Please help – When to use Critical Care?

[Tessie]

Albus/Luna still isn’t eating very much after her spay
She’s been eating a few leaves of lettuce, herbs, a bite of carrot, and about one pellet.
I don’t think she’s drinking much water, her poops are tiny
She seems fairly happy though, just a bit tired.

The vet wasn’t very pleased with that when we saw him yesterday, and he said if it doesn’t improve to go back to the vet.
I’m assuming the next step is critical care?
I thought what she’s eating is a good start but I guess not?
How can I encourage her to eat?
How can I encourage her to drink?

How do you know when it’s time to use critical care?

Please help

[Deleted User]

Hey Tessie – I’m not sure what time it is there if you feel you need to call your vet again? On the chance you can’t do that, I’d offer Albus (yes I voted to keep her name, lol!) something super naughty and sweet. Any chance you have a ripe banana on hand? Apple or some other rabbit friendly fruit? I personally (just me) wouldn’t be too worried yet – I have read on other forums it can take a few days for your girl to start eating normally again, though some have said they had to encourage (syringe) water to them. Does your bun have a water bottle? If so, put a ‘bowl’ of water close to her – it may be easier for her to drink from? But as you just had a vet visit, I’d like to think if it was a concern the vet would have advised and guided you? If you do have a yummy piece of fruit – don’t try and hand feed her, just put it beside her and walk away. Henry and I will be thinking of you both.

[Stickerbunny]

When was she spayed? Stickers didn’t eat much first day, but second she had a little and third she was back to eating a good bit. Your vet should be able to tell you when to worry enough for critical care, if you call them.

[Tessie]

It’s morning here, so I can see the vet whenever, they said to come back if her eating gets worse or stays the same, and it’s the same so far :/
She was spayed on Tuesday, so it’s been two days.
We’ve offered her banana, dried fruit things, lettuce, baby corn, basil, everything it feels like…
You guys think I should give it another day? She seems the same as yesterday :/ I’m at work all day tomorrow so it will be harder to get her to the vet then.
She has water in a bottle and a bowl, I might try a syringe this afternoon.
What do you guys think?

[Stickerbunny]

Call the vet and see what they want to do. After two days some hay and a small salad should be doable for her. Did she get pain meds?

[Deleted User]

I agree, just call the vet (no charge) and explain your concerns and if they feel it necessary they will tell you to bring her back in – otherwise I think your doing everything perfectly. Some buns just take longer to recover…..
I hate to admit this – but when we collected Henry after his neuter and the vet said that everything went wonderfully including his recovery/waking up, I didn’t monitor him. I have no idea when he ate, drank, etc., I just knew my boy and if he wasn’t right I’d pick up on it? He is a free range bun and I didn’t even lock him up for a few days – my vet just said to keep him in a clean environment (if only he knew I didn’t clean my floors that week?). Albus is eating in day 2, that sounds awesome (as I said, I am going by other peoples forums/posts) so that is a good sign. But call the vet, relay what is going on and take it from there. Maybe she does need some pain meds? Mention the water and see if they want you to syringe some to her? But it sounds like she is doing ok (?) cause she has eaten something and your doing everything ‘perfectly’ as her mum! But do it today – don’t get caught out when you have to go to work tomorrow (you are stressed enough over your baby, don’t make it worse on yourself). Let us know….

[Deleted User]

Sorry Tessie – I just noticed you did the name change on your picture. Please ignore that I used the name Albus. If I had of realized I would have said Luna. My apologies!

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I’d personally give her anything she wants. She wants carrots, give her carrots. Luna gets what luna wants until she gets to feeling better.

I think I remember you saying she didn’t get pain meds? She may be struggling with recovery because she’s in pain. Call your vet and ask for some pain medicine. That could be all she needs to get going again.

[Beka27]

I know I asked if she had gotten pain meds in your previous thread. I hope the vet gave you some when he saw her yesterday. Females NEED pain meds following surgery. Imagine having an invasive abdominal surgery with NO pain medication beyond what was used during the procedure… YIKES! You wouldn’t feel like eating either… :o(

Veggies are usually the first foods to get eaten, followed by hay, pellets are last. If she’s eating veggies, keep offering them, and give them wet. Try giving just a little bit but often throughout the day. Don’t worry if she doesn’t nibble on pellets much this week.

Force feeding can be stressful in itself, and you’ll need to restrain her, so try to hold off on that until your vet says to begin.

[Tessie]

Thank you everyone for your advice! You make me feel better
AndHenry – it’s okay, we’re calling her Albus half the time, I don’t mind at all, haha!
NBO and Beka – she didn’t get pain meds. The vet didn’t even mention it – I don’t know if it’s different procedure in the uk? :/ I’ll call the vet and ask.

She’s still peeing a fair bit so maybe she’s drinking without me realising?
As I write this she’s decided to eat some of her carrot (In situations like this a bunny munching is the most wonderful sound!) still not much food down her today though.
It might be worth mentioning that she’s moving about in a slightly awkward way – is this just because she’s got discomfort?
I’ll call the vet and ask and let you know

[Tessie]

Sorry, just to clarify – she got pain meds after surgery, but we haven’t got any that we’re still giving to her.

[Beka27]

Some vets give a pain med injection following surgery, but that usually lasts only up to 24 hours. It’s usually recommended that you have additional pain meds at home for the next 3 days or so. Some vets don’t offer them, you have to ask.

A little bit of discomfort is okay b/c it prevents bunny from moving too much and possibly injuring the surgery site, but if they’re not moving at all, or eating very little, that’s obviously not good either. It’s a very fine line.

[BunnymomKS]

With four girls I’ve had spayed over the years, usually the first thing they’ll eat is something like cilantro or parsley. And what I’d do was when I rinsed it, leave abundant water on it. That way they kind of get a drink as well as food. My current lady bun was already spayed when I adopted her, so it’s been awhile since I went through the process, and pain meds are just coming into widespread use these last few years, at least in my neck of the woods. I’m glad we have them now.

I’ve had a hysterectomy myself, and though I did pretty well with rest and Tylenol at home (the narcotics make me sick and/or crazy so I avoid them), I realized I was right in feeling super-sorry for my girl buns in the past . . . I could tell they were hurting. But it’s amazing how they do cope, despite all that; I suppose their metabolisms run faster than ours. And they go on instinct, if they think they should get up to eat or pee, they’ll attempt it.

One thing that is important is to make sure a bunny has a warm spot when recovering from surgery. Especially if it’s winter where you live. It helps them relax, and helps prevent shock to the system. Although you know bunnies – I’d put a blanket over mine and they wouldn’t always keep it on! But at least it was there if they needed it.

[Tessie]

Vet said they’d call back and hasn’t yet, I might try again later…
She seems to want to come out of her pen – should I let her? I feel it might increase her appetite?
She is eating a tiny bit every now and then. She ate some hay earlier (wahoo!)

[LopLove]

If she looks like she’s still uncomfortable/walking funny, I would suggest keeping her in her cage. If she’s looking for entertainment, maybe you could try stuffing some treats into toilet paper rolls to reduce boredom and possibly increase her interest in food. Also, you could try to comfort her with pets while she’s inside the cage. She might be wanting attention, pets, and grooming more than exercise.

[LopLove]

Also, I started doing this for Tiger when it was really hot out, but she had a lot of fun with it, and maybe your girl would like it too? If you chop up some veggies, smush them into an ice-cube tray with a bit of water and freeze it, you get tiny veggie popsicles. Amused my girl quite a bit, and is a way to get water and veggies into them if they like it.

[Tessie]

LopLove – the ice cube thing is an awesome idea! I’ll try it!
She’s eaten a little bit more this evening (phew) and seems a bit perkier so I think we might be out of the woods *fingers crossed*
A couple of times she flopped right on her side like she was dead which was a bit concerning because she’s never done that before :/ but I’m going to take it as a good sign!
Ill let you all know how she’s doing tomorrow. Thank you all so much everyone for the help, you’ve made me feel so much more calm!

[Beka27]

Update, please? Not sure what time it is over there… How is she doing?

[Tessie]

She is doing miles better now!
I’m so relieved, she suddenly got her appetite back and ate a whole bowl of veggies and some pellets while I was at work, and now she seems back to her normal self = phew!
Thank you so so much to everyone for your help, you’ve kept me calm throughout bunny’s first ‘illness’!

[Deleted User]

Tessie – fantastic!!!!!! How wonderful to hear. Now you can take a deep breath & actually exhale then relax. (Dam bunny’s! ha ha hah!).

[Author]

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