Belly Issues

[lacy&button]

I need some help with my bun. Button is three years old, spayed, and I have only has her for a month. She belonged to a friend that passed away, it was very unexpected, iv only had her for a little over a month, and I am trying so hard to take the best care of her. We have been having some belly problems and I have been to the vet twice over the last two weeks. She does well for two days each time and then is suddenly unwell again. Im just gonna give a break down of our month.

She stayed at my moms for a few months before I could take her. I go home for thanksgiving and they have her locked in a tiny cage, only eating kale, feeding her dog food. I brought her home, she has free reign of the house, and is put on a diet of pellets, veggies, and hay. I think it has been too much, but I have cut back since she keeps getting sick.

She gets:

1 cup of mixed green veggies 2x a day

2-3 table spoons of pellets

a radish or a baby carrot or two

a thumb sized piece of apple, banana, or pear a day (split into tiny pieces as a treat)

Unlimited amount of Timothy hay

She did so well for the first three weeks.  A week and a half ago she gets into the cabinet and opens her pellets, eating god knows how much I noticed the next day she wasnt herself. Inactive and no poop, periods of loud gurgles and then none. I took her the the vet, who says he is familiar with rabbits and he says she is fine.  Good teeth, ears, skin, temp. He said she probably just had a tummy ache. I gave her simethicone and belly rubs and she poops and seems fine for two or three days. 

I came home from work on Friday (6 days ago) and she is limp in her box, unresponsive, and grinding her teeth. I took her to the vet Sat. morning. They do and ex-ray and said she has some bloat, they prescribe metoclopramide until Monday morning, along with a antibiotic. They gave me a 75% chance of her making it. I was ecstatic because she seemed to be doing better. I syringed her apple juice (non-sweetened), and ground up pellets. She began to poop again Sunday night, ( a lot, pellets, and big sticky ones) , her belly seemed to deflate and she was hungry and curious again until today. Then I came home this afternoon and she is balled up, unmoving, and grinding her teeth. I have given her simethicone again. She wont eat though and her belly seems to be bloated again. I am giving her periodic massages but I can tell it hurts her. 

I will call the vet tomorrow and see if she needs to come back in or if she should just get more of the gut stimulant.

What do I do?

Any advice would be appreciated. 

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry your bunny is unwell and that no one responded sooner.

How is she doing now?

First some questions for you so I can get a better idea of her diet? Do you know approx how much she weighs?

Are the pellets Timothy? What veggies does she usually get.

I think you are giving to many treats. Carrots are in the “treat” category along with fruit due to the high sugar content. I suggest you cut out all treats for now and see if that helps. Bunnies are not supposed to get more than 1 TSPB fruit/carrots per day. Less if you are giving dried fruit.

[lacy&button]

Thank you for your response. She is not well. I went to the vet and got more metoclopramide but as of right now she wont even drink apple juice from the syringe. She is just letting it run out of her mouth, and she is urinating and pooping on herself. She ate a bit this morning and drank some. She weights 5 lbs. I have cut out all treats. Her greens diet is a mix of kale, spinach, parsley, and I recently introduced fennel. I dont know what to do for her. She wont even support herself when i sit her up. Is she dying? 

[Wascally Wabbits]

I am so sorry she’s having such a hard time! Please keep us updated with her status. I hope she pulls through this.

[lacy&button]

is it best to leave her to herself or to keep her near you when they seem they are going to pass? I do not want to cause her stress by moving her next to me, but I also do not want her to alone. I just want her to be comfortable. Her breathing seems labored and she is in an unnatural position. Thank you so much,

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so sorry your bunny is unwell. It’s impossible for us to say if she will pass away or be okay. Only a vet can tell you that.

Is she completely lethargic? Did the vet give any pain meds? Or give fluids? Both of these things are extremely important with a bunny suffering from gi issues. A bunny in pain can give up and fluids are very important to keep her hydrated.

Did the vet notice a blockage in her stomach? If there was no blockage you can try force feeding her Oxbow Critical Care of a mash of pellets. This needs to be done very carefully with a syringe.

Really hoping your bun is going to be okay.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

So sorry to hear that your bun is so ill
If she has trouble drinking you may try to give hay tea, this is what Dutch vets prescribe to rabbits with gut issues.

Put some hay in a large cup, pour boiling water over it and let cool down to approx. room temperature. Drain the fluid and give to your bun. It does have a tendency to spoil quickly, so change it daily and don’t store it up.

Wishing you all the best and I hope she’ll recover.

[lacy&button]

Thank you so much for your help. The vet told me this morning that her stomach has bloated beyond help, She is scheduled to be put down this evening. Im gonna miss her so much. There is nothing like bunny love.  

[sarahthegemini]

Oh no, that’s so sad

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m so very sorry.

((((Binky Free)))))

[Bam]

I’m so very sorry. Sometimes there just isn’t any more you can do.

Binky free ((((((Button)))))

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Poor Button, what a horrible situation. Binky free little one!

[Author]

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