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 Don’t know what’s wrong!

Viewing 17 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Alfiebuns
      Participant
      102 posts Send Private Message

        Hi,

        I recently posted about my bunny, Alfie’s change of mood & behaviour. We’ve had him for just over a week, when we first got him he loved strokes and was very chilled and happy. The last few days he’s seemed a bit off, he won’t take strokes just licks us and shakes us off, he avoids us sometimes and now we’ve noticed he’s grooming and scratching himself lots and we haven’t seen him have a snug little nap without him being disturbed to itch.

        He’s currently taking Baytril for snuffles and despised his trip to the vet so would like to try sort this out without a vet trip if possible. We’ve been flea combing him and nothing is coming off him or seems to be stuck on his skin, he has no flea dirt, no sign of mites, I’m puzzled!

        Is there anything that makes bunnies seem like they have fleas but they don’t?

         

        Sorry if this is a silly question but I’m just stuck!


      • Sarita
        Participant
        18851 posts Send Private Message

          If it’s mites, you aren’t necessarily going to be able to see them and probably won’t. You can treat mites with Revolution that you can get from your vet.


        • jackikal
          Participant
          43 posts Send Private Message

            It’s always hard to tell if a rabbit has fleas because of their dense fur. Try using a flashlight (LED works the best) and shine it onto his skin while combing through and looking for fleas and any signs of fleas. If you can’t find any, try changing something in his diet. If you’ve given him any new types of treats or a new chew toy (including Baytril), take it away for a while to see how he does. I’ve never encountered a bunny allergy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. If nothing else, you’ll have to take him to the vet. It could be something with his skin. They have very sensitive skin, and it’s not something you’ll want to “experiment” with, lol.

            Good luck! I hope he gets better.


          • Sarita
            Participant
            18851 posts Send Private Message

              I would NOT TAKE the baytril away….I don’t think you meant that jackikal, but I wanted to make sure that Alifebuns does not discontinue the medication without the vet’s consent.


            • Roberta
              Participant
              4355 posts Send Private Message

                I use the revolution (puppy and Kitten) Piglet gets two drops on the tip of my finger to the back of his neck and Pepper gets one drop. The girls are due for their first treatment. Blossom will get the same as Piglet but Pipi and Nermal will get the same as their mother Pepper. Over handling can also make them a bit annoyed so he may be objecting by giving you the cold shoulder. Pepper was over handled by my first bunny sitters when she was a few weeks old after she was rescued. She became quite aggressive, she is good now though I let her call the shots on when where and how she wanted to interact. Poor Piglet was ignored by them because he was white and as a result he was the snugglier of the two. New bunny sitter who came in daily during Summer just gives them an ear scratch and a nose rub and lots of yummy herbs and they look forward to her visits. Pepper likes to snuggle now too.


              • jackikal
                Participant
                43 posts Send Private Message

                  @Sarita

                  Thank you, I didn’t catch that! What I mean is, eliminate it as a variable. You can do this by, as stated, consulting with your vet.


                • jerseygirl
                  Moderator
                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                    You do raise a good point. ^ Some rabbits can have an allergy to baytril. A friends rabbit lost her fur due to baytril allergy.

                    Alfiebuns, it would be worth asking your vet what to look for re medication allergy. You could do that over the phone rather then taking Alfie in.

                    Mites can make them irritable as does shedding too.


                  • Beka27
                    Participant
                    16016 posts Send Private Message

                      I’d definitely take him back in. He could probably be safely treated with Revolution as a precaution… and when he’s off the Baytril the itching may clear up too. I don’t remember, can buns be given diphenhydramine if the itching is related to something environmental?


                    • Alfiebuns
                      Participant
                      102 posts Send Private Message

                        Wow, thank you everyone for your replies! I’m so happy to get a few ideas of what it might be, it’s the worst feeling in the world to not know how to help Alfie. I just want him to be happy and I feel like a mad woman ringing the vet everyday and stalking the internet finding things to scare myself with!

                        Is Revolution safe to use with Baytril?

                        The first few days we had him he adored being stroked and cuddled but now he’s so fidgety and nudges my hand off him choosing to lick it instead of having it touch him. Maybe that could be him fed up with being over handled? But then he does still jump up to sit on me and see what I’m up to, it’s just he seems he wants his own space a lot while he cleans himself.

                        He’s had the same diet and treats since the day we got him so I could rule that out, unless the allergic reaction to it might take a while to kick in?

                        My vet advised me to wait until Alf finishes the Baytril to see if it is a reaction to that but that’s not for another 4 days and I’m not leaving him uncomfortable for that long. Plus, I’ve been staying up with him through the nights because he doesn’t seem to be able to settle with his itching so we’re both in need of a good night sleep before this Baytril runs out!

                        I’m waiting now for my boyfriend to come home with an LED flashlight (he was baffled by my urgent need for one) and then would like to try Revolution if it’s safe to use with Baytril and see if this does the trick. Fingers crossed it will help him!

                        Thank you again everyone, you’ve made our day! x x


                      • Sarita
                        Participant
                        18851 posts Send Private Message

                          It should be fine but as always, check with the vet. You have to get the Revolution and dosage from the vet anyway.


                        • jerseygirl
                          Moderator
                          22338 posts Send Private Message

                            Mmmm… If only 4 more days on baytril, I do think it would be worth continuing. Antibiotics work best if the full course is given. It would be a shame to have gotten this far with them and then stop. I do understand why you want to!

                            It’s important if it’s been helping with his other symptoms that he have it.
                            I’m sorry if that seems to contradict my earlier post about baytril. While it could be a factor (allergy) there would be more common culprits. What dosage is he being given for his weight? Is it a bunny-friendly flavour?

                            Is your vet pretty experienced with rabbits? Snuffles is said the be a “blanket” term for all sorts if respiratory issues. But a rabbit savvy vet might still use the term for simplicities sake.

                            I’m wondering if Alfie us stand-offish purely because he’s smarting from the vet visit and also because you’re medicating him? He might be associating your hands with being captured and given his medicine. That’s a necessary evil but in time they do forgive.


                          • jerseygirl
                            Moderator
                            22338 posts Send Private Message

                              I also wanted to ask more about his habitat. Do you use any wood bedding or litters? Or scented paper litters? What type of hay has he got? Is it dusty at all?

                              Do you use scented room deoderizers at all in the home?


                            • Alfiebuns
                              Participant
                              102 posts Send Private Message

                                Well, I used the LED flashlight on little Alfie and couldn’t see anything at all. I called my vet this morning to update him (not that he wanted to know and is now very bored of me) and he again said it could be the Baytril making him uncomfortable along with the clammy weather making him over groom.
                                He did seem like a good vet but not a bunny specialist and he also held Alfie on his back to give him his first dose of medicine, I know this is really dangerous and Alfie hated every second.
                                I will definitely continue with the Baytril as advised, just can’t wait for it to finish so we will know if it is this that’s upsetting him.

                                He weighs 1.2kg and is on 0.4ml of the 2.5% oral Baytril twice a day for 7 days, it is the horrid liver tasting one =( but I mix it with banana in the morning and carrot juice at night and he seems to enjoy it.

                                He has a bug hutch with a layer of wood shavings then straw then timothy hay on top, I seperate the hay and straw outside to air it and get rid of dust but it’s all irrelevant to Alf because he just sits on his couch all day! Litter training is just not happening at the moment, he goes wherever he likes and it’s impossible to tell when he’s about to go so I can’t pop him in the hutch to do it. If anything, he keeps his hutch cleaner than the rest of the house. I don’t know where to start with litter training him but don’t want to make a fuss until he’s feeling better.

                                I don’t use any room deoderizers but we do use a lot of hand sanitizers so have stopped handling him straight after using it just incase.

                                While I was typing this, he jumped up for his first proper stroke since Saturday =) =) =) =) Still woke up for an itch and then got grumpy but it is an improvement!

                                Thank you again, it does feel like we’re able to eliminate things due to all of your suggestions so we’re getting closer to finding the problem.Thank you x x x


                              • Monkeybun
                                Participant
                                10479 posts Send Private Message

                                  The wood shavings could be a problem. Pine or cedar shavings have phenols that can cause respiratory problems in rabbits.

                                  Having the hay, straw, and shavings on the floor of the hutch would explain why he goes wherever he likes, his house is one big litterbox to him. Keepign it contained to a litterbox would make training easier. But remove the shavings, they could be causing issues.


                                • jerseygirl
                                  Moderator
                                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                                    Ditto ^ . Try setting him up with a litter box in his hutch and keeping the floor bare. Avoid using wood shavings. (Aspen is bunny safe though).

                                    Have you looked over the litter training tips on this site?
                                    https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/5/PID/940/Default.aspx

                                    I read in another thread he is 12 weeks old. Pretttty much a teenager and one if the more challenging times with a rabbit! Litter habits and attitude can go haywire. Thankfully, this period does pass and getting rabbits neutered certainly helps.

                                    It sounds like he’s coming around.


                                  • Nelsons_Mom
                                    Participant
                                    6 posts Send Private Message

                                      Avoiding wood shavings is good (especially because only aspen is safe) and it’s also best to freeze bedding for 28-48 hours before you use it to get rid of any mites or other bugs that got into it at the factory, therefore ensuring that he won’t be affected with mites again.

                                      I wish you luck in solving this problem and that the little guy comes back around to feeling better.


                                    • Alfiebuns
                                      Participant
                                      102 posts Send Private Message

                                        Hi everyone!

                                        We’re so happy with all of the help you’ve given us, we didn’t know where to start before posting on here.

                                        We set up a litter tray in the corner of his hutch last night and cleared all of the wood shavings out and he slept in it for the first time ever! We couldn’t believe it! I missed him a bit ha but he was really happy in there. He’s itching and grooming less and seeming more content today and it’s the last day of Baytril tomorrow woooooohooooo!!!!

                                        Freezing bedding is a great idea, thank you!

                                        Jerseygirl, he definitely acts like a teenager and a lot of what we thought was him being grumpy with being itchy could have just been teenage strops. I hope so anyways! I’m going to give the litter training link a read today and get started on it with the little terror =)

                                        Thanks again everyone, if it wasn’t for you all I think my vet would have quit with all of my bugging =)

                                        x x x x x x


                                      • jerseygirl
                                        Moderator
                                        22338 posts Send Private Message

                                          Yay! I hope you continue to see improvements with the little guy.

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

                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Don’t know what’s wrong!