Coccidosis in young bunny…

[nursejoy16]

I have had Luna for a little over two weeks – got her off of Craigslist after little success when looking in shelters. She is roughly 14 weeks old now and was a little ball of energy and curiosity up until two days ago. Wednesday, I got home from work around 2pm and noticed she was grinding her teeth and would not eat anything I offered her even though she had clearly been pooping all night (I clean my bun’s litter boxes every night so I can accurately gauge how much they have pooped during the night). This was a red flag, so I immediately rushed her to the vet. She got a full body x-ray, subQ fluids, a dose of antibiotics, and a dose of pain meds. We also discovered she has ear mites so that was treated as well. The vet checked her teeth and although she had been drooling a little bit, he couldn’t find anything wrong there. He palpated her abdomen and although it still felt soft (not doughy) the x-ray did show a little distention in her cecum but no blockage or poop build up. Upon returning home, she took a big wet poop, and ate a few pieces of cilantro but still wasn’t really drinking on her own. I took her back yesterday for round 2 of subQ fluids and when we got home, same thing happened – she pooped a little but still refuses to eat or drink on her own. Obviously her GI system is still moving a little bit otherwise she would not be pooping at all. The poops look okay, there just aren’t a lot of them. I am having hell trying to get her to take her meds and Critical Care – I tried 3 times yesterday and was only able to get her to take her pain meds, probably because they syringe is so tiny and easy to get in her mouth. Today, I was a little more brave with my technique as far as getting her to take meds and food through a syringe – she struggled, but I was able to get her to take all of her meds plus some baby gas drops, and about 9cc’s of Critical Care. She’s still grinding her teeth, but otherwise doesn’t look uncomfortable. When I let her out of her “condo” she still runs around the house and explores a little so I can’t imagine that she is hurting too terribly otherwise she would just be hunched in a little ball in the corner of her condo. I’m no stranger to GI stasis – my rainbow bun Navi had GI issues chronically and she would make is so painfully obvious when she wasn’t feeling good (no poops, not able to lay on her tummy because it hurt, not eating, running and hiding under a chair, etc.) but she also didn’t mind taking her meds or CC from a syringe either. She would usually recover within a day or two. I’m at a loss, to be honest. She’s just a baby. I cannot fathom that she is already sick. I’m about to make a run to the store to get some Pedialyte and more baby gas drops and try to give her some of the pedialyte. At this point, I feel like the vet has already done everything he can – he is very rabbit savvy and has been working with buns for over 20 years so I definitely trust him. I just wish there was more I could be doing at home to make her feel better. If anyone has any tips or insight, that would be wonderful. Thanks guys.

[Muchelle]

So sorry to read this, it makes me think this baby did not come from an attentive home
Did the vet treat her for coccidium? Is her of the right weight? Also, did you change drastically her diet when you got her? Baby buns don’t do well with diet changes, so I’m thinking maybe it could be something she ate to make her stomach so upset.

[nursejoy16]

I got her when she was around 12 weeks old, which is the earliest they can start having fruits and veggies so I slowly started introducing cilantro and a little bit of apple into her diet. Nothing excessive, of course, maybe a couple of pieces of cilantro and maybe one small piece of apple as a treat (if even that) a day. I know that introducing foreign things into their diet can be shocking so I was trying to take it slow, of course. The vet has given me Albon to give her daily for the possible coccidia, and pain meds but I think the pain meds are constipating her so I have not given any of those today because she hasn’t pooped. She still isn’t really eating on her own but I did see her drink a little bit of water today. I am still having a hard time syringe feeding Critical Care or anything really, so I have some subQ fluids that I am giving her at home. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain, still running around and exploring when I let her out. She just won’t eat and hasn’t pooped all day. I’m stumped.

[Bam]

Has she pooped yet? If not, she might need a motility drug from the vet. Metoclopramide (Reglan) or ranitidine (Zantac) are often used with bunnies.

I’m glad she is with you now.

[Author]

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