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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.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Help! Do I need to take bun to E.R or wait ’til tomorrow?

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    • meow1
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        Just went in to change Sunny’s litter and hay, water, etc as I do every night and he is not acting right. The last time I saw him was this morning and he was happy and normal. I didn’t really see him throughout the day (now I wish I would have!), but I did hear him in there moving things around earlier.

        he is laying in a loaf position but with his front paws out. When i fame in he did drink some water, but he wasn’t excited for his hay change, papaya fruit plus or pellets which was weird, and he didn’t want any banana which is very concerning…..but is it concerning enough to go to the er vet tonight which is like 30 mins away, or can i wait until the morning and see how his is and take himto his regular vet if need be? I can also check on him through the night (he also has a cam on him so i can just get on my ioad and look at him)…

        if this doesn’t warrant an ER vet, what do I need to look for in the meantime, or at what point do I need to take him? Thanks!


      • meow1
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          He is still laying in the same spot. I haven’t tried to make him move yet.  As you can see the water bowl is close so he didn’t have to move far when he got a drink earlier.  


        • mocha200
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            Will he eat anything for you? Try many different things to try to get him to eat. is there any loud gurgling noises? soft gurgling every so often when you put your ear to them is normal, but loud gurgles or no sound at isn’t normal. Do you own any simethicone (baby gas drops) or Critical Care? If you have simethicone try giving him 1-2 cc every hours for 3 hours and after that 1 every 8 hours. Try stomach massages too! Some rabbits will perk up after this, but if he doesn’t seem to get better after a few hours I would take him in!


          • mocha200
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              Does his belly look like jelly-ish? That’s what Lulu looks like when she gets gass.


            • meow1
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                As soon as he moved, I started recording. See what he does. BTW, he never pees outside his litterbox, I know this was a mistake/accident:
                http://youtu.be/nZPIKAKo0NY


              • meow1
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                  Posted By mocha200 on 04/05/2013 07:08 PM

                  Will he eat anything for you? Try many different things to try to get him to eat. is there any loud gurgling noises? soft gurgling every so often when you put your ear to them is normal, but loud gurgles or no sound at isn’t normal. Do you own any simethicone (baby gas drops) or Critical Care? If you have simethicone try giving him 1-2 cc every hours for 3 hours and after that 1 every 8 hours. Try stomach massages too! Some rabbits will perk up after this, but if he doesn’t seem to get better after a few hours I would take him in!

                  I can’t get him to eat anything. I do not have any of the stuff you mentioned. I do not notice sounds but i haven’t been to close to him. I will try to listen. 


                • meow1
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                    I think hejust ate a cecal, too, so i know he has had two poop pellets, has peed, drank, and i think eaten a cecal since coming in here….


                  • meow1
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                      Can parsley give them gas? He had a little more parsley than normal last night.


                    • mocha200
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                        He probably peed in the wrong spot because he isn’t feeling well. How close are you to a store? if your close you could run and get some gas drops! I would try stomach massages too! How I do it is I put my bunny on a towel on a counter and gently lift her hind end up and start massaging her stomach. eventually she would relax and let her hind legs hang and i would here gurgling (gas) moving in her stomach. It can really help. Again, if it doesn’t get better in a few hours take him in!


                      • Deleted User
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                          From my knowledge and limited experience you are safe giving him symethicone. It is available as GasX and can be bought at any pharmacy/drugstore. It won’t hurt him since it isn’t absorbed into the blood stream and if it is a simple gas problem it should make him feel better, or help him hang on until morning. (If you are interested let me know I’ll look up the info I have on precise dosage.) After the dose you should gently massage his belly for a few minutes. (Massage isn’t a bad idea anyway, … I usually found the more tolerant and/or welcoming of a massage my little one was the worse his problem was.) You should check his body temperature too, make sure it stays around normal, getting chilled is a bad sign and you’ll want to help him if that happens.

                          Has he been shedding lately? It might be possible he has a fur ball.

                          I know all rabbits are different, and some don’t like handling but mine always preferred to be held in my lap when he wasn’t feeling well.

                          If he is moving etc. I would be inclined to wait until morning but be ready to go right away if necessary, … but that really is me and I’m not there, … I’m sure you are right to keep a close eye on him, and hopefully more experienced members will be giving you more advice shortly. Best of luck!


                        • mocha200
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                            This is a really good thing to read!
                            http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html


                          • mocha200
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                              The dosage for Simethicon is 1-2 cc (20mg/ml suspension)


                            • Deleted User
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                                Mocha is right about tilting his hind quarters up while massaging, makes passing the gas easier. You can also roll the towel abit to hold up his bottom and let his legs relax over the roll, makes the massaging more comfortable for both of you. My rabbit and I preferred for him to be in my lap while he was rubbed, but the important thing is to keep him as calm and comfortable as possible and give him the rub.


                              • Deleted User
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                                  Symethicone is also in a tablet (GasX) that can be dissolved, and if my memory serves the suggested dose for it is one 125 gram tablet in two cc (or ml) of water. My rabbit was a small dwarf so I gave him 80 grams.


                                • meow1
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                                    I am having someone pick up simethicone and bringing it to me now.


                                  • meow1
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                                      Is there any way I can hurt him more by massaging his tummy? Mocha, do you have a video of an example of a tummy massage?


                                    • meow1
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                                        Posted By Grey Dove on 04/05/2013 07:35 PM

                                        From my knowledge and limited experience you are safe giving him symethicone. It is available as GasX and can be bought at any pharmacy/drugstore. It won’t hurt him since it isn’t absorbed into the blood stream and if it is a simple gas problem it should make him feel better, or help him hang on until morning. (If you are interested let me know I’ll look up the info I have on precise dosage.) After the dose you should gently massage his belly for a few minutes. (Massage isn’t a bad idea anyway, … I usually found the more tolerant and/or welcoming of a massage my little one was the worse his problem was.) You should check his body temperature too, make sure it stays around normal, getting chilled is a bad sign and you’ll want to help him if that happens.

                                        Has he been shedding lately? It might be possible he has a fur ball.

                                        I know all rabbits are different, and some don’t like handling but mine always preferred to be held in my lap when he wasn’t feeling well.

                                        If he is moving etc. I would be inclined to wait until morning but be ready to go right away if necessary, … but that really is me and I’m not there, … I’m sure you are right to keep a close eye on him, and hopefully more experienced members will be giving you more advice shortly. Best of luck!

                                        I have never checked temperature, and if i have to stick a thermometer in his rear, i am too scared. Not that it is “nasty” or anything, but because i would be afriad of hurting himor something, and i don’t have a rectal thermometer, i don’t think.


                                      • meow1
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                                          Sorry if I overlooked this but how soon after giving the medication should I try to massage? Should I try to massage before the medication? Also, how soon after the medication and/or massage should I see improvement? I hope someone will be on here for a while to help me out.lol


                                        • Deleted User
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                                            First, have you ever dosed him with a syringe before? And second, it would be a good idea to give him some water about a half hour after the symethicone, … via syringe if he doesn’t drink, hydration is important!

                                            I’d suggest trying to rub your palms with your thumbs if you want an idea of the pressure to apply. You want to press firmly enough that you aren’t just tickling him and are doing some good, but not so hard that it causes any additional discomfort. I usually rubbed in arcs from his stomach towards his haunches.

                                            I didn’t mean take his temp that way, … I’ll pass on that too! Touch his body and his ears, if his ears are cool see if you can warm them by gently stroking them, if not you may want to put a towel over him.

                                            It won’t hurt to start massaging right away, but definitely Right After the dose you should rub for several minutes.

                                            I’ll be around so yell if you need me for the next bit.


                                          • mocha200
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                                              Message after giving the Simethicone. Right away is fine. I don’t have a video of it, but I will go look and see if someone else does!


                                            • meow1
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                                                No i have never used a syringe on him, but i have with my dog. The person bringing me the medicinesays it comes with a dropper. S how long should i massage?


                                              • meow1
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                                                  He just hopped across to his water dish!! Monitoring him closely!,, you will be getting play-by-plays, so sorry if I annoy anyone! Lol


                                                • meow1
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                                                    Drinking lots of water, and there are several poos where he was laying!


                                                  • mocha200
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                                                      This is off of the website that I linked:
                                                      A. Abdominal massage.

                                                      One of the single most effective ways to stimulate a lazy gut into action is with gentle massage. Place the bunny on a secure countertop on a towel (or in your lap, if the bunny feels secure there), making sure he can’t jump down and hurt himself. With your hands and fingertips, gently massage the abdomen. Knead as deeply as the bunny will allow, but back off immediately if he expresses pain. We have found that gently lifting the rabbit’s hindquarters a few inches (with the bunny’s head safely tucked into the massager’s elbow, and the spine firmly supported) helps gas to pass more easily, and seems to be comforting to the bunny. Once s/he gets over the initial surprise of being held this way, a rabbit will often allow his/her legs to droop in comfort and relief as the massage helps gas pockets move towards the exit.
                                                      A rabbit’s internal organs are very delicate; care must be taken to avoid bruising them and making the situation worse. After a bit of manual massage, try an electric vibrating massager. This seems to be as effective as manual massage, and it’s worthwhile to invest in some type of massager with a large, flat surface that can be held against the bunny’s tummy for relatively long periods. Press the massager firmly against the abdomen, start on low and work your way higher. The bunny may be a bit taken aback at first, but almost every bunny on whom we’ve tried massage has settled down and enjoyed the soothing vibrations. In addition to stimulating the muscles, the massage seems to help break up gas bubbles and ease colic. Massage as long and as often as the bunny will allow and enjoy.


                                                    • Deleted User
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                                                        Well the dropper will let you skip the dissolving which is good!

                                                        Ummm, how big is your dog? Sorry but having dosed sizes from toy Poodles to eighty pound Shepherds I know there’s a big difference. My seven pound Yorky does have a lot in common with dosing my rabbit, the bigger dogs are a breeze and I’d rather do them any day.

                                                        You might want to wrap him in a towel, chances are he’ll give your hands a good push at the critical moment, … not to mention what those little claws can do to wrists.


                                                      • meow1
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                                                          I have a165 pound great dane lol


                                                        • meow1
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                                                            I have the medicine now the dropper is for .3 ml and .6 ml. I also have an oral syringe that has 1-10 ml, so i will need to do some adjusting.


                                                          • mocha200
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                                                              I have a video on syringe feeding. You want to avoid having them on their backs when you syringe feed because of aspiration so I do have to cut that part out of my video. I should have held her more upright.

                                                              Stick the syringe in the gap between their front teeth and back molars.


                                                            • mocha200
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                                                                looked up online and 1 cc = 1 ml. Maybe you already new that!


                                                              • meow1
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                                                                  I haven’t hiven the medicine yet, but his mood seems to be a little better. Still hasn’t eaten.


                                                                • mocha200
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                                                                    Have you tried fresh veggies/herbs? I would try some massages too! Massage as long as he seems to want it!


                                                                  • Deleted User
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                                                                      A massage definitely can’t hurt, and touch might reassure him if he isn’t feeling well.


                                                                    • meow1
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                                                                        Good news, he is doing much much better! I think he was doing a little better before the med (husband made me give it to him, i wanted to wait a little longer and watch him lol) i held him and massaged his belly while he gave him the medicine. I held and massaged for about a minute longer then when i sat down, he jumped out of my arms. He is being is spoiled self right jow. Only took one nibble of a treat so far but he is uopping around and diggin in me!


                                                                      • meow1
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                                                                          Now he is eating his cottontail cottage….can eating too much cardboard be bad? If so, how do we know how much is too much? How do we know how much cardboards our huns eat?


                                                                        • Deleted User
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                                                                            Fantastic!

                                                                            That isn’t a bad med to have on hand, … I’ll never not have it in my cupboard again! Give him a pet for me.


                                                                          • meow1
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                                                                              I most definitely hear belly gurgling sounds now


                                                                            • meow1
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                                                                                Jackpot: he is eating! Thank you both for all of your help!


                                                                              • mocha200
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                                                                                  That’s great! Eating cardboard is fine! (unless he only eats that for the rest of his life! Just Kidding!) Glad he is feeling better! the drops could have perked him up a bit too! they will cause no harm. so don’t worry, even if he didn’t need them it doesn’t hurt!


                                                                                • Bam
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                                                                                    Great to hear he’s doing better! My bunny had a bout of the same thing a couple of weeks ago, I got great help from this forum.
                                                                                    Then he started moulting sth furious, someone here told me her rabbit gets extra-sensitive during moulting. I kept up the tummy-rubs (15 min every 2 hours) and simethicone for an extra day since he seemed to like the tummy-rubs. (He did NOT like the simethicone though, but I gave him no choice.) He’s been fine ever since but he looks seriously mangy right now due to his heavy shedding.

                                                                                    I love this forum. Such great help you all give to people with sick bunnies =))


                                                                                  • meow1
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                                                                                      You are right Bam, this is a wonderful place full of helpful people!! Sunny is doing great today, back to his normal self!! Thanks for helping me through my first major crisis (major to me anyway)! Now I know what to try if this happens again before panicking!


                                                                                    • mocha200
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                                                                                        Don’t worry! I freak out everytime lulu gets stasis. The first two I managed on my own with gas drops but the last time I had to take her into the vet. I freak out over the littlest things with my rabbits.

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                                                                                    Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Help! Do I need to take bun to E.R or wait ’til tomorrow?