Vet appointment this afternoon

[mackie1023]

I’m really just looking to calm my nerves.

Some background: buns is at least 7 years and change, possibly more. I took him in from a former coworker who didn’t want him any longer. He has always had it pretty good, spending most of his time with free range of a sizeable area. Summer 2016, we moved cross country. He travelled in the car amazingly well and had no issue adjusting. His free space did get a little bit smaller, but he still had it to hop about as he pleased every night and a good portion of the day. 

When he was under the care of his previous owner I am aware of one time he was very ill, she brought him to the office with her while he was on medication that she had to give him for a week or two. I don’t know what the illness was, but he bounced back from it.

Recently, his fur began looking a little disheveled and I chalked it up to the weather change – usually happens once or twice a year. Then we noticed he began peeing out of his cage – something that has never been an issue. So I made sure to change him more often thinking maybe he was getting a little more sensitive in his old age. For a time this seemed to work but then I found him one morning on the carpet, laying on his pee pile. Like he peed and just didn’t care if he sat in it. We’ve been through a handful of carpets. So I made a vet appointment, which is this afternoon.

Between the time I made the appointment and now he also has a discharge on his right eye, which is mostly clouded over. He’s lost weight as well, but still eats and drinks as normal. I can tell his back legs are an issue, he’s stiff to move about and will not come out of the cage any longer. I think it was the going in and out that was getting hard from him and perhaps that was the reason for the pee piles.

My poor little bunny, his backside is a mess. I’ve tried several times to clean him as best I could but he doesn’t take too well to it. It looks better than it did but there is still some matted fur that I don’t want to cut for fear I would knick something. Of course, he is white so he really does look a mess.

It makes me so sad, especially typing that all out. He’s so so sweet and has been such a joy to our family. And despite all of his ailments he seems to be in such good spirits, still wanting to be petted all the time. I feel awful for him.

If anyone has some words of encouragement, or what to expect from the vet this afternoon, I’d be thankful to hear it. Since we have relocated, this will be a new vet and I’m a bit anxious to take him in considering his physical state. Hopefully it’s not too stressful on him. 

[Bam]

I too have a bun around that age. An elderbun can need medication for arthritic pain – very common in the elderly of all species of mammals. Metacam can be given long term to keep inflammation and pain at bay. You start with a higher dose and then gradually decrease the dose until you find the lowest effective dose. If a bun has trouble with his lower back, it becomes hard for him to clean himself downstairs, and it also becomes very difficult for him to eat his cecals. As you know, buns need to eat their cecals or they get nutritional deficiencies. That could of course be a reason for the dull fur, but pain can also cause dull fur since pain is a form of stress.

Runny eyes are often caused by dental problems. Is he eating hay?

If the vet is rabbit savvy I expect they’ll take blood samples and perhaps do x-rays. It depends on how they assess his general appearance.

Vet visits are stressful for rabbits. Bring a clean towel that you can put on the exam table. Exam tables are slippery for bacteriostatic reasons, but buns hate slippery. Also bring a few treats, fresh fragrant herbs are often popular.

[mackie1023]

Thank you for the response. He is eating hay and pretty much everything else I give him so his appetite is still good, thankfully. I have a stack of towels ready to go, a couple for the carrier since I’m sure he will mess in there on the way, and I’ll be sure to bring an extra for the table. I picked up some of his favorites last night – some italian parsley and leafy carrot tops – so will use those.

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