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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.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rabbit very ill and lethargic. HELP!

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    • annalee
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        Hi everyone, I’m not sure if this is the right place for this as this is my first time here, but I have a couple of questions relating to my bunny.

        At the time when I adopted her I had another male rabbit (an abolutely adorable black mini lop) and they became fast friends. However Merlin never really relaxed around people. She still does crazy eyes, even though I have had her for 5 months or so. By this I mean that her eyes are always bulging and showing the whites.

        At the start of January her mate died due to heat stroke (being the middle of summer in Australia), and she was very ill too. Two weeks later she gave birth to a litter of four. She rejected the babies completely – i found them cold and scattered over the hutch floor so i gathered them up and warmed them before returning them to the nesting box. 2 days later Merlin had still not fed them so I contacted a vet who advised me to feed them myself. All four babies died before they were 10 days old. A week after the babies died, I accidentally left the door to the cage open and Merlin escaped. For about a month, she was hanging around my next door neighbors place and my own, but I didnt manage to catch her until two days ago when I think she was so tired and malnourished that she couldnt run away any more.

        She is back in her cage now, but she is very skinny and clearly dehydrated (small, dark poops). I am doing my best to keep plenty of food and water in her hutch, although she does not seem eating very much (although that may be because last time I was feeding her she was pregnant and eating tonnes!). She is also very lethargic and breathing very rapidly. I know that rabbits breath fast – about 30-50 per minute – but she is breathing around 80-90 breaths per minute. These are deep belly breaths also which seem quite laboured.

        I am really worried about her, and I just want to know if I need to be worried, or if there is anythign I should do? Is she still just under strain from giving birth so young? Or what should I do? Please help my baby


      • kinggoblin
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        416 posts Send Private Message

          She should see a vet asap, she could have a uterine infection or something


        • Sarita
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          18851 posts Send Private Message

            You should get her to a vet – do you have a rabbit saavy vet near you? Where in Australia are you located? We have some Australian members that can recommend some vets if you don’t have one. You need to do this asap.


          • annalee
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              I am in Victoria, close to Melbourne City, if anyone can recommend a good vet that would be amazing!


            • jerseygirl
              Moderator
              22338 posts Send Private Message

                There is a specialised rabbit clinic in Melbourne (Fernwood Gully) http://www.melbournerabbitclinic.com/wordpress/
                All vets at the Animal Protection Society in Keysborough I’m told have rabbit experience too.

                Heres a list of recommended vets on Rabbit Runaway Orphanage website: http://www.rabbitrunaway.org.au/vets.html  They have a pretty active facebook page also. So if you ask on there I’m sure someone will be able to point you to your nearest experienced vet.

                Good luck!  Hope you’re able to get her seen and see an improvement.


              • Roberta
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                  Recommended by Bunspace members in Victoria Australia, I’m in WA but I know this site and there is an impressive list of members who go there.

                  Dr Sasha is the bunny specialist.

                  Lort Smith Animal Hospital
                  Address: 24 Villiers St
                  3051 Melbourne
                  Australia
                  Vet’s Name: Dr. Sasha Herbert
                  Phone: (03) 9328 3021
                  Email: info@lortsmith.com
                  Website: http://www.lortsmith.com
                  http://www.bunspace.com/vets/view?vetid=87


                • Beka27
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                    Just reiterating the need for a vet as soon as possible. Please keep us posted.

                    You house her inside, correct? I’m not sure what the weather is like in Australia now (I’m in North America and it is COLD!) but I know Australia is usually the opposite. You mentioned your male rabbit died from the extreme temperature. That is a heart-breaking way to pass when it is so easily avoidable.


                  • Roberta
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                      Weather in OZ is hot, Western Australia we are still up toward the 95-110 Farenheit, in Melbourne it has been cooler but there has been extensive rain and storms and I’m thinking mosquitoes.
                      I’m in WA and my buns have up to six ice packs in their hutch 24/7 and their own personal swamp cooler in the sunroom, plus a bunny sitter who pops in to check on them and change their ice packs when the temp max’s.


                    • Elrohwen
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                        I agree with the others – see a vet as soon as possible and let us know how it goes. Also, if she’s living outside, please bring her inside where she can be out of the dangerous heat.


                      • bunnnnnnie!
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                        1491 posts Send Private Message

                          1. She needs a vet.  Now.  You absolutely should be worried.

                          2. She needs to be fixed.  Females have a very very high rate of cancer if left intact.

                          3. She needs to be brought inside.  Dieing from heatstroke can be so easily prevented if the rabbit is brought indoors.

                          4. She needs a cage that is secure, and you need to be mindful to keep her contained.  It’s a miracle she didn’t get seriously injured or worse by a predator, hit by a car, wander off and get lost and never return, etc.  You’re very lucky you caught her.

                           

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                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Rabbit very ill and lethargic. HELP!