Rabbit advice

[kbl1983]

I am doing this on my sister’s behalf as she wants to know what she can do for her rabbit. Her rabbit had surgery to get a lump on the stomach which is going to get examined and now the rabbit is sitting in her cage. My sister is assuming that the lump formed from the rabbit eating the rug. I did mention as a just in case since the stitches are on the rabbit’s stomach that it may get snag on the cage.

So the first question is it possible if the stitches  snag on the wire cage and also need a suggestion on a mat that the rabbit won’t eat. And the rabbit seems less active from the surgery so need info on what to do with that.

[Yoyo]

Hi kbl, welcome!

I’m sorry to hear about your sisters bun surgery.. I hope the results come back ” clean “. – fingers crossed for ya!

About the stitches… I’m honest to admit.. your post left me, with a few questions of my own lol, and, I’m not entirely too sure about how vets stitch up serious surgery wounds, but.. seems to be, a lot of times, many use either dissolvable, or glue. As to them being snagged on the cage… that really should never be an issue, to be quite frank. Rabbits, never should be housed in cages with wire bottoms ( this goes for pretty much ANY critter, that can go into a cage btw ) – I know that you did not indicate that your sisters bun, is in one, but.. for the life of me.. its the only conclusion that I could come up with, as far as a concern for cage snagging

If her bun, was munching carpet,..lol I would suggest cutting some linoleum, and do away with rugs completely, and offer instead a proper sized sm dog/cat bed, and a blanket. Bunnies do like soft things to cuddle into.. heck, my own bun, loves to get under his blanket when hes ready to sleep.. its pretty dang cute too!

As for inactivity after surgery – its completely normal, BUT — * this is IMPORTANT – she needs to make sure the bun is drinking water, and eating, ASAP! When rabbits are in pain, they can ” shut down ” , and, in rabbits especially, that can become critical, remarkably fast. If pain meds were prescribed, tell her to give them, on schedule until the rabbit is back to normal self ( I say it that way, cuz, after my rabbit had a surgery, they gave me pain med for him for an entire week, to be taken twice a day, but, he seemed to not need it, earlier then the week was up ).

I wish I could give you maybe some better advice, more suited to your situation, but, details were somewhat vague. I hope to hear more back from you, and how the buns biopsy outcome!

Cheers, and, take care of that bunneh!

[kbl1983]

Thanks for the reply. The rabbit does have 16 stitches and tends to lay down but shes been sitting in the same spot for almost 5 hours. And ya I do agree with the wire cage as that’s the main cage my sister gets. The rabbit is mostly out of the cage and running on a carpet on tile floor for as long my sister had the rabbit.

My sister is thinking the rabbit munching on the rug probably led to the growth on the stomach and shes thinking of other alternatives. I am thinking a rubber mat just a flat surface with small fencing around it so the rabbit doesn’t chew the edges.

[sarahthegemini]

I’m confused – I don’t see how ingesting rug material would result in a lump?

Also a wire bottom cafe is awful, even if the bun is only in there for a short time. You need to get a mat or something to cover it at the very least, if not replace it entirely. In the meantime you could cover the wire bottom with a thick layer of cardboard and then fleece blankets. 

It’s totally normal for a bun to be less active shortly after surgery. I wouldn’t expect a human to be up and running after a surgical procedure! But make sure she is eating and drinking, peeing and pooping. If she looks in pain, get pain relief. 

[Luna]

Usually, the greatest concern with stitches is that the bun will chew them out. Your sister’s bun may be tempted to chew them if she is in pain or if the stitches are itchy/uncomfortable, so it is important to keep a close eye on her. Also, if her bun already chewed up the rug, then I would caution the use of rubber/foam material as a mat.

[vanessa]

If the carpet had caused a lump, it would be undigested carpet – in the stomach or intestines. A “lump” in the traditional sense is typically thought of as a cyst, a fat deposit, a tumor, something organic. So if it was indeed the carpet, it would have been removed from the digestive system, not from under the skin, and the vet would have been able to recognize it as carpet – immediately. Carpet does not cause organic lumps to form. Having had surgery, she should probably be on a soft comfortable surface. Not wire or tile floor. Perhaps put a small airline blanket, or a towel, in the cage so she has something comfortable to sit on?
Did the vet give you pain relief for the bunny?
Is she eating/drinking/pooping?

[kbl1983]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 3/17/2017 8:04 AM

I’m confused – I don’t see how ingesting rug material would result in a lump?

Also a wire bottom cafe is awful, even if the bun is only in there for a short time. You need to get a mat or something to cover it at the very least, if not replace it entirely. In the meantime you could cover the wire bottom with a thick layer of cardboard and then fleece blankets. 

It’s totally normal for a bun to be less active shortly after surgery. I wouldn’t expect a human to be up and running after a surgical procedure! But make sure she is eating and drinking, peeing and pooping. If she looks in pain, get pain relief. 

Yea that would be my sister running to conclusions about the lump being the rugs fault. I am still trying to tell her to do something about the cage floor to but something down as she said the rabbit will stay in there until the stitches heal but stubborn, Will show her what you all are typing down and see what she thinks. Also the rabbit will eat at the carboard or anything shes’s on. Thank you for the reply

[kbl1983]

Posted By Luna on 3/17/2017 8:45 AM

Usually, the greatest concern with stitches is that the bun will chew them out. Your sister’s bun may be tempted to chew them if she is in pain or if the stitches are itchy/uncomfortable, so it is important to keep a close eye on her. Also, if her bun already chewed up the rug, then I would caution the use of rubber/foam material as a mat.

Alright, will keep the rubber and foam mat out of question which leads me to the plastic mat. I am telling her to look at the rabbit to look for any signs of bleeding but nothing yet but caught the rabbit either cleaning her self or getting the stitches.

[kbl1983]

Posted By vanessa on 3/17/2017 2:09 PM

If the carpet had caused a lump, it would be undigested carpet – in the stomach or intestines. A “lump” in the traditional sense is typically thought of as a cyst, a fat deposit, a tumor, something organic. So if it was indeed the carpet, it would have been removed from the digestive system, not from under the skin, and the vet would have been able to recognize it as carpet – immediately. Carpet does not cause organic lumps to form. Having had surgery, she should probably be on a soft comfortable surface. Not wire or tile floor. Perhaps put a small airline blanket, or a towel, in the cage so she has something comfortable to sit on?
Did the vet give you pain relief for the bunny?
Is she eating/drinking/pooping?

Most definitely will show this to my sister. I am wonder is it possible from people who visit walk on the rug may bring in from outside? Seeing the fat deposit comment could be what it is because the rabbit is a little chunky and hope it is that.I will have to show this to my sister next time I see her to get the rabbit on a soft surface. Also the vet gave my sister a pain medicine and if the rabbit was in pain. I heard the rabbit is using the bathroom when needed and she is eating and drinking.

[Deleted User]

Its okay for bunny to chew/rip up and even eat a little cardboard. Plain cardboard, no glue, tape, ink or anything.

Put it on the wire 2 or 3 layers thick even. Can even try some fleece over it. But if rabbit eats some of the fleece then just leave the cardboard uncovered.

Plenty of hay in the liter box (providing the liter box is fairly big) makes a decent resting area as well. Of course you will want to keep that really clean to not infect the incision site.

Hugs and Blessings to you and bunny!

[Author]

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