Some sort of food intoxication

TeodoraP · Oct 18, 2014

Long story short: my female bunny suddenly didn't poop for 3 days, then, after a visit to the vet, she started doing it again, in the normal shape, for like 12 hours, then it all became very soft, but not like diarrhoea. Until now she didn't show any behavior simptoms, but after that she became very apathetic and stopped eating (it's her 4th day of not eating). She is currently undergoing a complex treatment of various shots (antibiotics, vitamins, glucose, aminoacids and god knows what others). 4 days ago her temperature dropped to 36,3 C, then it raised to the normal 38-38,5, only to drop again yesterday to 36 something.

I don't know what to think anymore. Has anyone gone through something similar?
Please don't ask about the teeth, they are fine and she also doesn't have gas.

akane · Oct 18, 2014

If she didn't have poop declining in size or amount before the not pooping at all it was probably a blockage. Something she ate or a fur ball. A lot of people like to give cardboard for entertainment and they can ingest too much at once. Things like that. Antibiotics often cause diarrhea and put them off feed.

As for treatment, get food in her asap! Do not let a rabbit go more than a day without food. You risk the digestive tract shutting down. Try small amounts of things like herbs and squash. The natural feeding section has a list of safe foods. Not lettuce, carrots, apple unlike people think they should eat. The only fruit I normally use is berries and bananas. Banana is great for flavoring things. Soak some pellets in water and puree them in a blender with a banana. If she still won't take anything you need to start handfeeding the pellet slurry through a syringe. The potential for wool block means you should try something that dissolves the fur like pineapple or papaya. In this situation an antibiotic is shooting yourself in the foot. You did not mention signs of infection and the side effects are all the things you've been fighting.

Zass · Oct 18, 2014

What condition did the vet intend the treatments for?

Miss M · Oct 18, 2014

Yes, the fact that she is not eating is an emergency, and you've got to get food into her somehow.

After so long of not eating, you will probably have to force feed her in order to have any chance, though it is possible you might tempt her some with pineapple or papaya. Fresh ones will have more enzymes to break up any blockage she might have. Don't wait until you've found fresh pineapple before you try to get something into her, though. She must get food going through her system. It is possible that it is already too late.

To force feed, you will need to syringe or spoon soft foods into her mouth. If she spits them out, you will need to do it farther back, very carefully. Canned pumpkin, mashed banana, that sort of thing. If you have probiotics, mix some of that in. The antibiotics are very hard on gut flora.

Also, yes, we need to know why she is on antibiotics and all these other things.

Please keep us posted! :clover:

TeodoraP · Oct 18, 2014

She finally accepted some dill and also water with probiotics, but all given by hand with lots of patience and very slowly.
One of the vets at the clinic gave us this, by syringe and in smaller quantities than for the species originally created: http://www.viyorecuperation.com/en/content/what-recuperation It sounds really good and interesting and I hope it's the miracle key. :| Fortunately, she accepted it without trouble.
That's pretty much all I can tell you now...
Thank you all for your support!

Miss M · Oct 19, 2014

I'm so glad she's taken something in, and I hope you can get more food and water down her! :bouncy:

I had never heard of that supplement before... looks like it couldn't hurt. I'd definitely keep up with the probiotics, continuing several days after she's done with the antibiotics.

If you can keep her eating and drinking, she should start improving when she's finished with the antibiotic.