Diarrhea in spayed bunny

[Apollo'sMomma]

Got our doe from a shelter yesterday, and she was just spayed the day before. She is refusing to eat hay, but has eaten some greens, and is drinking water. Has very tiny formed poos and diarrhea. Is it normal for bunnies to have some diarrhea after spay surgery? She is on Meloxicam. I also just gave her a little benebac. Any advice is much appreciated!

[Asriel and Bombur]

True diarrhea is an emergency. Get her to the vet ASAP.

[Bam]

Diarrhoea is never normal in a rabbit, but if there are formed poop as well, it’s not true diarrhoea. Poop irregularities are often seen after a spay, it should resolve within about 2 weeks. Benebac is very good. It helps replenish the disturbed gut microlife.

The fact that she is eating is highly encouraging. Hopefully she’ll start eating hay again soon, but right now she might feel too out of it to want to bother with heavy chewing. Whatever she wants to eat now (within reasonable limits) is fine for her to have. Fragrant herbs and small pieces of fruit can help perk a bun up so the appetite returns.

Keep her warm, buns can get hypothermia post surgery and that is very dangerous. You can use hand warmers or a warm water bottle or a microwaved sock full of rice. She must be able to move away from the heat source if she doesn’t want it.

[Apollo'sMomma]

Thank you for all of your advice! As we speak she is eating some alfalfa hay. When my boy bunny had stasis a few years ago, that was the thing that got him eating again, and it seems to be working for her too. She seems well other than not particularly wanting her timothy hay, and the poo issue, so I think I’ll just keep an eye on her for now. I already have an e-mail in to my vet, who is only in on Mondays and Tuesdays to see if we can get her seen then. If she gets worse, there is an emergency vet nearby, but they aren’t great with bunnies there, so fingers crossed I won’t end up having to take her there! I am going to warm up some water for a bottle for her right now! Thanks again!

[Bam]

Many vibes for your girl! Eating alfalfa hay sounds really promising! It has good fiber and protein, which she needs now during the healing process.

It is normal for them to be pretty out of it for a while after a spay, it is after all major surgery. But you seem to be on top of it, there is poop (sticky poop is better than no poop), she is eating and you have meloxicam for her. Keep a close eye and hopefully she’ll soon be feeling a lot better!

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