Luke is just not acting/eating right

[Dee]

Hi Everyone,
Get ready for another endless post from me!?
Luke was always healthy until Precious died, and since then he’s had ongoing issues. I determined that he was eating the couch and my bedspread, so bunnyproofed that and he was fine for a while. Then last Saturday, he started acting weird again. I’ll just list the changes to make it easier to read.
Not eating greens most of the time- won’t touch cilantro which he normally loves.
Hid during the day for 2 days.
After that, changed his daytime sleeping location.
Will be eating his hay, then pause in chewing as if listening for something or bothered by something.
Won’t run out to the kitchen for his morning apple/greens
Just less enthusiastic and not quite himself.

Possible causes I thought of:
1) Molar spurs- 2 vets before had noted that his molars have slight points that could eventually cause issues if they get worse. These were not “rabbit experts” though.
2) GI issues again. I found a bit of the carpet bitten/scratched up, and caught him gnawing on the edge of his litter box, which is hard plastic. I couldn’t find any pieces of plastic around so he might have eaten it ?.

His poops have been fine- not smaller than usual. I did find some black dense bits that could be carpet or fur- he is beginning a molt. Until today he was still running to me for his Critical Care/pumpkin cookies. His hay eating hasmt been as much as normal, but we are out of his favorite oat hay- fortunately it’s coming in tomorrow!

Anyway, the vet today said Luke’s molars aren’t bad at all. One is slightly higher than the rest, but if he was just doing a regular exam, the vet said he wouldn’t even have told me it needed to be watched, that’s how mild it is. He said just to go in and trim that one molar is not a good idea, given the inherent risks of dental work/sedation. I agree. The vet didn’t do Xrays because his belly didn’t feel concerning. He said, based on symptoms and history, that we will treat this as GI stasis. He gave Luke subQ fluid, a shot of Reglan and cat hairball rememdy (he is old school in some ways but is very experienced so I tend to trust him). Then he prescribed Reglan 2 times a day for 5 days and said to call on Thursday to touch base. He didnt mention pain meds (he is not a very talkative vet!) but since Luke was eating and didn’t seem to be in pain, it really wasn’t an issue.

Since we got home, Luke is eating less. He won’t touch his greens and was even refusing his cookies and apple for a while,but would eat pellets and a little hay. Then he began eating cookies and apple again. He has pooped a good amount and the poops look normal, except for being darker and monster due to the Sub-Q fluids. One minute I think he seems fine and on the mend, the next I’m terribly worried and thinking he’s uncomfortable. I’m pretty neurotic though lol. I had to work an,overnight shift, which is where I am now. I hate leaving him but can’t justify staying home with him when he seems stable and my husband is home.

Do Sub-Q fluids and/or vet visits affect anyone’s bunnies appetites? And for those whose rabbits have stopped eating their greens, what was the trouble or did it resolve on its own? I’m really at a loss here. But I can’t keep running Luke from vet to vet, it’s not practical in any way or affordable, and he is worse off now than before we went to the vet (not the vet’s fault, you,all know what I mean ☺). Thanks for any input.

[Dee]

Oh, I forgot! When he was drinking a couple weeks ago, I thought he seemed to be tilting his head to the side and trying to drink front the edge of the bowl. I thought of teeth immediately, but then read that other bunnies will do this as a habit. He really doesn’t drink in front of me much, so I put it out of my mind. Just thought I’d mention it!

[Deleted User]

It sounds like you could use a vet visit. Just to rule out dental or GI issues. You’re in MA, so am I️! I’m up towards NH, but I️ always venture to Angell Memorial in Boston to see Dr. Staudenmaier. She’s absolutely amazing at handling the buns. I️ don’t trust any other vet near them.

[Dface]

Some buns do dislike being man handled, and can feel a bit wiped about vet visits and it can put them off their food.

This might not be helpful, but he could be mourning.
When Yumi lost Sampras, she went down to a third of her body weight after a number of weeks. She didnt eat or drink for 2 weeks and after that eating was done intermittently. She had loads of “panic attacks” -she’d freak out over nothing, bolt to a safe space and refuse to come out.
She slept a lot. Was really lethargic an constantly stressed.
When rabbits lose a partner they also lose a form of protection-their extra look out isnt there to keep them safe, its all on them to do it.

If you know anyone who has a rabbit you could mmaybe borrow it for a few hours, sometimes the presence of even an unbonded rabbit is enough to provide comfort. Yumi hated it when I brought Peep home, but immediatley improved eating and drinking.

Im so sorry that you have to go through this ! It’s like they never stop sometimes

[Dee]

Thank you both for your replies- sorry I’m just now getting back on here! I had to work overnight, and when I got home, all Luke would eat was pieces of apple. My husband claimed he was eating pellets, but I found them all over the place ?. He isn’t helpful when it comes to rabbits, he always says they are fine so its hard to go to work and trust him to call me if anything is wrong.

Luke was seen by the vet yesterday, and the vet didn’t think his molars looked like they were causing trouble, and wasn’t concerned about a blockage since he was pooping. He gave him Sub-Q fluids and metaclopramide (Reglan).Before he went to the vet, Luke was eating everything but greens and still running to me for his treats. He just wasn’t quite right and the not eating greens concerned me. But since he got home from the vet, he is eating much less and refusing his cookies. He didnt poop much yesterday, and only did some small poops overnight. I have talked to both my vets today, and they both said that it sounds like Luke’s belly might just need some time. Like an idiot, I didn’t give him his 2nd dose of Reglan last night because he was eating a little and pooping normal sized poops, just less, and he was SO incredibly scared from the vet visit, it would be been a huge traumatic event to catch him. So this morning when I got home, he would only eat apple. I gave him Reglan, Metacam, simethicone, force fed Critical Care and water, and wanted to give him ranitidine but was unsure of the dose, and also my vet didn’t prescribe it. I’ve read that it’s helpful though, since it works on the lower part of the gut.

I’m scared because I feel like he’s just getting worse now. I feel like I shouldn’t have taken him to the vet because that scared him so much, his eating and pooping have gone downhill. After I gave him the meds this morning, he won’t even eat apple ?. I’m scared that he has a blockage. I made the mistake of waiting and treating for GI stasis with my bridge bunny Precious, and she ended up dying of a blockage. But the vets say that due to the little bit of eating and pooping, they don’t think it’s a blockage.

Dface, I think he is upset about being alone even though he wasn’t bonded with Precious. I need to get him healthy again before i can try getting him a friend, but I’m hoping that will help. Luke NEVER ate fabric/carpet or had tummy trouble before, so this is bizarre.

So now I guess I just watch him and feed him more Critical Care and water every few hours. I have to go to work from 4-10, and I really shouldn’t call in. I want to, but as long as Luke has pooped and is not cold or seeming worse, I need to go.

I really don’t see how you all do it when your bunnies have long illnesses and won’t eat on their own for weeks. I’ve been through a lot in my life, but dealing with sick bunnies is absolutely exhausting and terribly stressful. I can’t eat unless Luke does! It’s crazy. Sorry, just babbling now ?.

This has got me thinking- I always stop/won’t start syringe feeding if bunnies are eating on their own, and stop/will not give Reglan/ranitidine when they are eating and pooping normally. Reason being is getting force fed and meds is so stressful. But now I’m thinking that’s a mistake and that stressing them might be worth preventing stasis from happening or returning.

I’ll keep you all posted. I’m called both vets tomorrow to let them know how Luke is doing. One is closer and much more communicative, but doesn’t see as many rabbits, and the other is 45 mind away and doesn’t explain much, but is very rabbit savvy and sees time of bunnies. So I’m torn on that decision too. Ugh. Thanks for “listening”- you people here keep me sane- or somewhat sane ?.

[Dee]

Just wanted to update on Luke now that I have time. I managed not to miss any work this week and Luke survived being left with my nonattentive husband, so that’s a big win.

Yesterday Luke perked up a bit after his Metacam, ranitidine and metaclopramide, but that was short lived. He barely pooped while I was at work, and his last poop was at about 1am this morning ?. This morning he would only eat banana, no apple or pellets or special bunny cookies.so I called his vet and he said to bring him in and he would sedate him and grind off any tiny molar points that he saw. He said that even though nothing looked concerning, some bunnies are very sensitive and one tiny point is all it takes. Another thing I love about this vet is that he makes everything so easy- he told me to bring him in this morning and he would Xray his belly to be sure nothing major was going on there, do the molars today, and keep him for the day and give fluids and monitor him.

By 3 Luke was ready to come home. All went well- there was a ridge of tiny points and the vet is hoping that was the cause of all this, even though they were small. He said not to be surprised if he doesn’t start eating well for a day or so, but check in with him tomorrow. I am to continue the motility meds too. The pain med the vet gave us good until tomorrow, then Metacam as needed.

Luke is quiet and not eating on his own, and hasn’t pooped yet, although the vet said he did some poops during the Xrays lol. A couple encouraging things are that I hear some very quiet belly sounds and feel a bit of motion, and for the first time since this started, Luke is ravenously eating the Critical Care from the syringe, and drinking water from the syringe. He ate 20ml of Critical Care/water solution and wanted to keep going, but I was worried his belly would get overly full. Im going to feed him again at about 8. It’s like having a newborn all these years later!

So I’m hopeful that it was the teeth, and we are going in the right direction. I’m not letting myself get too much into the “what if it’s NOT the teeth!”. Just taking it a moment at a time and praying for the best. And I don’t have to work again until Sunday, so I can spend all my time fussing over the little furry munchkin – yay!

[sarahthegemini]

Aw, little Luke. Fingers crossed it was his teeth causing the issues so you won’t have anything else to deal with *get well soon Luke! *

[Dee]

Thanks so much, Sarah! ☺ I’m hoping and praying that the molar trim has fixed the little guy- he’s always been the healthiest bunny with a stomach of iron so this is really unusual. Teeth make sense and I remember a very knowledgable member here saying that his prior issues sounded like dental issues.

Today Luke is still not eating on his own, but he is acting more normal. When he is feeling very sick, Luke sits up on the console part of the couch next to me. I sleep there and he sits right next to my head, and I wake up to check on him, feel his temp and pat him. He’s so smart, it’s like he knows he’s not well and needs to be near me.
Today he has gone into the bedroom, and isn’t hiding in his bedroom box as much, or sitting on the shelf he retreated to this week when he started getting sick. Strange how they go to different spots to hang out when they are feeling ill, isn’t it?

Also, last night he was so out of it, he peed all over his little self while hiding in his living room box, and again in the corner. Today he used his litter box and POOPED A LITTLE!!! Yay!!!☺☺☺

He just got his Metacam, so hopefully that will help too. He was less enthusiatic about eating his Critical Care from the syringe today, but that was before his Metcam. So we shall see, but it seems that he’s holding his own.

Also, does anyone know how much Critical Care to feed a 2.2 kg bunny daily and at one time? I try to feed between 10-20 ml at each feeding, and feed him about every 4-6 hours. I also give him plain water by syringe. Does this sound about right?

[Dee]

Thanks so much, Sarah! ☺ I’m hoping and praying that the molar trim has fixed the little guy- he’s always been the healthiest bunny with a stomach of iron so this is really unusual. Teeth make sense and I remember a very knowledgable member here saying that his prior issues sounded like dental issues.

Today Luke is still not eating on his own, but he is acting more normal. When he is feeling very sick, Luke sits up on the console part of the couch next to me. I sleep there and he sits right next to my head, and I wake up to check on him, feel his temp and pat him. He’s so smart, it’s like he knows he’s not well and needs to be near me.
Today he has gone into the bedroom, and isn’t hiding in his bedroom box as much, or sitting on the shelf he retreated to this week when he started getting sick. Strange how they go to different spots to hang out when they are feeling ill, isn’t it?

Also, last night he was so out of it, he peed all over his little self while hiding in his living room box, and again in the corner. Today he used his litter box and POOPED A LITTLE!!! Yay!!!☺☺☺

He just got his Metacam, so hopefully that will help too. He was less enthusiatic about eating his Critical Care from the syringe today, but that was before his Metcam. So we shall see, but it seems that he’s holding his own.

Also, does anyone know how much Critical Care to feed a 2.2 kg bunny daily and at one time? I try to feed between 10-20 ml at each feeding, and feed him about every 4-6 hours. I also give him plain water by syringe. Does this sound about right?

[Author]

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