Got to hot today :(

[tm_bunnyloft]

It was 95 degrees here today after being in the low 70s for the last two weeks. I am so upset. My husband had heat exhaustion for starters. And then I found another of the kids bunnies flat out on its side. This one was a house bunny and not exposed to the other so I am confidant it is not the same thing.

I have him up against some ice cubes in a plastic bag right now. He is sitting upright now but when he tries to move he just falls over. Is there a chance that he wont recover fully from this? I am just not having any luck the last couple of days. So far He has not been willing to drink when offered either.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Have you gotten his ears wet? Rubbing ice cubes on them will cool him quickly. I would also wet his body, or drape a wet towel over him. If you have a syringe, you can put it in his cheek and slowly squirt some electrolytes in there. Use a Sports Drink or Pedialyte- or google homemade electrolyte solution for recipes. It is basically water, salt and sugar.

Sorry you are having yet another issue!

 

[skysthelimit]

not good signs, syringe electrolyte solution in its mouth, if you have any.

this heat caught me by surprise, not feeling my best either.

Hope your husband recovers quickly, I had a bad case of heat exhaustion recently, took me two days to recover.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I Iced his ears and he is sitting quietly. I will try electrolytes too. I have some pedialyte on hand. So far everyone else looks good. He is a house bunny so I have him on a towel on the couch with the air conditioner going in there. Ice packs on either side of him. Ears iced and him damp. Electrolytes going in. Poo is normal. He is sitting upright. Just can't hope around yet. hoping for progress soon.

Husband is doing a little better. He trimmed three horses today in this heat and it was too much. My mare needs done but I will wait till it cools off a little. She is just due so I have time. My hubby takes good care of me so I must take good care of him in return!!

 

[Piper]

How is the rabbit? By now his temperture may be alright. You might consider making sure that he is dry, so he does not get a chill. Can you offer hay or oatmeal? -
- Sounds like your hubby and rabbit, will be hitting the electrolytes! Good Luck!

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

The bunny isn't "Right" yet. It still nose dives and such. I am starting to worry that it wont recover.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Does he have a head tilt? Could be wry neck, which is neurological. Also, check his ears... if he has an ear infection that could be throwing his balance off.

Did Hubby get ice packs and electrolytes too?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Yes he did. Nope not wry neck. No head tilt. No ear infection. Found him flat on his side lethargic this evening. His ears were droopy and he was out of it. After ice and cooling him off, he is sitting upright but still not balanced. He was never with the bunny that died yesterday, and doesnt have the watery poop. So I don't think its the same thing. But I suppose it could be. At least he is sitting upright now. Its a start.<br /><br />__________ Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:30 pm __________<br /><br />I'm not sure what to think as this is the second 10 week old bunny in two days. I'm a little worried because he is sharing a cage with his litter mate as well. So if it is the mystery disease then my house bunny's and my colonies and my cages may all be contaminated now. I sent two exposed rabbits to FC today and did necropsy on the dead one from yesterday and all livers, hearts, and kidneys looked normal. I wish I knew for sure if this was from heat or not today. Yesterday was not heat related.

 

[Miss M]

Wish I could help, but I sure hope he gets better! I think all you can do is make sure he is getting enough fluids and electrolytes, maybe some oatmeal coated with blackstrap molasses to get some more nutrients into him.

:clover:

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I don't think im gonna be able to save him. He is still falling over and not right. Im at a complete and total loss. Its a bit disheartening to say the least. When I put electrolytes in his cheek he wouldn't swallow even.<br /><br />__________ Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:58 pm __________<br /><br />If we get through this with even a breeding pair I will have a closed herd. Now outside rabbits coming in or outside people either. Biosecurity will be a top priority here. Quarantine isn't always enough.

 

[dragonladyleanne]

Seems insane to me that it may be heatstroke, but it really sounds like it. My dog fell over a month ago, spasming and unable to stand. When we tried to get her to eat, she was obviously hungry, but it was as if she were drunk - she'd lunge for her food and miss, or hit it but almost smother herself. She would NOT drink water, which scared me (I was thinking rabies, because she was a bit overdue for her shots) - but after 3 days in the animal hospital, and blood tests out the wazoo, all they could say was NOT anything scary, intraveinous electrolytes DID help, soooo - "heat related seizure". The dog is ok, but I recall old folks succumbing to the heat here, and "surviving", but with brain damage. Sadly, might have happened to your bun, too.

 

[ZRabbits]

So sorry to hear. Hope your husband is feeling better and also the bunny.

Karen

 

[MaggieJ]

tm, I would guess that this second problem is heat related. Give the bun a little time and see, but he may have brain damage. Are you able to give subcutaneous injections? I remember one member (Terry W) suggesting this for dehydrated rabbits. I don't remember, however, if it was normal saline or just distilled water that was injected. Anybody else know about this?

We hear so often of the elderly succumbing to the heat. A container of water, two facecloths and a fan can prevent many of these incidents. If I feel overheated, I sit down and place wet facecloths on my legs. The fan speeds evaporation and within half an hour I can tell that my internal body temperature has dropped considerably. You have to dampen the facecloths every so often. It is effective, low tech and inexpensive.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

For subcutaneous fluids, I would use sterile saline solution. You inject it over the shoulder blades- don't be afraid to inject a lot (think of the Hunchback of Notre Dame)- they can take a surprising amount of fluids.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I do know how to do IV's and fluids but don't have the necessary supplies to do so. I will be changing that. The bunny was still alive when we came home from church today but flat on its side. You would have thought it was dead but it had a heart beat. So I had my wonderful husband put it down. I do not want any animal to suffer on my farm.

It is a shame because it was such a nice little bunny.

Now I have plenty of frozen bottles in the freezer and am ready to battle the heat...... And it is 70 degrees and raining today. The stupid U.P. is a land of extreme changes in weather with no rhyme nor reason!!!

Every one else seems perfectly fine so I am fairly confident that we are ok now. This is now a closed Rabbitry to outside rabbits and humans.

Thanks for all of the help.

 

[ZRabbits]

So sorry to hear of your loss. One thing that you can't close out is the weather. Only can be ready to help your rabbits battle it and get through.

Karen

 

[MaggieJ]

It's too bad, tm, but I think you did the best thing for the rabbit. One can wait a bit for improvement, but when it doesn't come it is better to end the suffering.

 

[tracie123]

Sorry for you loss.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Thank you. I am hoping that the rest continue to do fine. Will keep you all updated on things.

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, please do update us, tm. It's how we all learn.