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sick bunny / cant or doesnt swallow

22 10:17:23

Question
QUESTION: our 5 year old spayed lop-ear has stopped eating. She slowed down over a couple of days and ate less each day, but was eating some and drinking. She normally pounces on food.When she went to the vet, she thought it was a molar problem but had a mouth full of food. They surgically worked on a tooth and thought that was it but still doesn't eat or drink. Meds: baytril, metacam, reglan, penicillin, fluids under skin. It appears that she can't swallow, but still tries to cram food down. We are using applesauce with critical care and some of it is consummed, have also given banana and critical care/water (doesn't like this). Have tried syringe feeding critical care and also water, but it seems like it all comes out (I have done this a couple of times with another bunny with gut stasis successfully. The vet sent us home to try all these things but I think he believes she is a goner. There is still very small droppings but not much. They mentioned paralysis or neuro problems as a possibility and some inner cellular possibility. I am afraid she is going to die, she keeps trying to eat but something is wrong. I ask if she could have something in her throat but they say they didn't see anything in x-rays and there is no endoscope small enough and I am afraid now that it has been a week that she is to weak to be anesthatized. Do you have any suggestions or thought that might help us?
Thank you so much, Rick

ANSWER: Dear Rick,

At this point, you are in a very difficult position.  The only thing I can think of here is that she might have a tumor or abscess in her throat that's preventing her from swallowing.  If that's the case, then the only way to see it would be via radiography or endoscopy, which will require anesthesia.

If she doesn't get a diagnosis and treatment, she is going to die a slow, sad death from starvation and dehydration (I hope she's getting subQ fluids, at least, to prevent the latter).  If there is any hope that she can be treated, then ask the vet about intubating her stomach to feed her Critical Care (or if you can't get that, then some high-quality pellets well hydrated to make a watery paste that can be easily and safely gavaged) so you can buy her some time.  

This doesn't sound like an intestinal motility problem, but rather an innervation/muscle problem that is very unusual.  The only rabbits I know who can't swallow are those in the very last stages of a terminal disease, or who are afflicted with Encephalitozoon cuniculi--but there could be other causes.

If this were my bunny, I would risk the anesthesia for endoscopy and/or radiography.  There are worse ways to pass from this world than under anesthesia, and if she gets a sedative in advance to reduce stress, and you're there when she goes under the gas, then she will feel that much more comfortable as she goes to sleep for the procedure.

At this point, it sounds as if the choices are (1) anestheize and do the endoscopy or (2) euthanize her.  Choice #1 seems obvious to me, since, although there is a risk of death in her condition, the outcome would be the same as #2 in the very worst case.  In the best case, the vets might be able to find out what's wrong.

I hope this helps, and that your bunny will be able to be successfully treated.  It sounds as if you do, but be sure you have an experienced rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps.  Sending many healing thoughts...


Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What is Encephalitozoon cuniculi and can they recover from it?

Answer
Dear Rick,

E. cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite that infects the brain and renal tissues.  Nervous system damage caused by the parasite is generally not reversible, but there's no telling how much neurological sign is due to true damage, and how much to simple inflammation associated with the infection.

The parasite can be treated with Panacur (fenbendazole) and/or ponazuril.  Both are dosed at 20mg/kg once per day for 30 days.

I hope this helps.

Dana