Please help my rabbit is not eating and has no energy!

[Audrey]

My rabbit Luca had been staying with someone while I was in the process of moving and getting married. We came back to him (Thursday night) being very underweight (like emaciated), and fleas all over him. He does not move much and has been hunched over in pain and grinding his teeth.

We took him to the vet yesterday (Friday). Her diagnosis as of right now is anemia from the fleas, she will do blood work after he has gained some weight and nutrients back. She gave him some vitamins, gave him flea treatment, and told us to go get him either nutrical or supplical. We went to the pet store and found things like this but they were for dogs or cats… we are wondering if it is okay to give him something like this. It is supposed to help get him some energy and spike his sugar/energy. I am very worried about him. When we took him to the vet he was still voluntarily eat his veggies and maybe a little bit of hay. (not as much as he should) As of last night he has only nibbled on his greens and ate a few bites of banana (his favorite). He acts as if he is trying to eat but just doesn’t have the energy. We found him today with a leaf of his veggies in his mouth, partially chewed. He is trying but I really think he just doesn’t have it in him. This is why my main concern is getting something to spike his energy that will give him a boost to be able to eat. We have overnight ordered critical care from Amazon. (the only vet open today in town said they sold their last bag to someone literally 2 minutes before I called… of course!) We also ordered a tube of the supplical that she recommended but it will not be here until Monday or Tuesday. I do not think he can wait that long. He is still pooping small poops that are not filled with hay like they should be. There are also only a few poops when he does it. They are black and not greenish like his usual ones. We just soaked some of his pellets in water and tried to syringe feed them to him but he was not taking much of it. It kind of just made his chin wet.

So I am at a loss of what to do. He needs something to kick his energy up and needs to have some sort of hay like substance because I do not think he has eaten hay in a while. His gut needs to get moving with hay of some sort and he desperately needs some sort of energy back. 

My family and I have fostered kittens before and when they get lethargic like this we feed them a mixture of Karo syrup and water. It kicks their energy up tremendously in a matter of hours. I was wondering if there is anything we could give to Luca like this. Maybe raw honey with water? 

Any ideas or things you have tried would be MUCH appreciated! We are extremely worried about him. Thank you so much!

[Bam]

You can soak his normal pellets in water and make a slurry that you feed by syringe. If he’s willing to eat fruit, he’d get sugar from that. Or else you can add some baby fruit puree to his pellet mush. Pear is often a favorite taste. Fruit has glucose that acts quickly. I suppose honey would do the trick too (but i haven’t tried honey myself with my buns), but don’t give too much or his tummy might get upset.

There are critical care products for rabbits, the most well-known one is Oxbow’s. Not all pet stores sell it though, so you might have to order it online. Meanwhile, pellets with water is good. You can add plain canned pumpkin mash (not pie filling) to the pellet mush for extra fiber. That taste is also often appreciated by a bun.

He should move around a little to help his gut get going, and hydration is very important.

ETA: Kuro syrup seems to be made from very dark, unrefined Japanese sugar. You could use some other form of unrefined sugar like muscovado and add water. Here’s a recipe. https://www.delectablehodgepodge.com/recipes/kuromitsu.html

But if you have honey, I’d use honey and water. 

[Vienna Blue in France]

Hi. How frustrating, annoying and enraging
You won’t be leaving him with the same ‘friend’ again huh!
Follow all of bam’s advice – there’s nothing more to add…
((( get better bunny )))

[Audrey]

Thanks guys! We added some banana to the pellet mush to try to make him like it a bit more. He is not enjoying being force fed (who would though lol) but we are getting some of it down him.

[Mushroomsmom]

Yes please syringe feed as soon as you can as they said. Is this vet rabbit savvy?? Please call around to every pet shop ask for oxbow critical care! Praying for your little love.

[Mushroomsmom]

I know the syringe feeding may seem like it isn’t working but you have to go slow and get it on the side of his mouth so he can’t spit it out. You have to do this as often as needed. It’s the only way he I’ll avoid stasis.

[Audrey]

The vet has treated rabbits and other small animals before. I called every pet store and feed store and none had critical care

The pellet mixture is working for now and he is still making poops. They are still small and more wet/sticky than they need to be but at least he is still pooping. I’m thinking about calling an animal ER a couple of towns over to see what they think about the supplical/nutrical and to see if they have any other tips.

About how often/how much do you think he should be taking of the pellet mix?

Thanks again for your help and concern guys!

[vanessa]

Does this vet not have critical care? I buy it from Amazon.

[Audrey]

So we took him to the nearest animal ER that treats small animals. We waited for over an hour without anyone even looking at him despite him being in critical condition. He started wheezing and I finally brought him up to the front counter where she immediately took him back.
Basically they are saying that he will most likely not make it. I told them that I wanted them to try everything possible. He is currently in an oxygen cage with heating pads.
I think their next plan of action is to give him an IV although I’m not sure when. I also am not sure if they will try to do critical care or not which concerns me. I know it is most important to keep his gut moving. I’m extremely upset. I don’t know when they will try to do the next thing or what it will be.
They are not very optimistic. I am very distraught. They are keeping him for the weekend and will call if he changes.
Prayers, thoughts, or good vibes are much appreciated. Luca is such a good rabbit and my heart is very much broken for him.

[Mikey]

((((((VIBES)))))

Is there any chance they will allow you to come and visit?

[Vienna Blue in France]

I don’t like the sound of their absent optimism…. i always think that negative vibes or less effort to treat doesn’t give an animal (or human) the best chance…
Syringing is the only way to get food in him, and him resisting is in a way a sign that he has strength left.
You must always be careful to make sure he swallows each mouthful rather than force feeding him too fast.

Anyhoo, his immediate fate remains in the hands of the vets now… (((( get well bunny ))))

[Bam]

I’m sorry the vets aren’t optimistic. I agree with Vienna, that he fought being syringe-fed was a good sign – a rabbit only does that if it has fighting spirit left in him. Warming up, IV fluids and oxygen are excellent supportive care measures.

Please recover (((((Luca)))))

[jerseygirl]

Warming up, IV fluids and oxygen are excellent supportive care measures.

I agree. 

Sending {{{vibes}}} for (((Luca))). I hope they are able to get him stable and some food into him after.

[Audrey]

Another update on Luca:
We called this morning and his temperature has gone up, he is on fluids and he is still making poops. They gave him another flea treatment. They are going to draw blood at noon (in about 30 minutes) and see where his red count is. If it is too low they are going to suggest a blood transfusion.
I am optimistic. Luca is a little fighter and he hasn’t given up yet! Thank you all for keeping him in your thoughts it is much appreciated!

[Mikey]

Improvement is still improvement. Glad he is hanging on (((((VIBES)))))

[Vienna Blue in France]

Go Luca GO !!!!!!!! ((((( come on little guy )))))

[LittlePuffyTail]

((((((Healing Vibes for Luca))))))))

[Bam]

More healing vibes for (((((Luca)))))

[sarahthegemini]

Come on Luca, you can do it!!

[Author]

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