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My rabbit is ill after the vet

22 10:54:39

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
My rabbit went to the vet and she said he had a bladder infection. He was given an injection of antibiotics and I was told he needed another one 4 days later. He was fine after the first one - right as rain...eating and playing etc. Yesterday he had the 2nd one and he slept all day and hasn't eaten anything except half a cabbage leaf since. He is very glum and disinterested. Please help!!! They want me to bring him in and leave him overnight but I don't trust them now. Help!

ANSWER: Dear Corinna,

What was the name of the antibiotic?  I don't know of any rabbit-safe antibiotics that are recommended to be given only once every four days.  In fact, this is a great way to select resistant bacteria.  :(

Was a culture and sensitivity test done on a clean urine sample?  If not, please read:

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

as well as:

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

If you are not confident that the vet you're seeing is experienced with rabbits, then I would urge you to find another vet on the list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for a second opinion, and possibly a culture and sensitivity test and different antibiotics that might be more appropriate (which I don't know, since I don't know what your bunny is on now).  

If your bunny is not eating and not producing fecal pellets, then please read this immediately:

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

And get him to a good rabbit vet for emergency treatment.

But note that a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be painful, and that pain management is *essential* to uneventful recovery from such pain in rabbits.  Please ask the vet about prescribing some metacam and some tramadol, which is a fantastic combination for pain in rabbits.  

I'll bet that will help, and that your bunny will be on the road to recovery soon.

Dana

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

QUESTION: I don't know what antibiotic they gave him - I stupidly didn't ask. He is in pain and doesn't like his tum being pressed. They definitely didn't give him pain relief but I think they gave anti-inflammatorys.

They wanted to bring him in and syringe feed him - I thought that would make it worse - my rabbit gets stressed in new places. He has finally eaten some grass and a piece of pear when I hand them to him bit by bit. He is straining to produce fecal pellets.
There was definitely no culture or sensitivity test or anything.

Your answer was fantastic - thank you so much.
Maybe I'll look for a new vet.

Answer
Dear Corinna,

I'm glad he's beginning to feel better.  Do read this, though:

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

The protocols in there that you can do at home will really help him to feel better--especially the simethicone and the gentle tummy massage.  If he protests the massage, use an electric vibrating massager.  Most rabbits will jump at first, but then settle into it and enjoy it very much.  This *really* helps get the gut moving and the bunny feeling better in a hurry.

Good luck, and I hope he's completely back to his old self soon!

Take care,
Dana