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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Not eating well post molar trimming

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    • Gidget
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        Gidget developed a tooth spur and had to have two molars trimmed. She was on Metacam and TMP/SMP before & after the dental work, and then a second pain-killer because she didn’t want to eat after she came back from the vet. It’s been a week since the molar trimming and she still isn’t eating as usual. The vet didn’t seem overly concerned but it’s worrying me a lot. He has re-checked her teeth and mouth and didn’t find anything wrong.

        I don’t think she’s eaten any pellets or hay, although she may have nibbled a bit. Yesterday morning she came running to her dish as usual for breakfast but turned up her nose at the pellets and hopped away. I’ve been offering her all of her favorites, but she just nibbles. I brought in some raspberry leaves this evening and she nibbled maybe one (?) and hasn’t touched the dandelion leaves I brought in at the same time. 

        Also, she’s been hiding a lot–but then at other times she’ll hop up beside me on the couch to be petted!

        My theory is that (1) she associates pain with eating; (2) she’s still pretty stressed from several trips to the vet, being syringe-fed food and medicine (the last trip to the vet was yesterday, 6/16); and (3) there was also a stonemason working in my cellar for the last two weeks, with lots of tramping in and out, up and downstairs, and lots of strange noises. The stonemason is gone (6/15 was his last day) and we’re all done with meds as of yesterday morning. I did try to syringe feed her again on Tuesday but she just spits out the food. She did the same thing at the vet’s, although they did finally get some food in her.

        She ate maybe 3 bites of oatmeal and raisins this morning, and this evening I’ve given her a bit of banana and that’s all I’ve seen her eat. Sometimes she’ll eat banana mashed with Critical Care and ground pellets, but not tonight. It’s totally unpredictable what she’ll go for.

        Any ideas what to do to ease her stress, help her recover, and get her back to the routine?

        Frustrated and worried!


      • Bam
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          The only recommendation I can think of is get some food into her so she doesn’t go into stasis. Whatever she will eat, and if she won’t eat you’ll need to syringe feed her. They will always spit out a lot of the food you syringe them, but as long as you manage to get sth in, it’s better than nothing. My Yohio once refused food for 5 days after a molar burr, but then he snapped back. A week is a pretty long time.


        • Gidget
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            Thanks. 

            Right now she’s hiding under the bed and running away if I come near her. When she comes downstairs, I’ll try banana with oatmeal. She won’t even eat raisins today, one of her favorites. If she won’t go for the banana & oatmeal I will syringe feed.

            I don’t know who is more stressed–me or her.


          • Gidget
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              I’m still very worried about Gidget–she’s going back to the vet tomorrow morning (6/20). She’s still not eating normally and spends a lot of time hiding under furniture. She also runs away from me a lot of the time, although in the evening she will come sit on the couch with me to be patted. But then she pees on the couch, something she’s never done before. I’m beginning to think there is something else going on, nothing to do with her teeth.

              I’ve syringe-fed her a bit but it’s very difficult and that makes me tend to avoid it. I don’t like to get her stressed out.

              She’s eaten some pellets softened with apple juice, a little oatmeal with raisins, and some uncooked oatmeal–but just nibbles of any of it.


            • Bam
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                It does sound like sth else could be wrong as well. How old is she? Is she spayed?


              • Gidget
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                  She’s about 7 y.o., and yes, she is spayed.

                  I was looking in Rabbit Health in the 21st Century, and it happened to open to the page “When Bunny Has Given Up.” Gidget has the signs of a “down” day: refuses to eat even favorite foods (she eats a little but also refuses her favorites); fights syringe feeding or refuses to swallow; avoids contact; sits for long periods with his back to you and face in a corner (she’s just hiding under my bed).


                • Bam
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                    All those signs are also signs of GI trouble, and GI trouble can develop in a rabbit after a dental problem or some other problem – really almost all health problems in a bun can manifest first in a GI issue. Then they can be slow to resolve. I honestly don’t think the diagnosis “has given up” should be applied lightly. 7 years is not geriatric.

                    A bunny that isn’t feeling well WILL avoid contact. Prey animals do that. Signs of physical weakness attract predotors so a poorly bun has a deep instict to withdraw.

                    Could she have gas? You can try baby gasdrops (simethicone), it’s not scientifically proven to be effective in rabbits, but both Medirabbit and Dana Krempels recommend it for suspicion of gas and if it doesn’t help, it won’t harm since it’s not absorbed by the body. A bun that has gas will refuse even a treat and will look miserable, because it’s painful for them. You can give a light tummy massage for gas, like in this excellent instruction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg and it’s good if you can get the bunny to move around some on its own, because that too helps the intestines. Sometimes a motility drug might be needed, but that is something a vet should decide on and prescribe.

                    I can’t of course say if your bunny has given up or not, but there are many things you should rule out first imo.

                    Sending her many, many healing-vibes.


                  • Gidget
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                      She doesn’t seem like she’s in pain, but I will try some simethicone.


                    • Bam
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                        At least it is harmless. You can give 1 ml per hour for three hours and then 0,4 ml every 2-3 hours, but in general it acts fast, like after 20 minutes or so. Sometimes simethicone isn’t enough to disperse a big enough gas bubble, but vets can give more potent meds. It would be great if she’d fart, but you often don’t hear it. Sometimes you can smell it though.

                        Also see to it so she doesn’t get cold. They tend to get hypothermic when they aren’t well, and that slows the gut down further.


                      • Gidget
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                          She’s going back to the vet tomorrow.


                        • Bam
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                            I’m really happy to hear that. I hope they can find out what’s bothering her and perhaps “kick-start” her. Maybe some sub-Q fluids with vitamins could help.


                          • jerseygirl
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                              Bunnies are extremely good at hiding signs of pain.
                              What pain meds is she on? Dosages? You might need to discuss upping her dose with the vet.
                              {{{Gidget}}}


                            • RabbitPam
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                                I hope the vet can figure out what’s complicating her recovery and treat her more today. I agree with bam, and hopefully she will be aided in getting her eating back on track, while being nourished by the vet via fluid injection. Don’t forget that pain meds and other medications can cause weird side effects, like lethargy, so she might also be kind of doped up and sleepy, not down. Even appetites can be affected, so there are many reasons for her behavior, and more reasons to expect eventual recovery. Getting the noise over with, plus having the trauma of the molar trimming behind her, may help her to calm down too. I’d rely more on the bananas/critical care as a starter food after she gets home. (Unless the vet tells you something else to do of course.)

                                {{{{{{{{{{{{healing vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}


                              • Gidget
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                                  I was almost in tears at the vet’s office.

                                  They took x-rays and found gas throughout her GI tract, but there is matter in her caecum (good!). So now she’s on metaclopromide and sucralfate (to soothe her stomach). Fingers crossed! She will go back to the vet on Thursday for a re-check.

                                  She’s had ileus a couple of times before and bounced back, so I’m hopeful, especially since she has been trying to eat.

                                  Thanks for the support and encouragement.


                                • Gidget
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                                    BTW, she had been on metacam and another pain med which I can’t remember the name of, but those were stopped on Thursday (6/16).


                                  • jerseygirl
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                                      Healing {{{Vibes}}} for Gidget!
                                      If you don’t see a turn-around, I would certainly start her on metacam again. Pain can be a trigger for ileus but also accompany it.

                                      BTW, she had been on metacam and another pain med which I can’t remember the name of, but those were stopped on Thursday (6/16).

                                      Sometimes metacam is prescribed alongside an opiod analgesic like buprenex (buprenophine) or tramadol.


                                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                                        I’m sorry your bunny is unwell. How is she doing today?

                                        I’ve dealt with similar symptoms many times. GI upset can often be stubborn to get bunny back on track.

                                        How long since her molar trim?

                                        Did you try the simethicone? That can sometimes really help give relief to a gassy bun.

                                        You can try wetting her pellets in some warm water so it makes like a mush. Maybe she will eat it like that?


                                      • Gidget
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                                          I’ve tried everything I can think of: syringe feeding (she’s completely uncooperative), pellets moistened with apple juice, Critical Care mashed with banana.

                                          She has always eaten breakfast with me–oatmeal and raisins–but has only done that once or twice since she started having problems.

                                          She won’t even eat raisins or banana! She still will go for a stoned-wheat cracker (her favorite) but doesn’t finish it.

                                          Losing my mind. Can’t figure out whether it’s better to just leave her alone between doses of Reglan & sucralfate, or try to syringe feed her or what! She’s not absolutely anorexic, and sometimes she seems like she *wants* to eat, but doesn’t.


                                        • jerseygirl
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                                            Do you have anywhere you can pick fresh grass? (wash anything you pick really well). Weeds like dandelions or thistle. Rose leaves or willow?? When my rabbits have been off their food or in gi stasis, natural forage is what they always start eating first.

                                            I recently learnt that dill and fennel (the fronds or the bulb) *may* help with gassy tummies. Some people swear by dill and carrot tops. Certainly won’t hurt to try any of those.

                                            She’s not absolutely anorexic, and sometimes she seems like she *wants* to eat, but doesn’t.

                                            Do you have any of the metacam left?


                                          • BinkyBunny
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                                              I am just chiming in here a little late, but just wanted to ditto keeping her warm. I have those “snuggle safe” discs that can really come in handy during times like these. So I set up a little hidey box with hay and soft bedding, and put the snuggle safe underneath all of that. The bunny then can stay extra warm there or have the choice to leave if too warm for them. (once they get better).

                                              I also think it may be a good idea to have her metacam just in case she is still in pain, and keep her on the gut motility drugs. Of course, check with your vet.

                                              Sending healing vibes!


                                            • Bam
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                                                The seeming to want to eat but then choosing not to is typical of a bunny with dental issues. My Yohio did exactly that, he’d come for food, then back away from it, sometimes he even took a bit of food in his mouth and dropped it. This was before my vet decided to burr his teeth, she didn’t think he had a molar problem because he had just the tiniest, tiniest Spurs. But he didn’t eat properly for 3 weeks, and then he had his teeth burred and 5 days later the problem was completely gone.
                                                I absolutely second Jersey on fresh forage, particularly willow. We have a weeping willow in the yard and leaves from that tree was just about the only thing Yohio ate with any kind of relish. Willow contains salicylate acid which is a natural painkiller.
                                                Maybe your vet should have another look at her teeth in case they didn’t get enough off the first time around? For a sensitive bun even tiny tiny unevenness can cause pain.


                                              • Gidget
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                                                  Gidget saw the vet this morning. (It only took me 15 minutes to find her. She’s gotten very devious.) The vet thought she looked better, but she has lost a bit more weight. She had food in her gut, so that was good.

                                                  I haven’t tried grass but she loves dandelion and *will* eat that. I will try more stuff from the yard.

                                                  I haven’t heard of the “snuggle safe” discs, so I will have to look into those.

                                                  I think it’s just going to take a long time for her to get back to normal, especially if she has (as the vet thinks) a stress-induced ulcer. She’s gotten a bit better about taking her meds but still gets a bit stressed out–she hates to be held. The trips to the vet get her pretty stressed, of course. Fortunately, he doesn’t want to see her again for a week.


                                                • Bam
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                                                    I hope it’s just a matter of her needing more time. Did she get anything for the ulcer? (Like Zantac f ex)?
                                                    They do get stressed when you have to catch them, sometimes several times a day for feeding, but sometimes there’s just no other way.


                                                  • Gidget
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                                                      Gidget is continuing to have teeth problems. She had an infected tooth about a month ago, which the vet pulled. She was on antibiotic for 14 days and metaclopromide and metacam until she started eating more. I took her back tot he vet last week because her appetite still isn’t back to normal and she’s sneezing and has runny eyes and nose.

                                                      The vet did a bunch of x-rays and thinks that the roots of her upper molars are getting too long and causing sinusitis. I think it’s also painful. Gidget seems to want to eat but I can’t find anything she will consistently eat. Sometimes, softened pellets. Sometimes. oats; sometimes, broccoli (her favorite). She’s always been a fussy eater and eats little to no hay, only reliably eats broccoli, kale and dandelion greens–but the dandelion has to be wild, not store-bought! I have been trying to get Critical Care into her a few times a day, but I think most of it goes to waste.

                                                      Short story: she’s back on antibiotic, metacam and metaclopramide, and is scheduled to go in on Tuesday to have her molars trimmed.

                                                      In the meantime, I’d like to have her eating more. Any ideas of what to tempt her with?

                                                      She doesn’t like baby food. Mashed up banana & ground pellets isn’t even working of late. She’ll nibble on broccoli and a bit of softened pellets–and she eats some of my cooked oatmeal & raisins at breakfast. Last night she was eating more normally so I didn’t give her any metaclopramide this morning, but now she’s off her food, again.


                                                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                        I’m very sorry to hear Gidget is not doing well. I don’t really have any suggestions for appetite that you haven’t tried, hopefully someone else will.

                                                        What is the plan with her molar roots?


                                                      • Anissasnooki
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                                                          I was wondering if you ever figured out this problem. I’m new to this site and honestly so desperate. My 8 year oldbun is doing the same thing after her first molar trim. She seems like she’s starving but goes to eat, barely does and runs away. She does eat romaine and parsley though. She comes for her favorites but will not eat pellets or hay. It’s been 3 days, 2 on critical care and she’s really starting to fight it. She’s still active most of the time then other times she’s in super bunny position on the floor for an hour or two. She’s on anti biotic, pain med and a gi mobility but still barely pooping or peeing. They did X-rays and she was completely empty except sludge in her bladder which was almost full. But doesn’t seem to really be moving. I’m so confused and upset she’s never had issues in her life. Now all of a sudden it’s pure hell. My mom passed away 5 months ago and I don’t want to lose another member of my family. I’m thinking of going to a different vet for another opinion even though I just spent 900 dollars on all these things for her. Please help I’m a mess any ideas at all? Sorry to post on your post, I don’t know how to use this website at all


                                                        • Anissasnooki
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                                                            Ps. She’s also developed cough/sneezing she didn’t have prior to the trim


                                                          • Bam
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                                                              Hi and welcome to the forums, Anissasnooki!

                                                              When one of my buns had his first dental burr, it took him a few days to start wanting to eat. He only started to eat when the vet agreed to let him have a painkiller. Just the other day another member piosted about their bun not wanting to eat after a burr – turned out the bun needed a higher dose painkiller. https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/163397/Default.aspx

                                                              Sometimes vets give buns too low a dose of the painkiller Metacam, because they caculate it like they would for a dog or a cat. But rabbits metabolize Metacam quicker, and so they need a higher dose. If your bun has a kidney-problem, Metacam would be unsuitable though.

                                                              Do the vets know why she has bladder sludge? She needs to drink a lot to rinse it out and avoid all calcium rich food such as kale and black kale and spinach. Even if she absolutely loves kale, as many buns do. Vegs with little calcium are for example romaine lettuce and fennel.

                                                              BTW, for future topics you might want to discuss: This is a pretty old thread, and we ask our members not to revive old threads. Many other forums encourage reviving of old threads rather than starting a new thread on a subject that has been up before. But when it comes to rabbit care, esp. medical stuff, things are changing so fast (vet med for rabbits getting better all the time!), so we ask our members to start new topics rather than “piggy-back” on old ones.


                                                            • Anissasnooki
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                                                                Sorry, to be honest I cannot figure out how to start a thread… I’m not the best with technology. I try though. They don’t know what the sludge is from she’s had it before but it sort of just cleared itself up. Her X-rays showed just a whole bladder filled with it… I’m thinking of maybe seeing a different vet if this doesn’t get better anytime soon. She’s on 0.7ml of metacam one a day and I’m actually supposed to stop giving it to her tonight. But even when I syringe her critical care or give her medicine you can tell that it hurts she panics. She won’t eat soaked pellets, she won’t eat carrots she’s extremely picky. Basically right now it’s just critical care, parsley and romaine. She’s never had kidney problems her blood work was excellent. Sorry if this is all over the place. I’m just so worried. Thanks for taking your time, I’ll figure out how to right a new post now!


                                                              • Bam
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                                                                  It’s fine to post in this thread now, I meant for future topics you might want to discuss. You choose the subforum that best suits your question, then click the “Add Topic” button. Here’s a screenshot I did, with a blue arrow pointing to the “Add Topic”-button: 

                                                                  If you believe she’s in pain you should contact your vet about the metacam. Metacam can be given in doses ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 mg per kilo bunny weight (a kilo is approx 2 pounds), so how high the dose she’s getting now is depending on her weight. But if she hops up to food and then won’t eat, I think it does sound like there’s pain. My Yohio did the exact same thing.

                                                                  Parsley is high in calcium but it’s also a diuretic (activates peeing), so it’s not all bad. If her bloodwork was fine she doesn’t have too much calcium in the blood, so that’s a relief at least. 


                                                                • Anissasnooki
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                                                                    I made an appointment with the vet. She’s 4.78 normally but she did weigh in 4.32 after 2 days of not eating normal. She’s normally a tad on the chubby side. Her pellets are her favorite thing in the world. I’ll see what the vet says I just know I can’t stop the pain meds or gi mobility meds yet there’s absolutely no way. Thank you so much for your knowledge I really appreciate it. I’ll try to give her more romaine than parsley. I didn’t even know that about it.


                                                                  • Anissasnooki
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                                                                      I made an appointment with the vet. She’s 4.78 normally but she did weigh in 4.32 after 2 days of not eating normal. She’s normally a tad on the chubby side. Her pellets are her favorite thing in the world. I’ll see what the vet says I just know I can’t stop the pain meds or gi mobility meds yet there’s absolutely no way. Thank you so much for your knowledge I really appreciate it. I’ll try to give her more romaine than parsley. I didn’t even know that about it.


                                                                    • Bam
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                                                                        If her bloodwork was fine, she should have normal kidney function and perhaps just needs a little bit more Metacam. 0.7 mg Metacam puts her at a dose of 0.35 mg/kg body weight, and that’s at the lower end of the scale. You can give Ranitidine (Zantac) with metacam to protect the stomach lining and for gut motility. Ask your vet if they think that could be a good idea.


                                                                      • Anissasnooki
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                                                                          Hey guys, so I went back to the vet… they have her 3 times a day on her gi mobility med, and twice a day for the metacam. She did have gi stasis… it’s been since Friday morning. She is willing to eat her greens and even the “nutrient” pieces of her pellets. But will not eat pellets or hay still… she’s peeing a lot which is good I guess since her bladder was so full. She’s pooping but very small or wet. Not a full load… or anywhere close. So its been 6 days since trim but 5 days on full blown meds… and 3 days critical care. Every 4-6 hours depending on if she eats lettuce even longer in between. When I do syringe her sometimes for either meds or food, she will sit and grind her teeth in pain for 20 minutes after even once metacam. I try to be as gentle as possible with her mouth. I wonder if it’s her ulcer? I’ve never had to deal with any of this in her 8 years so I’m just really confused on what’s normal and what’s not. The vet is helpful but doesn’t seem as concerned. Could her ulcer still be really sore? Is it her teeth still hurting? There’s not a blockage in the X-rays. She’s still really cuddly and curious. Not exactly herself which would be expected. I read somewhere gi stasis can take 2 weeks or more to be back to normal. But what about the soreness in her mouth? Thanks so much.

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                                                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Not eating well post molar trimming