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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 Yet Another GI Stasis Question… But A Little Different

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    • BelarusianBunny
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         Hello, 

        First, I will state that I’m aware this is a common issue and I apologize.  I’m at my last straw so I thought I would ask here.

        I have a 10 year old Netherland Dwarf chinichilla gray little guy.  After his big Dutch ladyfriend passed away, he is my world.  

        This is the third day that he is having issues eating and pooping,  I am not a rookie with this as I’ve cared for rabbits so this is not a primary question of “what should I do?”  outright.  First of all, I called our only semi-rabbit savvy vet.  I explained the situation; I was informed to call back on Monday since they are booked.  Secondly, I did what I always do.  I pulled his pellets and left him with hay.  No luck.  I gave him back his pellets and in the middle of the night, I caught him pecking on some.  Since he has not been eating, I’ve been syringe feeding him Oxbow Critical Care.  He is a very picky rabbit and all his life, he has not eaten any greens.  So, after him pecking on pellets, eating some hay and the Critical Care, he is still not making poop.  My husband believes that the bunny has made perhaps ten small pellets and “maybe” caught him eating poop this morning.  I did not see it for myself and my husband isn’t too involved with the rabbit so this is why I say “maybe”.

        He ate a treat so he still has interest for those.  He continues to groom himself constantly and he is peeing.  I know for a fact since he peed on me as he was syringe fed.

        I am very worried as someone mentioned to me this is “the end” since he is elderly and things are slowing down.  He is bright eyed and alert so this breaks my heart at the thought of this.  He hops very well also.

        So, after what I have done, what is the next step?  I know the vet could provide hydration if he chooses to but that is out of the question until Monday.  I am at a loss of what to do.  I will continue to feed Critical Care in the meantime.

        Sorry for my English.  I know it is rushed.


      • Sarita
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        18851 posts Send Private Message

          Did the vet look at his teeth? THat would be my first thought at his age and the fact he is a dwarf.


        • BelarusianBunny
          Participant
          81 posts Send Private Message

            Hello and thank you for the reply,

            We spoke concerning the teeth at my bunny’s last appointment. When my rabbit was younger and we lived elsewhere, he had his teeth looked after. This is important to me. The current vet informed me that due to the anesthesia for a dental exam and processes, he would not complete this. He said my rabbit’s age and weight (2 pounds) would make this a tricky process for him.

            I can imagine his teeth have sharp edges now but I do not know another course of action.

            He has began to eat over night. I’ve seen him eat willingly and good portions in late evening and in the middle of the night. Yet, his droppings are few.


          • Deleted User
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            22064 posts Send Private Message

              I’m not terribly experienced (as I’m about to demonstrate), but I did have one thought; I did not know about rabbit’s teeth and was very lucky that my first rabbit never had any problems. Going over the past (and all my mistakes) I’ve concluded that one reason why we were spared this problem was I always provided cardboard coffee cups (and toilet paper rolls too, but they are thinner) for him to play with. The coffee cups I gave to him have a very heavy edge around the bottom and he’d chew them off. All of which is to say perhaps since your little one is bright eyed and interested maybe you could offer him something appealing but tough to chew that might help where down his teeth? I know it isn’t a solution but sounds as though its worth trying anything simple if it might help and won’t hurt.

              A tummy massage never hurts either of course, … just in case it isn’t all the teeth.

              Sorry you have an unresponsive vet, that is very frustrating! There isn’t any other vet you could go to, or even call?

              Best of luck and please let us know how he does. I’ll be thinking of you both!


            • Sarita
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                I would have the vet do bloodwork – I have had many 10 year old rabbits go under anesthesia successfully for dental trims but my vet is very confident and perhaps your vet is not so confident.

                Many rabbits at this age develop spurs due to lose of bone density due to age and there isn’t a whole lot that you can do because the teeth are shifting – it’s age related and not related to anything else.


              • Stickerbunny
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                4128 posts Send Private Message

                  Are there any rabbit rescues around you? Sometimes they will have contacts for dental work.


                • BelarusianBunny
                  Participant
                  81 posts Send Private Message

                    Thank you all for the replies.

                    Yes, Sarita, I believe the vet is not as comfortable as yours. However, I will take you advice for the bloodwork. Perhaps it is age with my rabbit and he is simply slowing down. Sadly, Stickerbunny, there are no proper rabbit rescues around. But yes, your suggestion is very helpful. Those places are usually the first I would contact. GreyDove, thank you for the thoughts and yes, we have been massaging his belly.

                    He eats a lot. We have seen him eating very much at night. He eats his hay in the morning and chews his pellets very well at night. Furthermore, he begged for one of his bunny treats last night. For two days, he pooped very well. Moist, dark and big pellets. And now, after all the eating, he is not pooping again,

                    We are still supplementing his diet with Critical Care. Instead of round the clock feeding, it is done only once or twice to make up for the weight he lost when he was not eating on his own those days.


                  • LittlePuffyTail
                    Moderator
                    18092 posts Send Private Message

                      I hope your little man is feeling better soon.


                    • tanlover14
                      Participant
                      3617 posts Send Private Message

                        If it is his teeth, you could water down his pellets into a fluffy mush. It may be much easier for him to eat himself. Without having to do the stress of CC.

                        Vibes for your little man!


                      • BelarusianBunny
                        Participant
                        81 posts Send Private Message

                          Thank you, thank you for the good thoughts for my little rabbit.

                          I feel as though after two “good” days, we’ve taken a step back. After eating food on his own, today, this did not happen. I followed your suggestion tanlover14 and I moistened his food. There is no luck with regular pellets or the moistened. There is no interest today in eating. He is still alert and he puts up a good fight.

                          The vet’s office doesn’t open for maybe 6 hours and I am awake now, ready to call, and staying awake to get this done.


                        • Elrohwen
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                            Good luck to your bunny! At the least I would get fluids so that he doesn’t get dehydrated, though I’m sure the CC helps with that.

                            It does sound like teeth to me. Is there another exotic vet in your area that is more comfortable with the procedure?


                          • BelarusianBunny
                            Participant
                            81 posts Send Private Message

                              The good news is that we have an appointment with a very good exotic vet.

                              The bad news is that it is Thursday at the soonest.

                              But yes, I believe at this point it must be the teeth. I will keep him hydrated and fed until we get some help. Thank you all for the comments.


                            • Sarita
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                              18851 posts Send Private Message

                                Please keep us updated on your little one – I know you are worried.


                              • BelarusianBunny
                                Participant
                                81 posts Send Private Message

                                  Hello again.

                                  I thought I would give an update on my bunny. I thank you all again for your best wishes for him.

                                  Yesterday, in the middle of the afternoon, he decided to eat again. All on his own. Since that time, he has continued to eat normally. He goes to the bathroom very well now.

                                  I kept the vet appointment because he was still not himself. I am glad I kept the vet appointment because my Dima (my rabbit) became off balance. It got worse very quickly. He did not show signs of any ear infection or mites. But, he had a problem with snuffles since he was dropped us at night for us to care for him. (He was an abandoned rabbit.)

                                  The vet was very good and gentle with him. All of the vitals are good. His teeth are good. The vet is treating it as a bacterial infection. We have Baytril and Metacam as the usual drugs. He will see the rabbit in a week.

                                  At home, yes, Dima is very much off balance but his personality and attitude is already very much brighter than he has been. I cannot wait for the Baytril to begin to work so he can happy and stable.


                                • Deleted User
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                                  22064 posts Send Private Message

                                    So happy he is eating again and that the vet’s visit was also productive. I expect he’ll be back to his bouncy self soon, … great for both of you. Thanks for the update!


                                  • tanlover14
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                                    3617 posts Send Private Message

                                      Happy to hear he is doing better !

                                      ((Continued vibes for your boy!))


                                    • BelarusianBunny
                                      Participant
                                      81 posts Send Private Message

                                        Thank you tanlover14 and Grey Dove for the thoughts.

                                        I hope he can regain the weight he has lost. It is so very sad to feel him very skinny. It is early in the treatment and I need patience. It is difficult when you love a little furry thing so very much and to see them this way.


                                      • tanlover14
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                                        3617 posts Send Private Message

                                          It is very difficult – one of my buns went into stasis for the first time a month or two ago and it was just terrible.

                                          Sending vibes for you also as I know this is probably incredibly stressful for you as well.

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                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Yet Another GI Stasis Question… But A Little Different