Temper tamptrums vs. upset stomach??

[Caitlyn C]

• Ok so a few weeks ago Stanley had an episode where he spent about 10 hours not eating, not moving and not pooping. So naturally we rushed him to the vet the next morning and he got an xray and fluids. The vet said she didn’t see anything and sent us home with antibiotics. (Baytril) Once I brought him home, he went straight for his pellets and back to normal.
• (Once I got home, I noticed one of his toys that hangs that had been in the corner for a while was missing a carabeaner. I phoned the vet and they think that it’s unlikely he would eat something that size. That’s been stuck in my mind for a few weeks. I would also appreciate people’s thoughts on that too)
• About a week or so later, he was acting off one morning and I came home to diarrhea. So again, I rushed him to the vet where they gave him fluids and gave him Metronidazole and the vet thought diarrhea was due to feeding bananas. Once we arrived home, he returned to normal appetite and pooping normal.
• Last night, he scared the crap out of me! I had gone to work and he was his normal self, came home around 2pm and fed him hay and his 1/4 cup pellets. By the time I got back home around 9pm, he was back to the mopey self. He wasn’t coming over to us and asking to come out of the cage and he didn’t want a cookie or anything. He just sat there curled up, looking miserable and uncomfortable.
• I was extremely upset, a third trip to the vet?! I was panicking all night and my fiance and I decided it would be best to give him the night and see if he perked up. I left him tons of hay and vegetables. To my surprise, when my fiance got up at 4am this morning to go to work, Stanley was back to begging for food and attention! He had also eaten all of his veggies and looked way more comfortable.

Is this gas? Did he have a stomach ache from eating pellets too fast? He treats pellets like they are gold! I feed Oxbow Adult Bunny.

He does have ear issues that I know bother him. I’m just wondering if maybe I should only feed literally 10 pellets/day or something.

Sorry for the essay!

Thanks everyone. I hope everyone’s doing well!!!

[tobyluv]

He may be having bouts of gas. Sometimes the motion of a car ride can help with that, which might explain why he was suddenly better after coming back from the vet. Do you keep infant simethicone on hand? That can really be helpful with gas. And there is no danger or any side effects from it, so even if your bunny didn’t have gas, a dose wouldn’t harm him. I’ve noticed that some of the brands have artificial sweeteners, which I think are dangerous. I use Mylicon, which does not have artificial sweeteners.

Instead of giving him the pellets all at once, you might want to break it up and give him a spoonful a few times a day.  Some people scatter the pellets inside the hay if their bunny eats pellets too fast. Also, see if this is happening after giving him certain greens or fruit.  There may be some that his digestive system can’t handle.

[DanaNM]

I agree that something is upsetting his stomach. Can you describe his diet in detail? How old is he? Has he been tested for coccidea? 

When you suspect gas, have you felt or listened to his tummy?

Medications can also upset his tummy. You should put together a bunny tummy first aid kit: simethicone (infant gas drops), critical care for if he isn’t eating or needs fluids, thermometer, benebac (a probiotic, which can help after antibiotics). One of the dangers of gas is temperature fluctuations, so taking his temp during an episode is important (often they need to be kept warm).  

What type of veggies are you feeding? You might want to restrict his diet to hay and water, and maybe a tiny amount of pellets, and carefully add each one in and see if he has a negative reaction. 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Caitlyn C]

Thank you both for your responses. He eats collards and parsley occasionally. Mostly bok choy, dandelion greens, green bell peppers, cilantro, escarole, green leaf lettuce.

I will definetly try that brand of gas drops. Thank you for that recommendation. He has not been tested for coccedia, to my knowledge.

[DanaNM]

Hmm, collards and bok choy are in the cabbage family, so have been known to cause gas in some bunnies. Other’s report their bunnies react poorly to lettuce. 

You might try only feeding dandelion and cilantro until he gets stable again, and then try adding in little bits of everything. I don’t feed my buns anything that isn’t leafy, except as a very small treat, so you might want to cut the bell pepper too. Carrot tops (stems and leaves) are also good for upset bunny tummies, if you can get them. Fennel is also good for gas.  Try to get him to eat as much hay as possible, and encourage water drinking by providing a bowl and serving veggies dripping wet. GI stasis and gas are kind of a chicken and egg thing, one can lead to the other. 

If he has another relapse, and you can rule out a dietary cause, ask the vet to test for coccidea (just need a fecal sample). It is a parasite that can cause diarrhea and other gi issues in young bunnies, and most rabbits have it or have been exposed to it. 

How old is he? 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[tobyluv]

Mint leaves can also be good to soothe tummies, if your rabbit will eat it. I grow spearmint. You can usually find the plants in the produce section of a grocery store, and they can be grown in pots outside.

You may need to do some detective work with the greens and veggies he is getting, to see if one or more of them might be the cause of his stomach problems. Just pick one or two of the normal veggies you give and only give that for 3 or 4 days. If those don’t seem to bother him, try two others for a few days. He might not like the fact that he isn’t getting the variety he normally gets, but it would be good if you can determine if one or more of the veggies might be the culprit.

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