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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Please help… :-(

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    • EmilyL
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         Some of you may remember me posting about my bunny Abby the other day and a possible UTI. The antibiotics the vet gave me seem to be ineffective. I woke up this morning and there were reddish-brown stains on the floor of her cage and on the carpet. I called the vet and went straight down there after class with pictures of the stains. He said he thinks it is some sort of bloody discharge. She has had this once before and it was before I had her spayed. When I had her spayed, they found uterine cancer and believed that they got it all out. 

        The vet gave me a different, more expensive antibiotic for me to give her twice a day until the bottle runs out. He said if this does not improve her symptoms, then it is likely that her cancer has returned. My heart tells me it’s cancer and I’ve been so fearful of this happening. I have been through a lot in the last year, and Abby has helped me get through everything. She’s always so happy when I get home, and she does so many funny things that make me laugh and smile. She has gotten me through a lot, and she is such a special bunny. I’ve been crying all day at the thought of her being in pain someday and at the thought of losing her. Does anybody else have experience with these symptoms or cancer? If your bunny had cancer, can you tell me what symptoms they had?


      • EmilyL
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          I’m really worried about her right now. When I came home she was all excited to see me. I picked her up and gave her the first dose of the antibiotic and hand fed her some lettuce. After eagerly eating some, she stopped and I assumed she was full. I pet her for a few minutes and then I felt the bed get wet and she had peed on the bed and me. She never does this. It was a large amount. Since then she hopped into her cage and won’t come out. A couple of times, she hunched into the corner and hopped in and out of her litter box. She’s now been in her litter box for a while and won’t come out and won’t even look at me. She’s breathing really fast and shallow. I even picked up her food bag and got no response (she always darts out when I get anywhere in the vicinity of her food bag).

          Please help! 🙁


        • LBJ10
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            Is it really blood? Or is it just red? Did it only appear after she was put on antibiotics? Some antibiotics can cause their urine to turn an orange-red color.


          • EmilyL
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              He said it looks like blood mixed with something else, like discharge or urine. It’s in splotches all over her cage. She won’t come out of her litter box and is breathing really fast. I think she may be straining to pee?


            • LBJ10
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                Maybe she has bladder stones. Did the vet ever actually test for blood in her urine?


              • EmilyL
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                  No he didn’t. I’m thinking about taking her to the emergency vet soon. She’s in the back of her cage and won’t come out for anything. Every once in a while I hear her make a grunting noise. Sometimes she’s lifting up her tail like she’s struggling. She’s breathing very quickly too. I’m worried about her… I don’t want her to be in pain!


                • bunnyfriend
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                    Normal bunny urine can be orange and reddish. I would have the vet test a sample of the urine. And ask the vet if there is any other tests he/she can run. Urinary problems can be painful. Poor bunny ): ((((((lot of healing vibes))))))


                  • bunnyfriend
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                      Emergency vet is a good idea. She is definitely in pain. Just make sure they have experience with rabbits.


                    • EmilyL
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                        After looking up bladder stones, that sounds like it might fit. Will she be ok until morning or should I take her to the emergency vet. She’s laying with her legs kicked back right now… isn’t that a sign of relaxation? I watched her hop in the litter box again and saw her struggling and lifting her tail. When her tail went up she definitely made that grunting sound. She must be trying to pass something. I feel so bad for my baby 🙁


                      • bunnyfriend
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                          I know they must be removed but I’m not sure about the time frame. Maybe you could call the emergency vet and see what they say? Usually they will give you an honest assessment/opinion.


                        • LBJ10
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                            I believe it is recommended that they see a vet ASAP if there is a possible urinary blockage. It is definitely not a good thing if they can’t urinate and urine is building up in their system. Let’s see, I think an emergency vet would be able to drain their bladder, if there is indeed a blockage.


                          • EmilyL
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                              That’s a good idea… I’ll give them a call in a minute


                            • lashkay
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                                Good health vibes to Abby…I hope she sees your vet/an emergency vet pronto!


                              • EmilyL
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                                  I just called… found out my local emergency vet does not treat rabbits. The closest one is in Huntersville (very far away). She’s eating right now, and I’ll keep an eye on her. Since she’s eating I think she’ll be ok until morning. I’ll set an alarm and call her vet as soon as they open.


                                • Kafrn
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                                    A very similar experience with my rabbit a few weeks ago. Please keep up updated and let us know how she goes. She will definatley need xrays. If you turn her upside down and look at her genitals, are they swollen or bloody at all? Good luck.


                                  • jerseygirl
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                                      Oh I remember you were worrying about this Emily. I hope your vet can help discover whats going on.
                                      {{{{{Abby}}}}}


                                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                                        (((((((Get well Abby)))))))


                                      • EmilyL
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                                          Thank you for all the support guys. I called her vet when they opened and the receptionist said he was in surgery and would call me as soon as he was done. What’s really weird is that she is fine now. And the red-brown stains on the floor happened overnight. It seems like she gets much worse at night and is back to normal during the day. Is that normal for bladder stones in bunnies?


                                        • Sarita
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                                            Many times antibiotics will cause the urine to change color so it’s very possible that is what the problem is with the urine. It could be bladder sludge as well…but that is all speculative and the vet would have to do an x-ray to determine what this.


                                          • RabbitPam
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                                              Has the vet gotten back to you by now?
                                              How is she doing?


                                            • EmilyL
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                                                I just got back from the vet with her. They did xrays and no stones showed up on those. Her severe symptoms last night were due to an adverse reaction to the antibiotic he gave her. She has something different now that I’m going to start her on tonight. The xray looked normal but he said that some cancers don’t show up depending on what kind they are. So right now, UTI and and cancer are still on the table. I’m going to start her on the new antibiotic in a few hours and keep an eye on her.

                                                He said that he doesn’t feel anything when he palpates her and she didn’t seem to be bothered by him doing that so that is good in terms of cancer. He said usually in animals her size you can feel it if there is a tumor. My thing is that I don’t think you’d feel it if they were small. I dunno… I still don’t really know whats wrong with her and will have to wait a couple of days to see if the antibiotic kicks in. Thank you for all the healing vibes and support guys. I appreciate all the help and I know Abby does too. I hope she’s ok :-/


                                              • Sarita
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                                                  Continued healing vibes for Abby. It’s very frustrating when you don’t know what is wrong.


                                                • bunnyfriend
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                                                    I hope Abby gets better very soon. I know this is a worrying time for you


                                                  • LBJ10
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                                                      I dug this up. I wanted to know if she is doing better now.


                                                    • EmilyL
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                                                        Since he put her on the new antibiotic, she does seem to be doing better. I’m hoping and praying that she is actually better. She is eating less than she was but a few weeks ago she started eating more and more and more. Do you have any experience with rabbits eating more when they have an infection?


                                                      • Sarita
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                                                          I think she is most likely eating less because of the antibiotic. Having an infection wouldn’t normally make you eat more since you aren’t feeling well.


                                                        • LBJ10
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                                                            I would imagine being on an antibiotic would make them feel less hungry. I think it does to me anyway. LOL As long as she’s still eating some though.


                                                          • EmilyL
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                                                              That’s what I thought, but it was weird because a few weeks ago, out of the blue she started eating SO MUCH. The first bag of orchard grass hay I ever got her lasted a few months, the second lasted a couple weeks, and then the last one lasted a week. And the increased appetite started around when her infection probably started. Then she gets on the antibiotics and it’s slowed back down again. I thought that was weird.

                                                              I’m mostly monitoring her condition through her litter box. That was the symptom I really noticed was that I was having to change her litter box all the time. I’m pretty sure the litter is lasting longer now with the antibiotic but something like that is so hard to measure. I’m really having to eyeball it. That’s why I’m trying not to get my hopes up about her getting better. However, she started binkying like crazy the other night and it had been awhile since she had done that, so I’m hoping that means she feels better.


                                                            • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                                {{{Abbey}}} Healing Vibes

                                                                Would your vet test the urine if you were able to get a sample? If you know which end she aims in you could line that part with plastic wrap and then supervise until you get a pee sample.

                                                                That’s great news about the binkies-she must be feeling better to be doing that


                                                              • EmilyL
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                                                                  Just now, I saw some more stains on the floor of her cage. I don’t know if it’s bloody urine or if it’s just poop. I really hope this is not a sign of her not getting any better :-/ I don’t want to freak out if she’s just having some runny poop, but it looked really similar to what I found on the cage floor when she was really sick. I just want this to stop and for my bunny to be ok! I’ve been giving her the antibiotics religiously and it’s been about a week since she started on the new antibiotic.


                                                                • Pandorachik
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                                                                    ((Vibes of healing))) Praying will continue <3 I hope She feels better


                                                                  • BinkyBunny
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                                                                      Hydrogen Peroxide will bubble up a lot with blood. Pour a little bit of it on the red/brown urine stains and see what happens. I did this with Jack’s urine red stains..it bubbled up a lot.  We went to the vet and his urine was tested. It did have blood in it.  He did have bladder stones,

                                                                      One time when I ,was worried about Vivians reddish urine, I did the same thing with the hydrogen peroxide, and it did not bubble up. I also still took her to the vet, and her urine was tested. No blood.

                                                                      My vet said that hydrogen peroxide was a good way to check the urine at home…..and that has been true for me anyway


                                                                    • Monkeybun
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                                                                        oo good idea BB. Never thought of that to test the urine!

                                                                        Note to self: buy some peroxide soon


                                                                      • NaturalRabbit
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                                                                          Posted By BB on 11/25/2011 11:27 PM

                                                                          Hydrogen Peroxide will bubble up a lot with blood. Pour a little bit of it on the red/brown urine stains and see what happens. I did this with Jack’s urine red stains..it bubbled up a lot.  We went to the vet and his urine was tested. It did have blood in it.  He did have bladder stones,

                                                                          One time when I ,was worried about Vivians reddish urine, I did the same thing with the hydrogen peroxide, and it did not bubble up. I also still took her to the vet, and her urine was tested. No blood.

                                                                          My vet said that hydrogen peroxide was a good way to check the urine at home…..and that has been true for me anyway

                                                                           

                                                                          That is an excellent suggestion.

                                                                          I hope and pray that your baby gets better and that it is not cancer!


                                                                        • BinkyBunny
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                                                                            The only thingyl you have to watch with when using hydrogen peroxide to pour on urine is that that is not on a spot where any vinegar residue would be. (Which is common for cleaning)because it can sometimes bubble up with that…depending on how much residue.


                                                                          • MayaConsuelo
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                                                                              Hope she is all right!! Good thoughts xoxo


                                                                            • EmilyL
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                                                                                I tried the hydrogen peroxide trick and it did NOT bubble up so I’m hoping that’s a good sign. I think the recent stains are poo, so I’m thinking the antibiotics are causing an imbalance in her gut. I’ve read that that can be severe in rabbits, so I stopped the antibiotic until I can talk to the vet on Monday.

                                                                                I’m starting to think there are no antibiotics that will work for my baby…


                                                                              • Sarita
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                                                                                  Many times with antibiotics their urine will change colors and can become dark brown/orange. I would suggest that you do not take her off the antibiotics UNTIL you speak with the vet. No antibiotic is going to work if you don’t let it run it’s course.


                                                                                • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                                                    Ditto Sarita-also antibiotics can totally make runny yucky poops. And ditto-to continue the antibiotics-not running a full course when prescribed can make a superbug.

                                                                                    BB=-that is fantastic-I had no idea you could kind of test with peroxide-very good in a stich!


                                                                                  • EmilyL
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                                                                                      I stopped the antibiotics because I was concerned about the poops. I read that antibiotics can mess with a bunny’s digestive tract and can be really dangerous. I wanted to stop it before it got bad and/or serious. This wouldn’t have been a problem if my vet had proper alternatives for when they are closed :-/ I don’t know what to do about the antibiotics now. Should I start them up again? She hasn’t had them for the last two nights…


                                                                                    • Sarita
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                                                                                        There are always going to be side effects to any medications and you have to outweigh the good with the bad. You mentioned she was doing better and once you stop them, you may be back to square one. There are many rabbit safe antibiotics and you have not mentioned in your posts what the vet is prescribing but they must be safe for rabbits.

                                                                                        My best advice at this point, is to be honest with your vet and tell him you have stopped the antibiotics and ask the vet what you should do, start up and start over or try a different antibiotic. Try to stay on track with the medications and discuss any changes with your vet BEFORE you decide on your own what to do.


                                                                                      • Hannah
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                                                                                          Generally speaking, in humans, stopping antibiotics before their course has run is not a good idea, but starting and stopping isn’t, either. I assume it’s the same with rabbits. I really think you need to talk to your vet again– runny poop is bad, but I don’t think it’s as bad as an infection as long as she’s still eating and pooping. More fiber might also help, in general. I hope she feels better soon! : (


                                                                                        • EmilyL
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                                                                                            I did try to talk to my vet before I cut off the antibiotic but he was closed Thursday-Sunday for the holidays. On his answering machine, he did not leave an emergency number to call except the local emergency vet and they do not accept rabbits. I had to make a judgement call, and I was scared that her stomach was getting messed up, and I know the intestinal tract in rabbits is so, so important for functioning. I’m going to call him first thing in the morning, I just hope I didn’t do any damage :-/


                                                                                          • Hannah
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                                                                                              For future reference, you should try to find the closest emergency vet that does see rabbits. Even if they’re far, at the very least you can call them if you have an urgent question.


                                                                                            • EmilyL
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                                                                                                I did call the closest emergency vet, and they said they couldn’t tell me much without looking at her and the exam alone would be $210. Since she was still acting ok, I didn’t think we needed to drive two hours away for the vet. He told me to think about stopping the antibiotics, make sure she has as much hay as possible and give her extra water through a syringe.


                                                                                              • Sarita
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                                                                                                  I’m pretty sure an emergency vet is not going to make any recommendations unless they see the rabbit and emergency vets are really only best in an emergency not your regular routine care that your rabbit is getting.

                                                                                                  I’m sure she will be okay, but in the future, perhaps you should discuss what to do before you stop any medications. Antibiotics do not always damage their intestinal tract…don’t let everything on the internet scare you. Antibiotics are going to be necessary to get your rabbit well and their are SO MANY safe antibiotics out there for rabbits. If you have questions or concerns ask your vet. As I mentioned, antibiotics can change the color of rabbit’s urine (and humans as well).

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                                                                                              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Please help… :-(