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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to treat a bunny “emergency” bunny at home?

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    • Cookies4
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        I was letting my bunny run around in the patio an he ate one of the plants. Unfortunately, I looked it up and it was the toxic Crown of Thorns! How do I treat this at home? My mom doesn’t want to leave work and my sister doesn’t have a car. My mom said that as long as he isn’t foaming at the mouth he is fine. She is one of this people who believes that all a bunny needs is a small cage, food, and water and he will live until it is his time to go. She also believes that ALL bunnies are wild and have never been domesticated and who ever says that they are is wrong. I get so mad over that because I know it isn’t true. How do I convince her to bring my bunny to the vet? She thinks that no plants are poisonous because there are so many wild bunnies. I called my emergency vet and they said that it required hospitalization and they didn’t do that. I called the animal poison hotline and they said I need to pay $39 with a credit card in order to receive info. Obviously, my mom said that “We have no money!” even though she announced that he got paid yesterday. I am so worried that Cookies will go to rainbow bridge! Please help and thanks in advance!


      • LongEaredLions
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          You can’t really treat this at home. Make sure he has plenty of water and hay, and give him a pile of wet veggies and some pellets. Get him eating. How much did he eat? Watch his poop and pee. I would at least call the vet and ask them what to do. If you can, tell your mom that you will pay for at least part of the vet trip.
          Good luck.


        • Cookies4
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            He ate about 2-3 leaves and 1 flower. If I was old enough to get a job I think my mom would let me. She let my sister do it with her chameleon. I called the emergency-everyone-is-welcome vet and they didn’t do hospitalization. He doesn’t have a vet because, again, my mom believes that these “wild animals” don’t need vet visits it check-ups. Only if she understood how serious this is.


          • LBJ10
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              Hmm, that plant contains phorbol esters which cause severe skin and eye irritation. It causes gastrointestinal symptoms in livestock, but I can’t find anything specific about rabbits.

              Generally horses, cattle, sheep, cats, dogs and humans are affected by Euphorbia and may experience severe irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, sometimes with hemorrhage and diarrhea. Other general signs include blistering, swelling about the eyes and mouth, excessive salivation and emesis, abdominal pain and weakness. The sap may cause dermatitis. Death is rare. Work horses may suffer severe blisters and loss of hair on the ankles.

              I did a google search and on study found LD50 to be 6ml per kg body weight in rats. Do you know how much your rabbit consumed? I’m concerned about the gastrointestinal issues because diarrhea would be serious in a rabbit.

               

              EDIT: Okay, missed the couple of leaves and flower consumed.


            • LBJ10
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                Found this too, but it’s about dogs.

                Spurges, Euphorbia (candelabra cactus, crown of thorns, cypress spurge, fields and gardens, garden plant, leafy spurge, milk bush, noxious weed, prostrate spurge, snow-on-the-mountain, tinsel tree)

                Toxicity Rating: Moderate. Spurges are highly unpalatable, so they are rarely consumed in quantities sufficient to cause serious toxicity, but they are very irritating upon contact.

                Dangerous Parts: All parts.

                Symptoms: Gastrointestinal irritation, dermal and ocular irritation, general disability and weakness.

                Plant Description: These herbaceous, sometimes succulent, or even cactuslike perennials have simple, alternate or opposite, entire or toothed leaves. The cells contain a milky, acrid sap. Their tiny flowers are clustered in small, cuplike structures resembling white-petaled flowers in some species. The fruit, three lobed and three seeded, is borne on a stalk extending from the cuplike flower structure. Spurges grow in old fields, open woods and waste areas, along roadsides, and around homes as cultivated or escaped plantings. Some are houseplants.

                Signs: Spurges contain sap that is highly irritating upon contact, especially to the eyes and mouth. Upon prolonged exposure it will also irritate the skin, primarily on the legs and head. Irritation, redness, pain and swelling will result. Salivation and head shaking will ensue if the oral mucosa is affected. Blistering and open sores are possible. If a dog swallows spurge, stomach and intestinal irritation can occur, with vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.


              • Cookies4
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                  Thanks for the info! But don’t bunnies hide symptoms very well? So I would think that these would be in the final stages of the… poisoning. Please correct me if I’m wrong.


                • LBJ10
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                    No, the irritation should occur shortly after contact with the sap in the plant. This is where the foaming at the mouth and, later, blisters around the mouth would come in. The gastrointestinal irritation would likely occur once the ingested leaves make their way from the stomach to the small intestines.


                  • LBJ10
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                      I’m a little confused by who you tried calling. Your regular vet is also an emergency vet? Or is this just an emergency vet in town? And this poison hotline isn’t local?

                      I had this problem when my husband filled the house with adhesive fumes. My poor Wooly was high as a kite. The emergency vet managed to give me some information over the phone though and we were able to “air him out”. With something ingested though, I’m concerned that if Cookies develops diarrhea, then he would need to be hooked up to an IV.


                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                        According to MediRabbit, the berries are mildly toxic.

                        If he were mine, I would bring him to the vet, just in case. Keep a very close eye on him, if he stops eating or becomes lethargic, it is definitely an emergency and vet is the only option.

                        You should really try to work something out with your Mom and/or start up a savings for emergency vet care. Having a rabbit does require vet trips on occasion. Often, a vet is the only option to saving a rabbit in an emergency.

                         The link to MediRabbit is not working, but if you Google: Medirabbit  toxic plants, you can find the site I’m referring to.

                        I really hope your bun is okay!

                         


                      • LBJ10
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                          Crown of Thorns has berries? I thought it was a spurge. Is there another plant called the same thing?


                        • LittlePuffyTail
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                            I’ve never seen the plant. Just going by what MediRabbit said. I googled the plant and it just looks like flowers to me. House Rabbit Society just lists it as toxic, not that only parts are toxic.


                          • Cookies4
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                              I called a local “Animal ER” and they said that when bunnies are poisoned they need hospitalization but they don’t do hospitalization so they gave me the animal poison control number. I called them and they needed $39 but my mom said we hae no money even though she got paid Friday. She doesn’t believe in bringing animals to the vet so there is no way he will ever go to the vet, even if he is scratched numerous times by a dog. My mom said to give him nasty stuff to make him throw up but I said that bunnies can’t throw up and then she said she couldn’t help me and left. My mom isn’t a animal person.


                            • LBJ10
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                                I haven’t heard of it being anything else other than the one in the spurge family, so that’s why I asked. Spurges have tight little capsules that split open and release the seeds. Everything I read says that the sap is toxic and causes irritation. Most animals wouldn’t actually want to eat it once they got a taste. This is an exotic plant, but the toxic sap is consistent with spurges found growing in the wild here.

                                So how is Cookies doing now? Are there any signs of him having irritation or feeling ill? LPT is right, if he is showing signs of illness then it is serious and he will need vet treatment.


                              • Cookies4
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                                  My mom just came home and I asked her if we can go to the vet and Cookies was in his carrier and I was all dressed and she said “For the last time, rabbits are wild animals, and so are all other animals. They don’t need to go to the vet unless they are almost dead. That is the last time I will tell you that.” I don’t think Cookies will ever go to the vet. And that makes me sad. But, I try to take care of him the best I could by doing everything I can to make him happy. He binkies a lot so I know he enjoys life. My mom doesn’t give us allowance. I mean, my mom gives us everything I want and need. It’s just that she doesn’t have a soft spot for animals. She just doesn’t like them. He hasn’t eaten anything for a while and is very sleepy. I am very worried. I don’t want him to go, it is too early. He is only 4 1/2 months old!


                                • Cookies4
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                                    LBJ10, right now Cookies is really lazy and has been in the same position for about 3 hours. He isn’t sleeping, he is just laying there with his eyes half open.


                                  • LBJ10
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                                      Have you introduced veggies to him yet? If so, you could try feeding him some leaf lettuce (like romaine) to see if he will at least eat that. Is he able bodied? Have you tried getting him to move? From what you describe, it’s difficult to say if he’s simply laying down or if he is lethargic. Has he pooped since then?


                                    • Stickerbunny
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                                        He could be napping, or he could be lethargic – if you offer him a treat he usually loves, will he take it? Is he pooping or peeing? Has he had any water?

                                        For adults that may help, do you have a teacher or aunt or something that may be more sympathetic?

                                        At the least, if he does start showing signs of poisoning, you may be able to get him treatment for free by surrendering him to some vet/shelter that would take him in and rehome. I know, not the best option for you, but if he becomes lethargic with diarrhea or stasis then it may be the best thing for him. Rabbits occasionally will need vet care and if your mom isn’t willing to take him even in an emergency, you may have to do what hurts, but is best for him.


                                      • Cookies4
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                                          LBJ10, I have introduced him to veggies. But, since I have only introduced him to celery, I am afraid it will be too watery. When I poke his side, he gets up but then lays back down. He hasn’t pooped since this morning but he normally poops at night and/or when all his hay is gone. Is it okay if I wait until tomorrow morning? That is usually when all this hay is gone and the litter in there is soaked and has poop on it.


                                        • Cookies4
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                                            Stickerbunny, he hasn’t pooped or peed but he has eaten some hay. It isn’t that my mom is unsympathetic, it’s just that ever since our cats got stolen, she has slowly lost her love for animals. I don’t mean to be rude, but please don’t tell me to surrender my Cookies to a shelter. There is already too many bunnies in shelter, and I don’t to make the problem worse. 


                                          • LBJ10
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                                              I don’t think Stickerbunny meant that to sound mean. I can understand where she is coming from a little bit since it isn’t fair for your bunny (and to you too!) to have to suffer when you mom is legally and morally responsible for him. I know he is YOUR bunny, but as your parent she should be willing to seek veterinary care for any pets she allows you to have. Otherwise, why allow you to have them? We aren’t meaning that to sound harsh in any way. It is just distressing for us to hear of this bunny that could be ill and there is nothing we can really do. We want to help you as best as we can. I know this is heartbreaking for you too.

                                              I would try to get him to eat as much as you can. It’s important to keep things moving in there. I don’t know if it is okay to wait until tomorrow or not since we really have to way to assess the seriousness of the situation. If he was eating, pooping, etc then we would be less concerned. But you said he isn’t acting normal.


                                            • Cookies4
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                                                I know Stickerbunny didn’t mean any harm. I didn’t mean to sound harsh. Sorry if I did. 


                                              • Stickerbunny
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                                                  I only mention surrendering because it’s a possible way to get vet care if he begins to show signs of stasis or severe pain. Some places will give free vet care, but they require surrendering. I am not saying give him up for no reason. But, if it gets critical and you cannot get him care, that is an option you could look into. Just listing your options, including the very dire ones.

                                                  Eating hay is a good sign, though the lack of poop is worrying. Is he tooth grinding or showing any obvious signs of pain?


                                                • Cookies4
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                                                    UPDATE ON COOKIES HEALTH!!!

                                                    I am happy to say that Cookies is now 99% okay!!! Thank you for all your help. Today has been a tough one for everyone, especially for by little baby boy. I left out 1% because I am not sure how he will be tomorrow.


                                                  • LBJ10
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                                                      So he’s eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, and acting normally?


                                                    • Cookies4
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                                                        Yes, he is! I am supervising him but for now he is good. Tomorrow I will say if he is a full 100% or still a 99%


                                                      • LBJ10
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                                                          Good! Perhaps his stomach was hurting earlier and now it has passed. Keep us updated!


                                                        • Cookies4
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                                                            LBJ10, that was probably the case. I will tell you guys once I wake up in the morning if he is okay or not. Goodnight everyone!


                                                          • Cookies4
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                                                              Cookies is now 100% better! He is acting like the curious, nosy bunny that I know and love. Even though he looks better, I will keep an eye on him throughout the day. I’ll keep you updated!


                                                            • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                                I’m really glad to hear he is doing okay.


                                                              • Beka27
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                                                                  I am glad to hear that he is doing better today.

                                                                  Unfortunately however, it is unlikely that this will be the first and last situation to arise that *should* be addressed by a vet. Some situations require vet care, and if you are unable to provide that, I cannot in good conscience recommend that you keep him. It is unfair to him. It would be easier to find him a more suitable home now while he is still young and healthy than in the future after a health issue or injury occurs. Please think about what is best for him longterm.


                                                                • Cookies4
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                                                                    I am starting to make some money so I will make money saved up for whenever something like this happens again. I should have about $250 saved up in 3 months. My mom and I had a talk last night and she said she didn’t want him to suffer but it wasn’t that serious and she didn’t want to pay the bill because she wants to spend money on us, not the bunny. She also said that if I can save money, she’d be more than happy to drive me if she wasn’t selling a car.

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                                                                Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to treat a bunny “emergency” bunny at home?