very worried about my rabbit (PLEASE HELP!)

[marinabunny]

Since I came home from school about 6 hours ago I noticed my bunny just sitting there and acting strange. She is sitting hunched up in a corner, not eating and not pooping and it has been like this since I came home. I tried giving her her favourite greens which she would usually go crazy for and chase me but she didnt even touch it this time. I don’t know when she last pooped but this morning before school I was feeding her hay and she was fine. I guess something happened between then and the time i came back. I tried calling all the vets in my area but they were all either closing or the rabbit vet wasn’t in.

 I suspect it may be GI stasis because she is sitting in an awkward position. I read about giving simethicone so I went out and bought some and managed to feed her a teeny bit. I don’t know what to do now, she wont eat pellets she wont eat greens NOTHING. Since the vets are all closed will she make it through till tomorrow?

 

I desperately need advice on what I could do until i get her to the vet?? Do you think this could be GI stasis? I heard how deadly it was and I’m literally in tears because I really don’t want to lose her, she is my everything!! I have exams next week and I haven’t even been able to study because I keep thinking/worrying about her. Please help!

[Hazel]

She has eaten this morning, so that’s good, no need to panic for now . It sounds like a tummy upset, which could lead to stasis if she doesn’t start eating. First, clean her litter box so you can see if she’s still pooping or not. If she is, that’s a good sign and shows that her digestive tract has not shut down. She might just have a little gas or maybe fur is slowing things down, is she shedding at the moment? The Simethicone should help if it’s gas, how much did you give her?

Try to get her to move around, even though she probably won’t feel like it. Moving will help loosen things up. You can also try light tummy massages.

And keep offering her food. It’s okay if it annoys her a little bit, if you’re lucky she might rip it out of your hand to toss it away and end up eating some.

[Hazel]

Here’s the dosage for Simethicone I found in a different thread (Note it applies to 20mg/ml suspension, so check if you have the same or not):

Simethicone

(liquid, pediatric suspension or tablets) is essential for the relief of gas pain which usually accompanies ileus. For relief of acute gas pain, 1-2 cc (20mg/ml suspension) can be given as often as every hour for three doses, then 1 cc every three to eight hours. This substance has no known drug interactions, is not absorbed through the intestinal lining and acts only on a mechanical principle: it changes the surface tension of the frothy gas bubbles in the gut, joining them into larger, easier-to-pass bubbles. Simethicone is practically inert, and is safe to give, even as a precaution, as long as it is not given long term. (Note: liquid suspensions of simethicone are relatively expensive. Less expensive versions, such as 125mg gel capsules are equally effective. A bunny can safely receive the contents of half a capsule at the rate described above.)

[marinabunny]

I cleaned her litter box hours ago and she has not pooped at all yet. I gave her 1/2 mL of the simethicone though I doubt she actually drank all of it she kept moving her head away.

How do I get her to move? Shes just sitting there refusing to move. I put a whole bunch of cilantro under her nose just now and she totally rejected it whereas normally she would go BESERK for that stuff! How else can I get her to eat?? I don’t think she will

[Hazel]

Is she sitting in her cage? When my boy has an upset stomach I take him out of his cage and shut the door so he doesn’t go right back in. I know it seems mean, especially when they’re feeling bad. Then, he will hop around the room a little bit, checking the cage door every now and then. If she won’t move on her own, you can try to nudge her a little bit. This isn’t meant to be torture of course, so just do it for a few minutes. If it seems to stress her, stop. Tummy massages will help just as well, have you tried that? Massage her stomach in a circular motion with light pressure.

[marinabunny]

She is not in her cage she’s sitting in a corner of the bathroom, I don’t even know how I managed to get her out of the cage. We tried giving her more simethicone and she just ran away and scratched us. I need more help! I don’t know how shes going to make it through the night if she even rejected a piece of apple…

[Roberta]

Fresh mint is very good if you can get her to eat it…. I would definitely try the tummy massage. Just sit next to her and gently rub your hands over and around the part of her tummy you can reach, if she is uncomfortable she will likely find it soothing and allow you to do it… If you have a dosing syringe you could try to get a few drops of water in her mouth…. Try to have a listen to her tummy as well.

[marinabunny]

Ok so she got up and started roaming around for a bit pheww. I just noticed now that her bum was all dirty with pee/poo. This means that she was not able to clean herself so there has to be some kind of problem. Any ideas?

[Ouisie]

Hi Marinabunny. I have been here MANY times with this problem. They can get upset tummies so easily. I’ve always got a bottle of Emiprid on hand for these situations. Our buns have gotten upsets before for many reasons including after surgery, new veg introduced (should be done slowly I have learned), and gas. Our Navi had a gas problem recently and she wouldnt sit still, she was so uncomfortable and wasnt eating or pooping. We gave her some emiprd (our vet told us how much to give when this happened) and I gently massaged her tummy. Within a couple of hours she was back to normal. I’m sure your bun will be fine, but if you are worried then the vet can maybe give you some advice over the phone?

[hattie&bear]

As others have said, a tummy massage really works! 

I know medicine seems more dependable and if you’re as worried as you (understandably!) are, a stomach massage might seem like a silly suggestion. But it works by gently encouraging the muscles to move any impacted food along the gut – I have used it and can vouch that it really works. Just gentle concentric circles with two fingertips should work? I don’t like to flip mine over onto their backs but if you do that then that’s one way, otherwise just sat in your lap, one hand steadies their head and back and the other under their tummy rubbing. 

You could also try syringing (pure) peppermint tea (not hot!) if you are worried about liquids and dehydration. Peppermint has many soothing and digestive benefits. 

I hope your little one feels better soon! 

[marinabunny]

Thank you very much. She went back to normal yesterday night, i really think the simethicone and tummy massages worked. I went to the vet today and he checked her for intestinal blockage. He said it should be fine as long as she is pooping and eating which she is now. Can I still continue giving her simethicone though? Just for a few days till i think she’s fully back to normal

[LittlePuffyTail]

If she’s eating and pooping normally, I wouldn’t give the Simethicone. If she’s eating and back to normal, she’s obviously not having any gas pain.

Glad your bun is feeling better.

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