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Rabbit attacked by cat

22 10:32:45

Question
QUESTION: This morning I woke up to a high pitched screeching noise. I've never heard it before but I realized it was coming from outside.  It was still dark but when I got downstairs I could see an animal in our rabbit pen. I went outside and it was a black cat.  Willamina (our female rabbit) was sitting at the edge of her pen. When we picked her up she was very mellow, but looked alert. Once is was light out I could see several tufts of Willamina's fur on the ground in her pen. When I examined her I can see two tears in her skin on her underside. They are not bleeding now, but I can see there was blood. I cannot find a vet near where we live that specializes in rabbits. There is an emergency vet that said they would see her. I don't want that to stress her out more. Right now she is sitting, still looks alert, but not moving a lot. She is not eating, even when I offered her an apple which is her favorite. Her eyes are also tearing. Is that a sign of shock, or that she is in pain?  




ANSWER: Hi Amanda,

She needs immediate emergency care.  Cats have the dirtiest mouth in the world.  Their nails (scratches) are even worse as they come in direct contact with their feces.  The bacteria they carry can easily be fatal to a rabbit.  I do lots of wildlife and most that die are lost due to cats.  Even the nick of a tooth can transmit harmful bacteria.  If we even have the slightest hint of a cat encouter, we consider it a life threatening emergency.  Get to the E-Vet as quickly as possible.

Randy

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

QUESTION: I took her to the E-Vet yesterday and they gave her antibiotics, pain meds and dressed the wound with a dry/wet bandage. They wanted to put her under to clean the wound but were not speciallized in rabbits and wanted to charge close to $1,000 to do it. She made it through the night, has been drinking water if I give it to her with a feeding syrnge. I also gave her a bit of applesauce as she wouldn't eat anything else. I am taking her to another vet this morning. I am hoping they can help her. The wound was much worse than I expected. The vet called it a de-gloving wound. Another thing I am concerned about it that she hasn't passed any pellets. How long can rabbits go without passing pellets?

ANSWER: Hi,

Degloving is a very serious injury.  What antibiotics is she on?  And she needs aggressive pain meds...and I mean serious narcotics.  If she is not on pain meds, she won't be giving any poops.  When they are under severe stress, like this injury, they basically shut down.  We have had rabbits in GI stasis (a condition in which the gut slows dramatically) for about a week.  But this one has the added stress of an attack.  Honestly, I am very concerned about her prognosis with that type of injury.  She really needs aggressive pain meds.  Some vets are not aware that narcotics can be used with a rabbit.  I would suggest both an anti-inflammatory drug and a narcotic...at least for the next few days.  A topical such as Silvadine (prescription) or Safe Gel might be comforting to the injury.  Basic Neosporin would be acceptable....do not use the "Plus" ointment...only the basic version.

Make sure she is hydrated.  I prefer sub-q or IV but if you don't have that capability, use unflavored Pedialyte and give it to her by syringe.  Get some canned pumpkin...not the pie filling...the real canned pumpkin.  It is highly nutritious and high in fiber.  You can also make a "slurry" by pulvarizing pellets and adding water.  But pain meds would do a world of good for this rabbit.  

That estimate for the sedation seems awfully high.  And your rabbit is a real fighter.  Most don't survive that type injury.  But when you see the other vet, if they don't offer aggressive pain meds, insist.  Also ask if they have product call Oxbow Critical Care.  It is a special hand feeding formula made specifically for seriously ill or injured herbivores like rabbits.  Really good stuff.  We have had rabbits live on this stuff for months.  Excellent product.  Good luck.

Randy

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

QUESTION: Thank you so much for all your good advice. The antibiotic they gave me at the e-vet was Baytril, I'm not sure what they have her on at the vet I took her to today. I'm also not sure what pain meds she's on but I will ask tomorrow morning when I call. The vet today said that he thought it was reasonable to go forward with treatment rather than put her down. The plan is to get Willamina eating and pooping again and then put her under for surgery. When I took her in this morning she had been drinking water I gave her through a feeding syringe and was urinating. But no poops. Her temp was low 94 degrees and the tech said it should be 103. The last time I called they said she had pooped and seemed interested in her water bowl. Also, they said her temp had gone up. As far as I know they have her in a warming isolette, are giving her IV fluids, have her catheterized, giving her pain meds and antibiotics (the estimate says 4 shots per day). Also they said they were force feeding her some formula, I can't remember the name.  I'm really hopeful that she will improve and they will be able to do the surgery soon. The vet says thats the starting point to her healing, then we will hope and pray she doesn't get any additional infections and can heal well. She is such a good rabbit, we adopted her when she was just a baby. We want to give her a fighting chance even though the cost is high. She is only three years old and I think she may still have many good years ahead of her.

Answer
Hi Amanda,

From the sounds of things, it appears you have a highly skilled rabbit savvy vet.  Sounds like they know what they are doing and are doing all the right things.  You just don't know how nice that is to hear.  I usually cringe at what most vets do to rabbits.  I suspect the feeding formula is Critical Care....great stuff.  I think this doctor is going to give her every possible chance for recovery.  Stick with this doctor....sounds like a good one.

Randy