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HELP! Very sick rabbit!

22 10:47:46

Question
QUESTION: I don't know if you can help me but my rabbit is not acting like himself.  He is not pooing and not eating for at least a day (I noticed yesterday).  I think his butt hole is clogged.  All of his male organs look odd and all of his fur is like stuck together in his butt area because he was sitting in the water in his cage.  I think we waited too long to clean his cage.  Do you have any suggestions or any diagrams that might help me to help him.  Oh by the way he is a male.  One other thing: I tried cutting some fur off down there to see what the problem is but I have no idea what I'm doing. Please HELP ME!
Thank You,
Nicole K.

ANSWER: Dear Nicole,

Please get your bunny to a good rabbit vet *IMMEDIATELY*.  
The signs he's showing indicate he could be quite sick, and in need of emergency care.  You can find a rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

PLEASE WASTE NO TIME IN GETTING HIM TO THE VET!

While you are making an appointment and waiting, please read the following articles, that will help you know what to expect and what to ask the vet:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

If his nether regions are sticky with mushy fecal matter (or with clear, dried mucus), please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/poop.html

If it looks more like urine, then read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html

DO NOT use scissors to cut away the fur!  If it's sticky, then use the protocols here to clear away the area safely so the vet can examine him:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

I hope he will be fine.  But you need to get him to a good rabbit vet right away.  Be sure it's a *rabbit savvy* vet, since some dog/cat vets may be terrific with those species, but do more harm than good with a rabbit.

Please let me know how it goes, if you have time.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Hi Dana,
Thank you for your attentive answer!  First off, I will make an appointment w/ a vet ASAP.  Ok, he is not pooing still.  Also, I think is bottom is just dirty from his cage being dirty (it is clean now).  But yet, I'm wondering if that is why he won't go poo.  Anyways, I gave him 2 mini carrots and he ate them(he won't eat any food or treats though.)I was hoping he might get diaria or something.  Also, I was researching and I was also thinking he could possibly have a hairballs stuck in his stomach or intestines or something.  I really don't know though.  Also, he is pretty old, and that might be why he is acting like that (he is probably 5 or 6).  Is there anything else you recommend I do?
Thank You Sooooo Much For All Of Your Help!
Nicole K.

Answer
Dear Nicole,

At the age of 5 or 6, your bunny is by no means old.  He could live to be in his teens with good luck and proper care.  But at his age, he may be developing molar spurs or other dental problems that could cause enough pain to elicit ileus (explained in one of the previous articles I sent you).  The two most common causes of ileus in domestic rabbits are incorrect diet:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html

and dental problems causing pain:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/dental.html

As explained in the ileus article (please be SURE to read that tonight!), hairballs are extremely rare in rabbits, and pretty much restricted to the long-haired breeds.  All rabbits have some hair in their intestines most of the time, and it's not a big deal as long as they get plenty of fresh timothy hay, lots of fresh water, and lots of fresh, wet greens to keep the intestinal contents well hydrated and moving easily.  The problem your rabbit has is probably NOT a hairball, and if the vet you see proclaims "hairball" upon simply hearing the symptoms, you need to find a more experienced vet.

It's important to remember that a rabbit's common physiological response to pain/illness/stress is to *shut down the GI tract*.  This can be fatal if not addressed aggressively and soon.  You can start with the tummy massage described in the ileus article I sent previously.  That will help a LOT, as will pediatric simethicone, as described in the article.

Diarrhea is actually *not* a good thing, but don't be surprised to see that and/or mucus once he starts pooping again (with help from a good rabbit vet).  Remember to make sure the vet is very rabbit-savvy, or s/he could do more harm than good:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope this helps!

Dana