Diarrhea episode. Really worried.

[Avantika]

I sensed a gradual loss of appetite in Moshu since the past 3-4 days. But yesterday morning saw a sudden fall in her appetite. I kept a small bowl with a mix of marigold petals and some veggies (gave her some turnip leaves for the first time last night..)

Then started the diarrhea. I’ve brought some medicines from the vet. Its Metronidazole (40 mg twice a day) and Enrofloxacin (25 mg twice a day). Both are bunny safe antibiotics but my question is, will giving two antibiotics at the same time do more harm than good ?

Also, we do not know the cause of the diarrhea. It could be the turnip leaves but her appetite was falling even prior to that.

I keep chaff in her litter box. I dump the contents and replace it with new one everyday. She poops and pees on it. I keep a bowl of hay in her cage at night but she prefers to eat the soiled chaff instead of the fresh hay.

I read that during periods of diarrhea, fruits and vegetables must be taken away from the bunny’s diet and they should be given only hay. But this little face is not really keen on hay. I brought her the freshest, greenest hay I have ever brought her, but she aint having any. 

I used to give her Baytril on fruits, but since giving fruit is not advisable..can I just put the tablet inside her mouth ? (We dont get suspensions for Enro here). How about pumpkin ?

[Roberta]

Oh Bugger. The problem is antibiotics also cause diarhhea. You need to cut the fruits and greens, does she like any pellets ? You need something to settl ed gut function gut I am not really sure what would be best.

[Deleted User]

If you can put the tablet straight into her mouth and she can swallow it – go for it! Easy! Done!

But if not… I’m only suggesting what I’d do putting myself in your position. I’d crush it and mix it with something I know she’d gobble up. If that means a small piece of fruit, I’d do it. I think it’s more important that she gets the medication into her system. I know humans are different, but when my son was barely 2 he had a severe asthma attack and the stupid doctor gave me his medication in tablet form – huh? So I put it in a spoonful of ice cream. I know, naughty! but it worked. I tried the same trick with my small dog’s and they spit the tablet out after eating and swallowing the treat – I find it easier to hold them and shove it down their throats.
I’ve never had to medicate Henry so I’m sharing my thoughts, sorry.

But I do agree with Roberta – maybe crush it with pellets and add a bit of water to make a mash? We humans are encouraged to eat dry foods when suffering diarrhea, I assume animals would be the same. I never feed my dog’s wet/tin dog food, only dry dog food (Henry’s favourite – doh!). But if she doesn’t take to that, go a small bit of her favourite food.

[Sarita]

Well most antibiotics are given for different reasons – why is she taking both?

I would not cut out veggies – that is not the cause of the runny cecals. I would not give her the tablet directly in her mouth either – probably taste bad and probably would be hard to swallow.

[tobyluv]

Since the vet has your rabbit on antibiotics, it would be beneficial if she was also getting a probiotic, such as Bene-Bac. That helps to keep the normal gut flora in balance.

Did your vet have a specific diagnosis, or tell you the reason that your rabbit needed both antibiotics?

[beebun]

I’m sorry to hear that, Avantika Hope Moshu feels better soon.

((((MOSHU))))

[Little Lion Head]

I wish I had some advice for you Avantika,but just wanted to say we hope Moshu feels better!

[Avantika]

The diarrhea is gone and her poops are back to normal. It must be something like Cecal dysbiosis. The gut might be experiencing an over production of bad bacteria (which I suspect must be because of eating of soiled chaff).

@Roberta : Since the past few months, she has been becoming a picky eater..There was this pellets she used to gobble, but now doesnt like to have it anymore. A few minutes back, I gave her pumpkin puree + chopped basil + ground hay. I was not preferring to give her any vegetable..but she isnt having hay AT ANY COST. I have my final semester exam 2 days later and she’s driving me nuts. And this is the same hay that she was gobbling on Friday night.. I wonder if its the hay or its her. This pack of hay is the greenest, freshest hay that I have ever got her. She is habitual to getting lots of veggies. 3-4 cups per day. I did not give her any vegetable or pellet in the hope that she will have her hay out of hunger.. She’s eating her wood toy..she’s eating threads of the bed sheet, but no, not her hay…I dont know how to make her eat more hay..
Because her poops are getting back to normal. I decided to omit Baytril. I shouldnt act as the doctor right now but two antibiotics at the same time sounded a little harsh. She’s been on Baytril during UTI and I never saw any problems in her poop. But I’ll omit it for now and continue to give her Metronidazole.

@AndHenry : Suspensions are so much easier.. *sigh* What I did during her UTI days were sprinkle some on a chunk of fruit.. However, she’d smell it and give me those “I know what you are doing” looks and throw it away. So what I used to do next was…keep her hungry for 2-3 hours..not feed her anything in that duration and then give that medicine filled piece of fruit. She’d smell and give me disapproving looks but..will have it.

@Sarita : Dont have another option. Cant give her fruits everyday when her gut’s going sensitive. I omitted Baytril for now and rest two are suspensions. So its okay for now. The veggies are not really the cause of the problem, but I am afraid to give her any for sometime.

@Tobyluv : Well, she didnt really tried to find out the cause..just gave the medicines. I suggested her the cause and she said “it could be that.” . Bene-bac is around Rs.4000 here. Most of the vet stuff we get here is imported..I am not surprised its that costly.
I have this : http://www.itspets.com/vitamins-supplements/890-anima-strathanima-strathherbal-yeast-food-supplement-for-all-animals.html
Its a yeast supplement. Will this be beneficial for now ?

@Beebun and Little Lion Head : Thanks to both of you I am going nuts with my end semester exam just two days from now (I am a slacker student with attention problems that I have developed recently..have not studied anything).. Just hope that she has her hay.. If she does that.. the problem will be solved to quite an extent.

Also..The vet gave Practin (cyproheptadine hcl). Its an appetite stimulant. The vet said, complete the 5 day dose of antibiotics THEN give her this appetite stimulant. I dont know why she said that. Any of your buns’ been on antibiotic and appetite stimulant at the same time ?

[Sarita]

Are the antibiotics for a UTI? Flagyl is used to treat things like giardia – it treats bacterial infections.

[Avantika]

No, both were given for the diarrhea. There is no more of it. Just her normal poops. But she isnt having hay in any form.

[Author]

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