Rabbit going off her feed?

[Kyle@theWintertime]

My blue Mini Rex doe has a vent infection. I am treating her with penicillin. She got her first dose on Wednesday.

Today I noticed she didn't clean up all her pellets like she has since the day I bought her. Wondering if maybe she peed in it (don't laugh, I've owned a few really SPECIAL brand of stupid rabbits before) I dumped the old pellets and washed the crock, then filled up with fresh pellets. Unlike the other rabbits, she didn't immediately tuck into her feed. She also hasn't eaten all of her hay, which isn't totally unusual but I'm feeling paranoid now, LOL.

I was warned that diarrhea is a common side effect of penicillin but the tray under her cage isn't full of runny stuff, she appears to be pooping and peeing normally. I pulled her out and felt her all over and she looks/feels fine except for her inflamed vent.

Any ideas on how to perk up her appetite? I don't want her to lose weight or condition over this as I'd hoped to breed her as soon as she's "clear" of this infection. I did witness her drinking normally, everybody loves their "warm beverage" (I give them all warm water in winter).

Any tips or suggestions are most appreciated!!!<br /><br />__________ Fri Mar 08, 2013 6:31 pm __________<br /><br />...anyone?

 

[3mina]

Rolled oats? a slice of banana or some parsley?

 

[MaggieJ]

Did you give her a subcutaneous injection? I have very limited experience of rabbits and antibiotics, but I think most problems occur when the antibiotic is administered orally. It messes with their digestion.

She may simply be off her feed because she is not feeling entirely well. Some healthy treats (BOSS, rolled oats, safe greens like parsley or dandelions etc.) may perk up her appetite. It won't hurt her to eat a little less for a few days, as long as she is still eating some and drinking normally. Most rabbits can stand to lose a little fat.

Keep an eye on her and update us as needed, so we can help.

 

[Miss M]

Maybe a little live culture yogurt?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

The meds are sub-cutaneous injections, but penicillin can mess with the digestive tract no matter how it goes in...I just wasn't expecting her to go off her feed.

I am feeling paranoid so I've been checking on her all afternoon...she ate a little less than half of her pellets and some hay. I gave her a tiny piece of Romaine and she ate that very eagerly.

She does get a little BOSS every day (winters are cold here!) but I haven't tried oats.

I know the local store has parsley, should a regular grocery store have dandelion? I mean I know I love dandelion leaves in salads, so they might have it, right? I'll look tomorrow.

......................I do have some live culture yogurt with some strawberries mixed in. Will rabbits eat that sort of thing??? Like if I give her a little spoon of it, do you think she'd eat a bite or two? :shock:

Thanks guys! I'm really hoping she'll be okay.

 

[Miss M]

Rabbits love strawberries. I'd give it a go! Somebody said a teaspoon a day. Especially if it doesn't have a bunch of crazy stuff in the ingredients list.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Well...she once again ate just under half her feed, and hadn't touched her hay.

She IS still drinking normally, and she still seems in good overall condition, though.

Turns out I may have eaten all the yogurt (oops) so I will have to buy her more, lol.

 

[AnnClaire]

And pick up some old fashioned quaker oats (generic will actually do fine) ... keep an eye on her and if she goes any further off her pellets, I would pull them completely, feed only oats and hay and yogurt or other probiotics. Keep a close eye on her water intake and if it drops off, get her to the vet.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Well, she has been drinking normally, and her appetite has FINALLY picked up...this morning I found maybe three or four pellets left in her crock and that's it! UNFORTUNATELY, today is her second dose of penicillin, so I wager she'll go right back off her feed.

However, her vent looks almost normal already. S'more meds, some more time, and I think this infection will be a thing of the past! I wonder how irritable the vent thing was making her...she was a little sassy and aloof before, now she's ultra-sweet and snuggly. Either that or she's just finally settling in, LOL. IDK.

 

[AnnClaire]

I had a doe come to me with a nasty case of fur mites ... it was very soothing to her for me to scratch the flaky spots with my fingernails ... so very quickly I was in her "good friend" club! Then, when I introduced the ritz cracker, I was elevated to VBFF

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I had a doe come to me with a nasty case of fur mites ... it was very soothing to her for me to scratch the flaky spots with my fingernails ... so very quickly I was in her "good friend" club! Then, when I introduced the ritz cracker, I was elevated to VBFF

LOL!! Had to disappoint dear Breezy today...I pulled her out and she was all "yay I get hugs!"

Then lo, another injection. She didn't want to snuggle after that.

She still feels like she's in excellent condition though so I doubt being off her feed has hurt her thus far. She's pretty beefy and firmly muscled for such a wee bunny!!!

 

[AnnClaire]

I will admit that rabbits can hold a grudge for a good long while, but they also seem to be quick to forgive if offered the right bribe

Perhaps some one-on-one time when she doesn't get a stick will help keep you in her good graces

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I will admit that rabbits can hold a grudge for a good long while, but they also seem to be quick to forgive if offered the right bribe

Perhaps some one-on-one time when she doesn't get a stick will help keep you in her good graces

LOL true. She LOVES having her face and chest scratched...when I go out to feed/water she presses her chest against the cage door so I can scratch her chest while I prep their food. She likes to be hugged, too, which is pretty odd for a rabbit.

Ten to one it'll be a few days before she offers her chest for a scratch, LOL!!!