believe) he does have EC and the meds are fighting it, perhaps for the first time since he started having trouble both with his sinuses and his rear legs.

        This being the case, she wants him to finish the course unless I see him becoming inappetant or losing weight. We also got the culture back on the crusty things on the ends of his ears…they are not a fungus. She said we could biopsy them, but I don’t think I’d want to put him through another car ride if he’s doing well so far on this med…why beg trouble? We know he’s immuno-compromised, best not push it.

        I give him lettuce (red leaf) and a little parsley and carrot shavings to take his meds with, plus he drinks his whole water bottle (a short hamster sized) twice in 24 hours, so no wonder he’s weed the floor. The last few days he’s almost refused his metacam, which startled me. Normally he can’t wait for it. I wonder if his hips are feeling better, but how would the antibiotic do that?

        I think he’s feeling pretty well in himself, I just worry when I see him acting depressed, making fewer poos and he seems unwilling to eat something at the first go. But I’m trying not to panic and read something in that isn’t there. Anyone else have experience in seeing less wastes and more wee with a bunny using trimeth sulfa?


      • LittlePuffyTail
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          (((((Mimzy))))))

          Sorry I can’t help.


        • MimzMum
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            Well tonight he’s got rapid breathing, less poos and pee than usual, madly scratching all over himself and reddish linings on the insides of his eyelids. I think he may be having a reaction. Add to that his tummy is tender and he doesn’t want anything by syringe tonight. Might be a sign.
            I just hope he hasn’t wound up with a buggered cecum…I see him diving for cecals and it doesn’t seem like he’s finding any. Poor bub.
            If he’s no better in the a.m. I’m calling the doc. But I’m guessing this round of meds is over for now.

            At least he’ll eat a few pieces of hay if I hand feed them, plus he still seems to want his timmy treats. But he’s acting very ‘off’ otherwise. Couldn’t get more than a few syringes of tummy tea into his mouth before he refused any more. He seemed bloated when I first looked in on him tonight, now his stomach is more supple and pliable. I just don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve got alarm bells ringing.

            Can I ask for vibes for him so he doesn’t crash overnight?


          • LittlePuffyTail
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              ((((Feel Better Mimzy)))))

              Poor little guy. I feel so bad for him with all the issues he’s having.

              What does TMS stand for?


            • jerseygirl
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                {{{Mimzy-Honey-Bunny!}}} 
                 

                What does TMS stand for?

                LPT, it’s the shorthand for Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (least I think it’s that one). Also TMP SMZ 

                MM, has Mimzy ever had an xray of the head done since he’s had this nasal problem?

                 


              • BinkyBunny
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                  I know I am not much help with information wise as this guy has been through the ringer and you have been doing your best to get the right kind help. But I can definitely send some healing vibes! Sorry if you answered this before, but you said you believe he has EC. Did a test come back positive?


                • MimzMum
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                    Jerz is quite right. TMS is trimeth sulfa. After last night, I’m certain he’s allergic.
                    Yes, he’s had xrays of everything. Nothing conclusive. He just does better on some abx than others. Baytril for example…but he’d had two weeks of that back in July, so my vet didn’t want to run that one again.
                    He’s looking a bit better at the moment. I’ve been up most of the night and early a.m. with him though. He is sitting in his usual corner facing me and nodding off. I probably look just like him.
                    Gotta love this smart phone, I can watch his every move here, unlike my desktop, and report it right away…lol.
                    We have a call in to the vet. Hopefully it’s someone who’ll be helpful. I do wish I’d listened to that ‘inner voice’ when we’d first gotten the rx, something was telling me this was the wrong choice.
                    He’s still doing this odd, slightly noisy breathing, I’d almost call it a closed mouth pant. But he was also just bruxing as he lay down, so he can’t feel too bad.


                  • MimzMum
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                      Hey BB! We must’ve posted at the same time! No, his titre was never done. I meant to have the dental surgeon draw his blood, but she spaced iy. Given his history, you’d think it was a certainty. And we also think he has pasteurella, but won’t be sure till he next needs anesthesia. They’d never get a vein while he’s awake…or a good swab either.


                    • TriBun
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                        Oh poor Mimz. Give him kisses for me. Hope he gets better soon


                      • MimzMum
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                          Thanks Tribun, I will.
                          He’s just had his pen cleaned and is munching some hay and his willow ring on his own. This is better than he was last night.
                          I can see his wastes getting lighter, less moist, and that’s a relief. For the last few days they’ve been very dark and almost wet. Does anyone know if, like in humans, dark stool could mean a GI bleed?


                        • MimzMum
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                            Sorry for the double post folks, but I just needed a little more info…
                            So he IS better but I can see he’s not 100%.
                            Should I continue giving Benebac?
                            Should he have his metacam? (I didn’t want his tummy more upset.)
                            How long will it take for his gut to normalize?
                            Should I give him whatever he will eat? (Even veggies although I’m afraid they may cause gas?)


                          • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                              Awww {{{Mimz}}} *Hugs*
                              I couldn’t tell-did you discontinue the TMS until you see the vet or are you still giving it?

                              I would quit the benebac unless your vet advised the use-I’m not sure how helpful those are…but then again…if you’ve found it helps.
                              The metacam I would give after you see him eat and then maybe not if you haven’t. If you can encourage some hay eating then I’d give it-or even a reduced dose will often work well and be easier on the tummy. I think you could make the call to cut the dose in half if it’s that or none.
                              When Rupert would get the odd upset tummy in our apartment (I think just adjustment for him, he now doesn’t ever get it, and is less nervous in fact hardly nervous at all) it would clear in a day; but different causes…Not sure, if it’s from the meds I would think a day or two to clear up

                              Keep us posted {{{Mimz}}}


                            • MimzMum
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                                Yes, I dropped the TMS. He is doing a little better this evening as well, if not just a bit gassy still. In fact, I had to vacate the bunny room for a bit and then came back and administered some mylicon drops. PHEW! 0_o;

                                Usually Mimzy does well on antibiotic therapy (baytril for instance improves his appetite and eliminations and takes care of the problem if used for long enough) but this stuff started messing with him almost from the off and he just kept going downhill. When I spoke to my (preferred) vet this last weekend she was sure we should continue the therapy unless he started feeling worse. Well, we got worse. After only 8 days. Now we have snotty nose and stumbling again (I HATE that), but I’ll take that over enteritis.
                                I should’ve realized when he was refusing his metacam (his .2 ml dose is broken down into two .1 mls every 12 hours) it wasn’t because his rear end felt any better, it was because his tummy hurt too much. When you look at the side effects for people on this drug, you see that difficulty urinating (which we got yesterday) is one of the severe reaction warning signs, the itching and inflamed mucosa are less severe and they showed up last.

                                I am a little disappointed in my vet’s office. It could’ve been more serious and no-one phoned me back today. I would’ve taken him in had I thought he needed to be seen, but it’s the principle…you’ve got an animal possibly having an allergic reaction…don’t you make a bit more effort to put that one and the top of the list?

                                Going to make a BIG point of having this marked in his chart. It must be why we didn’t repeat it earlier in his therapies but somebody dropped the ball. And I can’t believe I didn’t remember it myself, but we all know how my memory is these days. >.<


                              • RabbitPam
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                                  Hi, MM,
                                  I hope he is feeling better today. {{{{{{{{{{Healing vibes}}}}}}}}}

                                  MM, I really, really care about you and the furbabies, but sometimes watching them constantly is in itself a bit detrimental to them and to you. I think there are times when you need to step back, focus on something else, and let Mimzy rest while his body works on healing. No matter how much you want to see full recovery, he is a chronically ill little guy who has issues that can be lived with, and you are helping him do so. But your care and watching may actually be keeping him too alert to fully rest, which is what he needs. Step away from the cage, take a much needed nap, and give him time to adjust to his new normal. He’s been through the ringer, so have you. Now you need to create an acceptable picture in your mind of who Mimzy is today (a gentler, older, less active or clear headed Mimzy) and focus on his quality of life. I know it’s easier if he were visibly disabled like in a leg or something, but he really is somewhat disabled. Accept him that way. Let him enjoy what he can and let him rest much more than you might have otherwise. Does this make any sense?

                                  Please don’t blame or chastise your vet’s practice. They may feel you cry wolf and are not getting back to you because of it. Or they may just have too many patients on their hands at the moment and need to make judgement calls with their time. Too much info. is as hard to track as not enough, and they just might have missed a note regarding him, or think he can handle a treatment again. Just try to be patient with him and them.
                                  {{{{{{{{{Hugs}}}}}}}}}}}


                                • LizzieKnittyBun
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                                    You’re being way too hard on yourself, and you’re such an attentive and caring pet parent. Give yourself a hug and a nap!


                                  • MimzMum
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                                      Thanks for the replies, everyone.
                                      Mimzy is doing a bit better again this morning, lots more wastes (getting lighter in color all the time) and more hay has been consumed than previously. I am guessing his gut is normalizing. Just thought you’d all like to know. I am looking forward in the next few days to him at least being back to where he was before we began this last treatment.

                                      Pam, thank you as always for your sage advice. I know you feel I wear myself out with Mimzy’s care, and him as well, and perhaps you’re right. Maybe I’ll take an ‘hiatus’ from posting for a few days. I don’t want anyone to feel I am poking the poor thing every few minutes or so to see if he’s any better. (Really, I’m not.) Actually after his morning and evening clean-ups, I pretty much leave him to himself. He and the other two have a very comfy place to be with or without me there (although I think all four of us plus Jenna-enjoy just loafing with one another together)…and I keep a little classical or meditational music on for them when they seem to need it and not when they don’t.

                                      I’m sure you guys know what he means to me, and how his well-being is always a priority. I’ll do whatever it takes to bring him back to some sense of normal, whatever that is. I am getting some more rest than I was. As long as he seems better in himself, we will just keep buggering on and see what happens from here.

                                      If anything changes in the extreme, we’ll let you know.
                                      ((((((((((((((((((hugs back)))))))))))))))))))))))


                                    • jerseygirl
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                                        Maybe I’ll take an ‘hiatus’ from posting for a few days.

                                        No. Don’t do that! Then we’ll all just worry about You and Mimzy more! 

                                        OK, “permission”() to take a hiatus IF it means you and Mimz are getting some quality R&R. (((Hugs)))  I’m happy to be reading he’s coming better.


                                      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                          I wonder if one of the secretaries picked up your mesage, got busy and didn’t pass it on. That happened at my clinic once…I passed that on to the vet, and she was really upset to hear it. It’s an accident but when it’s important shouldn’t happen. So I’d mention it to them

                                          I’m so glad to hear he’s normalizing so soon!! What a relief Definitely was the meds then if he’s coming together so quickly. Give him some nose rubs from us {{Vibes}} *HUGS*


                                        • LittlePuffyTail
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                                            I can totally relate to you, Mimz. I’m a chronic worrier, especially about my bunnies, and this is added to the fact that they do often have legit health problems (like your buns) so sometimes I have to step back and say “is there really something wrong or is it just me worrying too much”. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference or it’s a bit of both. And I know Mimzy means the world to you, I feel the same about mine. If they are sick we will do anything in my our power to get them well.

                                            **Hugs** and many ((((Calming)))) vibes to you


                                          • RabbitPam
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                                              MM,
                                              I agree with Jersey – only step back from US if you are napping, soaking in a warm bath, or enjoying the fresh fall air up there on a walkies with Jenna.

                                              LPT – your’e so right, and I do it too. Sometimes I tell my mother that Sammy looks too thin, maybe I should take her to the vet. She tells me “you have enough on your plate to worry about. Don’t borrow trouble! She’s fine!” And I come home and she binkies, and licks my feet and gobbles up kale and I know I am just projecting my worry. It’s because I lived with Spockie’s chronic illness that I’m so alert.

                                              So sometimes I think we need our own slaves to say to us “you’ve been out enough. Get back in your house and go to sleep.” And do so.


                                            • MimzMum
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                                                Well as far as fall is concerned, it arrived overnight and in spades. 0_o Our trees were still green one day, then we had a rainfall, now BOOM. Gold and red leaves everywhere. I’ve taken a few shots with my camera phone, but I have no idea how to work the thing to send them up to the net. They won’t be here long. *cries*

                                                Mimz is still good, if a little achy and still kind of huffy-puffy with his breathing. (not sure what causes that) I kept his metacam low for a few days to give his tum time to recuperate. He hears me shake the bottle now and comes…well…shuffling…lol. It’s the only syringe I don’t have to fight with him to have him drink from. My little junkie-bunny…*sigh*.

                                                The sad thing about the weather/season change is…no more dandelions to speak of. So the fresh foraging has gone away for the next almost 9 months.
                                                Hubby managed to grab a few and stick them in a planter. We’ll see if I can keep them alive this time!

                                                As for me…it’s now the other shoe…with Mimzy feeling better, I have a lot more house sorting to catch up on. *sigh* It’s terrifying how stuff piles up! Lots of memories, lots of tough decisions to make. But my eventual goal is having a bigger bunny area, so I really have to step up.


                                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                  I was going to ask; while we are getting some summer weather we haven’t had all summer, the leaves are being jerks and changing colors and I was thinking of you and wondering if you were going through the same depressing thing Booooo

                                                  I ditto LPT and I’m REALLY sharing here…I constantly have nightmares about ‘animals I didn’t know I had/forgot I had who are suffering and neglected and I am trying to rescue them from my own stupidity’ -I think it’s a reflection of my worries and concerns -I’m constantly thinking about health for all and really worrying and it shows up in my dreams. Yuck. So I’m definitely in the ‘worry alot boat’, so if you’d like to join me we have wine and cheese here


                                                • MimzMum
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                                                    We’ve had nonstop rain today, K&K. And I expect by the time the sun drags itself up again tomorrow morning that most of the leaves will already be off the trees. Honestly, with how cold it has been since last month, I was sure first snow would have been last week.
                                                    A heads up for you ‘southerners’…lol….apparently there was a huge solar flare on the sun today, so sometime over the weekend there’s going to be auroras as far as Australia. Hope you all have clear skies for this event!

                                                    And roaming even further off topic…btw, K&K…thought of you all today when I heard there was a 6.4 earthquake off the coast of Vancouver. I’m hoping you all are too far inland to worry about tsunamis?
                                                    Just looked it up online…721 miles driving distance…is that as the crow flies?


                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                      How’s he doing MM?


                                                    • MimzMum
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                                                        Hi Jerz! Thanks for asking!
                                                        Yeah, he’s done better since going off the TMS. I also stopped his metacam for a few days this week and he improved even more, so the pain killer is also turning his stomach.
                                                        However this morning he seemed ‘hunched’ so I put him back on for today. He and the others are taking in a new timothy hay and he is not as fond of it as the other two, so his appetite is waning till we get the hay in that he likes.

                                                        He’s also peeing all over his night hab again…so along with the boogery nose, we’re back to square one. The odd breathing is also continuing, but is not as pronounced without the metacam. Not quite sure how to interpret that.

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                                                    Forum DIET & CARE Mimzy – TMS for next month – or not UPDATE