Pnemonia :(

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Hey guys,

I know it’s been a while again. I go through spurts about being really good about getting on here and then have an absence. I got some bad news today Comet was kind of lethargic this morning and sounded a little congested. When I picked him up he started breathing through his mouth and his gums didn’t look pink like they should…I took him to the vet right away and they did a chest x-ray and confirmed that he has pnemonia. They said I caught it early and that he’s otherwise looking good, healthy belly, eating, pooping, no fever, etc. They are starting him on anti-biotics and are going to have me come in for follow-up and just keep a close eye on him. They said that they are always cautious with prognosis in a bunny with pnemonia…but that we caught it early. I’m worried Anybody been through this before?

[Monkeybun]

Oh no! Poor Comet

I haven’t had any experience with pneumonia and bunnies, so I can’t really help. But I can send get well vibes!

[Sarita]

Not personally but I know of rabbits that have been diagnosed with pneumonia. I imagine it always would be a caution as it is a serious infection.

I’m glad you took him in – breathing through the mouth is always a sign for caution.

Vibes to Comet.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Thanks for the good vibes. He seems to be doing okay otherwise…ate his veggies like a champ and is being pretty active tonight (I brought home a new cube thing for them to play in). He likes the acidophilus they put him on with the anti-biotics too, sucked it right out of the syringe. I’m hoping we can fight this off! I read today that sometimes having a healthy bonded friend helps a sick bunny so I’m glad he has Chubs (who is showing no signs at all of being sick). Keep sending good vibes!

[Binx86]

Sending good vibes to Comet!! Havent been there myself but one of my boys has chronic snuffles due to poor vet action so I can sympathize with the sick bunny worries. And I whole heartedly believe that a bonded companion helps with healing, so Comet is double lucky having Chubs and you! Stay positive!
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[RabbitPam]

I’m so sorry he’s sick, but you were really great to take action at the first sign of his being a bit off.
Might want to ask your vet if there is anything you should be doing for Chubs to prevent catching it, or to strengthen Chubs while being a helpmate.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Healing Vibes for Comet}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[tobyluv]

I hope that the medication will take hold quickly and that Comet will be well soon.

[MimzMum]

Poor Comet! (((((((((Healing vibes + stay well vibes for Chubs))))))))
Good on you for catching it quickly. I’ll keep you in my prayers that Comet’s recovery is swift and complete.
I know what you mean about keeping up on here. It’s hard for me too!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m very sorry to hear Comet is sick. Sending him many (((((Get Well)))))) Vibes.

[tanlover14]

Sending get well vibes to the bun! I’ve also never had to deal with this and hope I never do. I hate when my buns are even a little off (and knock on wood) haven’t had anything to worry about besides a slightly banged up leg (limped for a few days before walking back to normal) and their spay and neuter.

[Quantum]

Poor guy! Sending good vibes for a fast mend and many nose rubs.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Thanks everyone…

We went back to the vet today because he was still sounding just awful to me. They did a nebulizer treatment on him and had me start injectable Baytril. (Well they gave him one and told me to start it tonight.) When I got home from work tonight though, he was pretty listless, hadn’t eaten, and his poos were in funny sticky groups..so I called the vet at home (because she is amazing and gives clients her home number when needed) and she had me not give him his 2nd dose of Baytril tonight and instead to give him some of the injectable Reglan I have on hand from January when he had the stasis episode. He had that about 45 minutes ago and seems to be feeling a tiny bit better now…he’s kinda sprawled out instead of sitting hunched over and he came out of his hidey box. When I just tried to get him to eat he took a tiny nibble from me…

I’m pretty worried. He is being very intolerant of me giving him any meds (even the ones I know he likes like acidopholus) orally and not everything can be injectable. He is still breathing pretty rattlely and any not eating for Comet is not good. He is my piglet who never ever turns down food. Please continue sending healing vibes!

[Binx86]

Sending TONS of healing vibes! The fiance even showed concern and threw in some too! Is Chubs still keeping his buddy company too?

[Sarita]

More vibes coming you way!

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Yeah Chubs is still snuggling with him and grooming him and stuff. He seems a tiny bit better this morning…ate some pellets when I gave them. (Not many, which is still not normal for him but some which I think is good.) He has a second dose of Reglan coming very shortly here.

[bunnyfriend]

I am so sorry that your bunny is sick. Lots of healing vibes! Hopefully he is doing better.

[Quantum]

More good vibes heading Comet-wards! Please let us know how he’s doing.

[BinkyBunny]

Continued vibes! Keep us updated.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Update for the day: He seems to be doing better tonight as far as his tummy goes. He was excited to eat pellets at dinner and is currently munching on some hay. The vet had me stop the Baytril until his tummy was much better so I am guessing I will be starting that up again tomorrow after I talk with her, probably in combination with the Reglan. I’m still worried because the infection is obviously still there and is what he needs the Baytril for…he is also not tolerating oral meds, AT ALL. When he was sick before, we got a pretty good system down with giving them and he was great about it but not now. He fights me hard and lets anything I give him dribble down his face without ingesting any of it. The stress of all that gets him breathing hard which obviously isn’t good with the pnemonia. So…hoping the Baytril and Reglan can do some good on their own as they are the only injectable stuff that I can make sure he is getting! Thanks for all the vibes, please keep em coming!

While I am here and trying to keep these guys as stress free as possible right now…any good ideas for keeping them nice and cool when it’s pretty warm? No AC in my apartment so I keep a fan going in here all the time which keeps it cooler than the rest of the house..I have also been wetting a pillow case completely in the morning so they have a cool place to lay. They seem to like that. I was giving them an ice pack to lay by too but they ignore that.

Oh! He just did a flop…that’s gotta be good right?? At least he isn’t hurting too much. I just wish he was breathing easier! I’m worried about starting the Baytril again. Poor guy!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad to hear Comet is still acting pretty normal. ((((continued healing vibes)))))

To help keep them cool, you can mist their ears with water or do a “bunny turban” with a damp washcloth. Or try putting a fan in front of a frozen water bottle and have the air blow into their cage.

[RabbitPam]

You could also freeze water in a bottle (like Coke etc.) and drape the cool pillow case over that, so it stays cool if they prefer that to leaning against plastic.

Just checking on one detail: do you inject the oral meds into the side of his mouth? They easily refuse it from the front (turn away quickly) but if you can hold his shoulders still, you might be able to insert the syringe behind a back tooth and have less dribble and more in his mouth. Slowly, but it works better for me.

[Binx86]

Flops are good! For cooling stuff, my boys currently have 3 bottles of ice that they snuggle up to. One is a big ocean spray bottle, the other two are soda bottles. The ocean spray bottle is sitting on it side between their bed and food dishes (they lick this one when it starts sweating because the water is nice and cool). The soda bottles are wrapped in a small blanket behind the bed and they actually cuddle those a bit. On another level the have some ceramic tiles with a blanket over the that I had in the freezer, they lay on those. The blanket is good so they’re not laying directly on the cold surface. We don’t have AC either, well we do but it doesn’t work. Hope this helps!

(((((((((((more vibes for Comet!!))))))))))))

[MimzMum]

First…((((((((((((megahealingvibes))))))))))))))) for Comet!
I notice when it’s hot and my rabbits are ill that is two heavy strikes against them when it comes to eating or cooperating at medicine time. Your vet knows best how to handle it and I’ve only ever given oral baytril to my bunnies, but my guess is that the sooner Comet gets regular doses of his antibiotic the sooner he can begin to feel better.

It never works immediately for me…it’s always a couple of doses in that I see change.
If the baytril continues to mess with his gut perhaps there are others that can be tried. Long pauses between administration of the drug can up the chance of the bug becoming resistant.
Adding on some (((((((((((please, Comet, take your meds)))))))))))) vibes as well.
We’re battling heat and humidity here so Mimzy, who has had headtilt for a month, is not doing great right now. But he’s still fighting and as long as Comet is even a little interested in food then he’s fighting too.
Has he had any sub q fluids? Those could make a big difference in how he feels within himself. The heat will be draining his body of fluid as well.
I hope he improves soon. (((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))) Hang in there!

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the vibes! Comet seems to be doing somewhat better. He has now had 2 doses of the injectable Baytril (with the Reglan) and he seems to be tolerating it now. He happily ate his breakfast this morning and he is currently sprawled out relaxing. It’s cooler today too so I’m sure they appreciate that. It hasn’t been insanely hot here…80s but that’s hot for Portland and hot for these guys anyway. I really like the idea of the cool tiles, that’s a good one I might need to steal. Comet especially loves laying on tiled surfaces when it’s warm, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! I will have to go pick some up.

He is still not allowing oral meds which means no acidopholus. (We developed a good system when he was sick before so I got pretty comfortable giving him meds but even from the side, he is fighting them hard. The vet has decided that we should let that go for now because when I try, he gets very stressed and that’s when he seems to be affected the most in his breathing. Since we really don’t want that, we’re just sticking to the injectable Baytril and Reglan right now.

Keep the vibes comin! Oh and I hope Mimzy gets better too!! ((((healing vibes)))) for her!

[Binx86]

I’m so glad to hear he’s feeling better, or at least seeming like he is! From what your saying it certainly sound like he is. I would kill for weather in the 80’s right now! Here in Minnesota it’s been 90+ with humidity just as high and the heat index has been peaking at 115, it’s horrible. I stuck their bed, the one from the store, in the freezer earlier too and it stayed cool for about 6 hours after being in there for only an hour. Both the boys were sprawled out and snoozing on it! So there’s another idea if you have a small bed for them.

It’s good that you’re stopping the oral meds for now since he’s fighting the so hard. When Groucho developed the snuffles I had to give him meds and at first he was ok, when he started fighting it we slipped it into some mashed papaya and banana, but he learned to recognize it and that as well and the vet urged me to try the oral syringe again. I regret that deeply. Through the forcing of the meds he changed so much, he never used to grunt at me before the meds but now he does and he fights and claws when I try to trim his nails because it’s close to the same position I gave him meds in, but the only way I can get him to sit still for me to do it. But the vet I also saw at first said he was familiar with rabbits but I seriously doubt he is. It sounds like you have an awesome vet though that knows what their talking about!

(((((((((((((continued awesome healing vibes for Comet!)))))))))))))

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Thank you! That’s sad about forcing the meds having changed him Comet nipped me at he vet’s office which he has NEVER done. He is my sweet sweet boy who has never shown any aggression whatsoever. I was okay with it though because if he has that much attitude, he’s feeling better than he was at his worst when he felt so bad he didn’t fight me at all. On another note, the heat there sounds awful! I lived in MN all through college and the humidity in the summer is ick. lol I’m an Oregon girl and high 80s is hot for here in Portland!

I know Comet would eat anything I mixed with banana but…the sugar in that can upset his tummy too so, we decided that just the most necessary stuff be given now and that’s the anti-biotics and Reglan.

[Quantum]

Comet sounds like he’s feeling a bit better–flops are good!.

I bet his personality hasn’t changed, he just feels sick, got taken to the vet’s and is in a temporary bad mood. And I’ll second you on heat being “ick”–I’m a Washington State girl.

ETA: Good bunny vibes continuing from Mike, Nibs and me.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Comet seems to be responding well to his medicine. His breathing is much better. I’m thinking Chubs had a lot to do with it too, he’s so loving towards him! Also have a great vet Thank you for all the healing vibes! Here’s a cute picture from tonight

[Monkeybun]

Yay! Glad he is doing better. Having somebunny to lean on helps

[Sarita]

So glad he is better! Continued healing vibes to Comet.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Great to hear he is doing better. What an adorable pic!

[Binx86]

Yay, Comet! Your vet is awesome, and so is Chubs for being so supportive! So glad youndidnt have to go through anything I did with Groucho, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

And having lived in MN all my life I’m used to this horrible thing we call summer, constant 80’s would be heaven! (note the space case back to an old topic because I never noticed your reply last time. :p)

(((((((Continued vibes for Comet for a complete recovery!!))))))))

[tanlover14]

Thank goodness! And those buns are adorable! So cuddly and furry! Continued healing vibes for your little Comet!

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