Rabbit breathing heavy, wont eat

[Spazydoo]

Hello, My rabbit Larry wouldn’t come out from her normal hiding spot tonight when I got home. I fixed her a dish of veggies as I normally do and she still wouldn’t come out to eat them. She is usually very social. She is a house rabbit and I have taken all the necessary precautions to give her a safe place to run around. I woke up at about 2 am to see that she still had not eaten her veggies and I found her breathing very heavy. I tried giving her some OX BOW critical care powder that you mix with water, It was difficult to syringe feed her but I managed to get a little in her mouth. Now she is just sitting there in one of her spots I am not 100% sure but I don’t think she has pooped either. I don’t know what to do to help her. I certainly can not afford a vet bill. I live paycheck to paycheck. I know some people may judge and say that if I cant afford a vet then I shouldn’t have a pet. When I got her I was in a much better financial situation. I love her and I want to help here from home. Please, any advice you could give would help.
Thank you
Rebecca and Larry

[Benthebunny]

I’m not sure what this could be, but it sounds like GI stasis or a stomach ache? GI stasis is very serious and should be treated with a vet. Keep feeding her CC until you can do something.Heavy breathing is a big red flag. Keep your rabbit warm.

[Bam]

It does sound like a bad bout of gas. Can you get baby gas drops (Simethicone)?
It’s also good if you can get her to move around and if you can give her a light tummy massage like this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg
Gas is very painful for a rabbit and it must get out a sap. Baby gas drops + a tummy rub is often very effective. You give 1 cc of the gas drops (1 ml) every hour for 3 hours, then 0,5 ml every other hour. Improvement is often seen within 30 mins.
Here’s a great article by Dana Krempels on GI stasis in rabbits:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

[Spazydoo]

Update on Larry’s condition. In case your wondering we thought Larry was a male rabbit when we first got her so that’s why we call her that. No point in changing her name.  I have been giving her the ox bow critical care food by syringe feeding every couple hours. She seems a little more alert. She just came out and ate some veggies. She didn’t eat a lot. Just a couple pieces of Italian parsley. But she ate it on her own which made me feel a little better about her recovery. She is in her spot resting again but I am thinking she is going to be ok.
Thank you all

 Rebecca & Larry

[Bam]

Thank you for the update! That she ate on her own is excellent, even if it was just a little!
Many continued healing-vibes for (((((Larry)))))

[Spazydoo]

Update #2…..  She is continuing to eat small amounts on her own.. And I am still giving her the Oxbow by syringe  every couple hours.  I don’t think she will ever forgive me for force feeding her. But I would much rather have her upset with me than not be around anymore. Her breathing seems pretty normal but she is still just sitting in her spot and not moving around much.  I do feel that she is on the right track though. She even looks better than she did last night. She is about 4 years old and we have had her in our lives for about 3 1/2 of those years. I hope to have her for at least another 10-15.

Thanks again

 Rebecca & Larry

[Bam]

You could still give her baby gas drops and some very light tummy rubs. Try to make her move around just a little bit. You are doing great so far!

I think she’ll forgive you for the syringe-feeding once it’s over. My bunny Yohio hates being syringe fed, once I had to feed him CC for a month. When he was well again he was even cuddlier than before the whole ordeal.

[Author]

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