Bunny spayed, barely eating

[Willowambs]

Willow just got spayed this morning. She was not eating at the vet so they gave me the critical care mix and syringe. When I brought her home she layed in her cage and soon got up to drink. She drank multiple times which I hope is a good sign. I saw her eat one peice of cilantro with kale, bUT it wasn’t much and that was over 2 hours ago. She licked a strawberry but didn’t eat and doesn’t seem interested anymore in food. I was worried and tried to feed her the food they gave me but she keeps hopping away and won’t let me get near her mouth. I’m afraid to grab her in fear I would hurt her. I accidnetly left her cage door open when I went to wash my hands she always has been cage free, and when I came back she was slowly going around the room and plopped over on her side on her rug. Shold I try to get her back in her cage so she is closer to her food and water or leave her alone to roam? What are some tips to syringe feed her if it’s necessary,and because she had a couple bites does that mean she will start eating?

[DanaNM]

You should syringe feed her until she is eating normally again. It’s good that she is eating a bit, but the critical care will help her feel better faster and prevent stasis. It’s got all kinds of good stuff in it. 

You will need to either have her on your lap, or on a table. I prefer to hold the bun on a towel on my lap. 

I found the most success having the bun on a towel on my lap (no “bunrito” necessary). I hold his head with my left hand, 3 fingers under his jaw, thumb on his head, and then come in with the syringe from the side with my right hand. Go slowly and stay calm. Act like you are giving her the yummiest treat in the world. I swear it helps! 

Aim for that sweet spot behind the incisors. This video is good (I’ve seen some bad ones), and on par with what our vet showed me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iGZVYVm5Bg. Basically I am controlling the bunny’s head with my thumb and index finger. 

Also, our vet said the CC should be the consistency of “pancake batter”, and mixed with warm water so it’s a luke warm temp. You can try adding some canned pumpkin to improve the taste.  

You can do it! You will get better! It will be messy the first few times, but even if she only swallows a little it’s better than nothing. 

Also, if your vet said she should be on cage rest, you should move her back to her cage. 

. . . 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.  

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