bunny foo foo

Question
Bunny foo foo is about a year old. I had him neutered about two months ago. About three days ago I realized he wouldnt eat drink and his poop was very tiny. I took him to the vet that neutered him. I thought from reading it was gi stasis but the vet said his stomach felt good, it was not bloated etc, and they said his teeth were fine too. so basically it sounded to me as if since they didnt know what was wrong they just decided to give him an antibiotic. Well its only been a day but my bunny can barely stand up, his breathing is very slow, when he sits up he has to sit his head on his food bowl like he cannot hold it up. I am afraid he isnt going to make it.

Answer
Hi Aundrea

I hate to say this but your bunny has classic signs of ileus and GI stasis.  It sounds to me like your vet is not a true exotic animal vet that is certified in caring for rabbits.  If you have any way possible to get him to a vet that is a true exotic animal vet right away please do it.  It can be quite a drive but it is worth it.  Here is a website that will give you rabbit certified vets:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

This is not something that can wait.  It sounds like he won't last more than a few hours at that.  When they become lethargic they are in severe distress.  If you can't find a vet on the list then try to find a large city near you that has a 24 hour animal hospital.  Most of these hospitals have exotic animal specialists on call or right there.

When the poops are small that means that there is some sort of blockage.  They will get smaller and smaller until they completely stop.  When they don't eat or drink for even 24 hours this is not a good sign.

He needs to be rehydrated and get some food in his system.  It may not help but while you are waiting for a vet you can try to force feed him some pediatlyte with a syringe.  You can also grind up some pellets and mix them with water and syringe feed him with those.  What he really needs is IV fluids at an emergency animal hospital.  Please try to get him to one tonight and if you can't then call your vet and demand that they treat him. Sadly rabbits hide their illnesses until it is to late and I have to agree that he may not make it.  I have had success with bringing them back but once they are lethargic and can't hold their heads up the prognosis is not good.

I am not sure if you have something called oxbow critical care but if you do that is his best chance of recovery.  If you don't just grind up the pellets in a blender.  

I am so sorry that this is happening to bunny foo foo.  If you can get him to an emergency animal hospital he might have a chance.

Sadly I was away for 3 days for a show and when I came back I had 2 rabbits in the same condition.   Unfortunately neither one of them made it even with the critical care.

Just be prepared for the worst and make sure that if you have children that they have time to say goodbye to bunny foo foo.

I will wish for the best for your beloved bunny.   Just try to get some fluid and food into him ASAP and hopefully he will pull through.

If your vet tells you there is nothing they can do and you can't find another then please feel free to give them this information.

Good luck and God Bless

Pam