Sore Near Mouth, Messy Bottom

[guineapig724]

I have an appointment with the vet in two days, but I am very worried about my rabbit, Bobbi. She started drooling about a week ago, the skin was okay, the fur was just a bit damp. Now it has progressed to a nasty looking bright red spot beside her mouth. She flinched when I touched it. They fur that hasn’t fallen out has a yellowy crust around it. She also gets a messy bottom when I give her vegetables. I am very concerned, she occasionally(1-2 a year) got a messy bottom, but I cleaned it up, and right away she would be fine. Now it is happening abut twice a day. What is causing her to be sick? she is a lop, short faced breeds are more prone to molar spurs, could this be it?

[LBJ10]

If she’s been drooling, then it’s possibly the skin became irritated there from being constantly wet. So yes, definitely have the vet take a look at her teeth. Tooth problems can cause digestive issues as well, so that may be linked to her messy bottom.

[Jadeo09]

feed only hay until you see your vet to stop diarrhea.
veg causes my rabbit to have diarrhea too.

can your vet prescribe you metacam in the meantime to stop the pain?

[Jadeo09]

maybe using a little vaseline on it to stop it being dry and splitting when your rabbit tries eating could help.
if you ring your vets they usually can advise you on what to do to make them comfortable until the appointment.

[guineapig724]

Went to the vet this morning. They said it was from stress. She hasn’t done anything new lately, so I don’t know why she would be stressed. They gave me metronidazole to be fed orally in both the morning and evening to fix her mouth. They also gave me fortiflora feline to be mixed in with her food. is this good? The vet didn’t seem very experienced with rabbits, so I am not 100% sure.

[LBJ10]

Did the vet look at her back teeth?

What’s fortiflora feline? Is than a probiotic?

[LBJ10]

Okay, I Googled it. I found the ingredients and it doesn’t look like something that should be given to rabbits. Can you get Benebac instead?

Animal digest, Enterococcus faecium, brewers dried yeast, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin E supplement, beta-Carotene, zinc proteinate, taurine, salt, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite. D-4583

[Jadeo09]

Can you take her to a specialist they usually get it spot on and save you money in the long run.

You could email rabbit charities to see if they know anything they have been very helpful to me in the past

The antibiotic is the metronidazole so it will be a probiotic and a cats one won’t be great for rabbits you can try to purchase pro c probiotic £5 from pets at home recommended for small pets as a quick buy which would be best
but protexin sachets is usually recommended for rabbits

[guineapig724]

Oh my goodness, I fed the fortiflora feline to Bobbi both last night and this morning. Why shouldn’t it be fed to her (Sorry, she is my first rabbit and I don’t know about medications.) I am in Canada, so I am not sure what to buy here. Her messy butt was worse this morning, I cleaned her up with a dry bath though. Is the metronidazole safe? I googled it and it said it is an antibiotic commonly used in rabbits, but now I’m not sure. I live in a smaller city, my specialist is 3 hours away, and I like to plan for about two weeks, so I can calculate the towns I will be stopping in to let her in her x pen. It is usually a trip that I stay in a hotel at, I’m not sure where she will stay then. I don’t think a lot of hotels like rabbits in the rooms, but I will try to figure something out.

[LBJ10]

The antibiotic is fine. It’s commonly used in rabbits. The FortiFlora contains animal digest, which is animal protein that they use to flavor dog or cat food (i.e. chicken flavored, beef flavored, etc). Rabbits are herbivores so giving them animal protein probably isn’t good for them.

[Jadeo09]

The antibiotics make them have diarrhoea if suitable probiotic aren’t given sorry I’m in the UK
The animal protein and taurine isn’t good for bun and may cause the diarea I’d stop using it

[Jadeo09]

The antibiotics make them have diarrhoea if suitable probiotic aren’t given sorry I’m in the UK
The animal protein and taurine isn’t good for bun and may cause the diarea I’d stop using it

[Jadeo09]

You could ring round local vets tomorrow and ask for small pet probiotics?

[Jadeo09]

They only sell 2 types of probiotic on Canada Amazon and one is benebac
As someone mentioned earlier.I would use nothing until you can get hold of that

[guineapig724]

Okay, I won’t give her the fortiflora, It did give her diarrhea, hence the messy bottom. So the metronidazole is safe? Her sore seems to be clearing up already, after only being fed it 3 times. The fortiflora did smell funny, should I contact my vet that they gave me improper medication? Darn! I paid over 50$ for just the fortiflora, and over 200$ for the entire trip, antibiotics included. I wish I had checked the ingredients. Oh well

[LBJ10]

Maybe the vet will give you a refund on it since it’s something they shouldn’t have given you?

How is she doing now? Are her poops better now that you have stopped the FortiFlora? Antibiotics can cause digestive issues, but most bunnies actually tolerate them just fine. If the antibiotics are causing a little upset, then a probiotic may help. It sounds like Benebac is available where you are (Jadeo was checking up there). If she is doing better now without the FortiFlora, then it could have actually been the taurine that is in it. I was reading some studies about using taurine to treat certain conditions in rabbits and they were finding that certain doses caused diarrhea.

[guineapig724]

I’m looking at benebac on amazon, should I buy bird/reptile or benebac plus? Which one is safe for rabbits? Should I buy the little plastic container, or the tubes? This is my first time buying benebac. also, what is the average price for benebac

[LBJ10]

Benebac Plus. I think you can use either the powder or the gel, although I’m not familiar with the gel. Petco sells the small package (bag) of powder for $4.

[Jadeo09]

Hi
I typed in probiotic
Then selected pet supplies then small animals
It’s the one for rabbits
http://www.amazon.ca/Bene-Bac-Probiotic-Small-Animal-4-Pack/dp/B000QSI4FY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1442806830&sr=1-1&keywords=Probiotic

[Jadeo09]

I would try for a refund because rabbits shouldn’t be given taurine or animal protein
Plus it gave your bun diarrhoea

[Jadeo09]

Don’t blame yourself either we all trust our vets in times of need. At least you’ll know for next time ☺

[Jadeo09]

So glad to hear its improving
Always finish antibiotic course though because it will get worse and may not be able to be treated by the same antibiotics if it comes back

[guineapig724]

Thanks for the link, I think I will buy it

[Bam]

In the UK you should be able to get Fibreplex. It is a probiotic paste for rabbits and other small herbivores. My vet sells it. It is a UK brand.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/rabbit-supplies-pet-rabbit-care-c-649_197/fibreplex-for-rabbits-and-small-rodents-p-1180

[Jadeo09]

your welcome.
is the diarrhea any better without the unsuitable probiotics

[guineapig724]

yes, I have been able to feed her organic spring mix, she hasn’t had diarrhea in the past 24 hours either.

[Jadeo09]

Wonderful news!

[Bam]

I echo Jade, wonderful news!

[guineapig724]

I think she is almost better! She is behaving normally, no diarrhea for the past 48+ hours, she is eating normally, and her sore is starting to grow fur and doesn’t look painful anymore. I will finish the prescription, but I think she is recovering. I even caught her binkying this morning! Thank you so much for your advice, esp. the probiotic mess-up. You helped me very much, and the only reason she isn’t having diarrhea is because I switched the probiotic to bene-bac. Thank you so much, Bobbi thanks you as well. I am so glad this is such a great website, and very glad that I found it. Thanks again, I don’t know what I would have done without you.

[Jadeo09]

Thanks for the update! Its fabulous news.so glad that we could help and bun is doing well.
Bun is lucky to have such a caring parent!
Jade

[LBJ10]

Glad to hear she is improving! We’re happy to help whenever we can.

[Author]

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