Dog Attacked doe...

rawketstarling · Dec 9, 2014

But there aren't any visible injuries/puncture wounds/blood.
I think I got home just in time--he ripped through the rabbit fencing. He just likes "playing" with them. When I found her, she was on her side, panting. I THINK she's in shock, don't know for sure. She let me pet her, which she never does (new meat rabbit mama). I brought her inside, put her under a lamp, but I don't know what to do for her? Food, water? Darkness?
She's panting heavily. I just don't know what to do or what do look for. ANY advice is welcome!

Miss M · Dec 9, 2014

Oh, no, I'm so sorry!

Hopefully, she has no internal injuries. The stress/shock could still do her in, though. Check her gums now and then. You can look at one of your other rabbits to compare. If her gums are not the normal nice pink color, but are pale or grey, she could be bleeding internally.

I think her best chances will be if you put her in small housing in an out-of-the-way spot in the house, and mostly cover her cage so it's like a cozy little cave. Make sure she has food and water available, but if she isn't eating or drinking soon, you'll need to get creative. Probably best just to give her regular kitchen oatmeal and hay to start with.

You can give Pedialyte, diluted tea, diluted Gatorade, water with a little molasses, etc. If she won't drink, you can syringe it slowly into the side of her mouth. You can coat the oatmeal lightly in molasses. You can place small amounts behind her front teeth and see if she will take it. You can give pumpkin puree, applesauce, pineapple juice... if she's not wanting to eat or drink, try to tempt her.

You can wrap her with a towel and a hot water bottle, if the lamp is not keeping her warm enough. Check her regularly. If you're having trouble warming her up, you can put her on you and cover her with a blanket, and your heat might help her warm up.

If you do vets, you should go ahead and take her tomorrow, or do the emergency thing tonight. If you don't do vets with your rabbits, you're just going to be trying to nurse her through.

Hopefully, some others will chime in with some more ideas! :clover:

rawketstarling · Dec 9, 2014

Miss M, thank you so much! Turns out it was my buck

Anyway--I did just that--a small little basket with the heating pad and wrapped in a towel. I cuddled him close to me, and his ears, which WERE chilly, are much warmer now. I don't mind nursing him, I just don't know what to do. Definitely gonna try the syringe/molasses water. The only major sign now is his lethargy (this is not a normally cuddly bunny) and his panting/rapid breathing.
Thanks for the advice--this journey has been bumpy, the start of it, at least!

Zass · Dec 9, 2014

Miss M pretty much just said everything I was about too, and more.

Rawketstarling, your role at this point is mostly just to provide supportive care.
Keep him warm and hydrated, and because he's a rabbit, you'll have to force feed if he refuses feed. I wouldn't worry if he doesn't eat tonight, but if he doesn't eat at all tomorrow, you might start to worry a bit. If you can get him to eat willingly, it's always better than force feeding.

So...it case he doesn't start nibbling his own, another good way to tempt his appetite would be offering him rabbit safe greens, especially if you rinse them first so that they have extra water on them. Parsley, cilantro, or fennel tops from a grocery store are good choices. The leafy parts of carrots and celery are also good.
Try to make his situation as low stress as possible.
A frightened rabbit might not relax and eat or drink in a carrier.

Miss M · Dec 9, 2014

He may not have been a cuddly bunny before, but if he pulls through, he may have turned into a real loverbunny!

Careful with heating pads... they can get way too warm, even on low. Usually, it'll happen after it's been on for a while. It'll be maintaining a nice, low warmth, and then you'll discover it's gone into overdrive.

Sounds like you've handled this very well, even before you asked. :hooray: You must've been remembering some first aid class material for shock.

Like Zass said, don't worry about getting food into him tonight... that applies to water, too, though some water would be nice. Tomorrow, you'll be needing to make sure he's taking in food and water.