When to stop syringe feeding?

[Irina]

My 3 month old Bun Butterscotch was fixed on Monday. He had a hard time recovering from anaesthesia. He did not eat or drink for 24 hours and so was started on OxBow critical care and syringe feeding Gatorade for 2 days. This afternoon he started eating a little hay and ate some spirea twigs, dandelion greens and grass. He started sipping water on his own out if his bowl too. This is all great, including that he is getting his energy back. However, he is using his strength to fight the syringe feeds and water. He is refusing so strongly that I am afraid I would hurt him if I forced it. I don’t think he us eating/drinking enough though. When he did not eat/drink after surgery he was severely dehydrated and had renal failure and seizures as a result. I don’t want him to get dehydrated again, but I also don’t want to hurt him or stress him. I was feeding him 4-5 times/day for the past 2 days. Should I make a bunny burrito and force it, or just watch how he does?

[mia]

I’d try half a day to a day and watch like a hawk to see if he eats/drinks his normal amount. If he’s not eating/drinking normal, you should go back to forcing but maybe you could try to cut down the number of times you are doing that. Have you tried something better tasting so he won’t struggle as much?

[LBJ10]

I agree, you have to give them a chance to get hungry. So ease up on the force feeding for a little bit and watch to see if he eats something. If not, then you’ll know you need to keep going.

[Deleted User]

You could try giving just plain water by syringe and (as has been suggested) give him a chance to eat on his own. Not getting dehydrated is the big concern and a little extra water won’t hurt.

May I ask, did your vet recommend the Gater aid? I know its good for humans who aren’t well but hadn’t yet heard of it being used for rabbits. Either way, if he’s showing signs of coming round on his own I’d drop back to some plain fresh water and observe closely how he does. You can always feed him again if necessary. Maybe put out a few of his favourite greens (well wetted) to see if they tempt him into eating more.

Best of luck, and so hoping he keeps getting better and better!!! Please keep us all posted.

[Irina]

I think I will watch and see as suggested. I did mix the Oxbow with applesauce yesterday to encourage him, but mo go.While he was sick it was pretty easy to give it to him- even without the applesauce-he sucked it up!

The Gatorade was advised by my vet. I did not know you could use it in rabbits either. He recommended it so we could replace some if the electrolytes and help deal with the kidney failure.

Someone on EtherBun advised canned pumpkin to help Butterscotch eat more. Has anybody used that?

Also, since he is only 3 months old, I have not given him a lot of greens. I was told to with until after 4 months- but I guess if he us not eating pellets, I need to give him something else aside from hay. Any suggestions for well liked greens?

[Deleted User]

How is it going today?

I’ve bought a tin of pumpkin but haven’t gotten around to trying to give it to mine, however, I’ve read many members descriptions of how much their rabbits enjoy pumpkin. It is a fruit so you wouldn’t want to over do it (especially given that he is so young and hasn’t had these things before, … sorry, didn’t remember how young he was last night), but from all I understand there wouldn’t be any harm in offering him a spoonful.

A lot of people start their rabbits on greens with Romain lettuce, leaf or green lettuce might be other choices. (Never Iceburg) But this probably isn’t the best moment to give him so many new foods. It isn’t recommended that more then one new food is introduced at a time, simply because if one doesn’t go down well its good to know right away which it was that caused the problem and simply avoid it in future. And since you are coping with other problems right now I’d try to wait on starting the greens (in addition to the apple sauce and possibly the pumpkin) until he is back to normal.

That’s really interesting about the Gatorade, … same reasons doctors tell people to drink it, good to know!

Really hope he’s been eating and has turned the corner.

[Irina]

Hello Grey Dove! Thank you for your insights. Butterscotch seems to be better today- munching a bit of hay, grass and dandelion greens. Also drinking water- but no
Pellet intake yet. He let me give him 15mls water via syringe- I think he thought it was a game! He is more interactive, grooming himself a lot, and giving me lots of kisses. I agree about not introducing much new now… But it’s good to know what the options are. Do you know anything about what shrubs/twigs bunnies can have? I know apple trees- what about crabapple or burning bush or dappled willow? Looking for things I can take out if my garden that will be good for him to chew (over the next while… Not right now!)
Thanks again for the support! It is nice to know there are others who love their bunnies as much and who get really worried when they are not well!

[Deleted User]

Irina, That is Fantastic news!!! From what I’ve read pellets are the last thing they go back to eating so I wouldn’t worry about that, … maybe think of it as the sign that you are most likely out of the woods when he gets happy about his pellets.

The dandelion greens are great, … I’d thought you’d said something that made me think he was eating greens. My apologies, I was in a hurry to write back to you and didn’t take the time to reread all your posts, and I’m not sure now if that was in this thread or the other one you had. For now I’d make sure you leave the dandelion very wet when you give it to him, that will help with the hydration. Glad he liked the plain water.

Whether or not crabapple is safe to eat is a question I’ve been wanting answered for some time. If you don’t get a direct response I think I’ll ask it as a specific topic. I’d be cautious with willow, I know willow twigs are safe but I’ve no idea which kind of willow it is, I’ve only bought mine and I’d rather stick to doing it that way, … feels safer. Roses, and leaves from rose bushes are fine, so are leaves from a lot of berry bushes such as raspberry, black currant and strawberry. Mine love broccoli leaves as much as they do the actual broccoli. Herbs are good, but I’d be reluctant to try more ornamental type shrubs. Usually they eat plants that we eat (or ate, roses were indeed a common food at one time and actually belong to the same family as the apple and strawberry plants), so while just because it is safe for us doesn’t make it safe for them I’d definitely work it the other way, if we shouldn’t eat it they shouldn’t. (Should has nothing to do with appeal, we could eat broccoli leaves and carrot tops, just in our wasteful ways we don’t. My personal theory is that too many people eat based on what is visually appealing to them rather then anything to do with the actual food, … but I digress.)

I’m posting the link to my favourite page on this topic below. The article has very helpful information for planning a well balanced rabbit diet (keep in mind that your requirements will be a little different for the next few months, but this will help you start planning, know what you are working up to), and the lists of suggested greens, vegetables and fruits is helpful. And always, ask if you have a question, … never hurts!
http://rabbit.org/suggested-vegetables-and-fruits-for-a-rabbit-diet/

Please let me know how Butterscotch does in the next couple of days, I want to hear he is all better!!!
Hugs to both your darlings, so happy they are looking forward to a happy healthy home together. And congratulations on getting through your first crisis so well, … extra hard when something that is supposed to be routine takes you by surprise that way. I hope it was a confidence building experience, and that you don’t need to draw on any of your newly acquired skills for many years to come.

[manic_muncher]

I’ve been keeping an eye on your threads, but since I’ve had no experience or useful information, I haven’t posted. I’m so glad Butterscotch is coming around now! I also wish to hear he is back to 100%, so please let us know!

[Irina]

I have to say it is so wonderful that there are so many people out there who want to help each other get through bunny issues!

Grey Dove- thank you for the info re roses and other edibles. I asked my vet specifically about crabapple branches (as I have many…) and he said they were fine. Cherry branches are apparently poisonous. Holly berries are poisonous, but the leaves are fine. Spirea twigs, leaves and flowers are also fine. I am researching what local plants are good for them and will post what I find here for your information.(is that appropriate?) I will also check out your link.

Manic muncher- it is good to know there are people sending positive vibes his way…. I have definitely learned much more than I ever hoped I would need to know about sick bunnies.

All three if my buns have been started in medication for EC today (they are litter mates, and although the other two are fine, my vet thinks they were likely I feared by mom and should all be treated). Butters it g is on day 3 of his sulfa drug for coccidium.

I will post progress- but if anybody has any ideas regarding how to encourage Butterscotch to eat more- please let me know!

Thanks to all who were/are hoping for return to a happy binkying bunny!

[Deleted User]

Irina, Thanks for the decisive answer about crabapple. I suspected they’d be okay but did want to be Sure!

Trees are tricky since some are only safe after they’ve been properly dried. Most pitted fruit trees I know for sure are to be avoided. And the sap in conifers isn’t good for them either, … so I’d suggest focusing on shrubs and smaller plants in your searches. But I do think you’ll find many of your questions answered, and/or your search focus narrowed (helpfully) after you check out that link.

I’d love to hear about your findings but since there are probably other people who would too (ones who didn’t know about force feeding) best to open a new thread in this section of the forum with your report on safe local vegetation. By the way what is local to you, … I’m thinking you are in a different time zone from me. I’m in eastern Ontario Canada, where it is raining, and where I’m about to treck down to my garden to collect my boys very Wet Salad for the evening, … serves me right for not getting it done sooner.

You are so right, wonderful to have all these helpful supportive people who love rabbits and are willing to share their time, knowledge and experience! Finding this forum and the House Rabbit Society (rabbit.org) has definitely changed my rabbits lives and added a lot to mine.

Good luck with all three of your rabbits, I sincerely hope that Shadow’s procedure goes quickly and easily, best of luck!

Looking forward to all the news you will be sharing!!!

[Irina]

Update: Butterscotch is eating hay, pellets and drinking water on his own. He did a very dramatic flop, and several binkies! He is back to his usual happy bunny self! Thanks to all who provided help, and to those who sent positive vibes!

[LittlePuffyTail]

So glad to hear that!

[LBJ10]

Yay!

[manic_muncher]

YAY!

[Deleted User]

Irina, my apologies for the delay in responding to your Wonderful news!, … my computer went down.

I’m so happy Butterscotch was doing well and trust that all is now normal. Has Shadow been spayed? I hope it went (goes) well!

Pets to all!

[Irina]

Shadow will be spayed when she is 6 months old- in approximately 6-8 weeks.

[Author]

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