sick rabbitt

Question
My son has a rabbit not sure how old it is but it is young. The rabbit hasn't been eating the past 2days or so it has diarreah it feels cold and is shaking.  It seems to lay alot or just sit in the corner it isn't spunk like it use to be.  What can I do to help the rabbit?

Answer
Barbara

Diarrhea and lack of eating is a true medical emergency.  You need to get the rabbit to an emergency 24 hour clinic immediately.  There is really nothing you can do at home if his illness has progressed to full diarrhea and lack of food intake.

If you don't have a 24 hour clinic within a few hours from you than call your own vet and tell them it is an emergency.  Most vets who treat rabbits will come in immediately to see them and they almost all have a 24 hour answering service.  In the worst case he/she should be able to tell you the nearest animal hospital to you.  Please be aware that it may be a few hour drive.  It is just absolutely necessary to get him to the vet right away.

While you are waiting for a call back from your vet have someone go out to the store and get some pedialyte and an eye dropper.  Try giving him a mix of about half pedialyte and half water just to keep him hydrated until you can get him there.  If he will eat hay try giving him some hay.

This is a very very dangerous situation and I don't want to even try to guess what is wrong with him but true diarrhea can be fatal in a matter of hours.

Most vets that don't regularly treat rabbits will be able to stabilize them and at least give him subcutaneous injections of Lactated ringers to keep him hydrated until a normal rabbit vet can be located.  Any 24 hour emergency animal clinic has to have basic knowledge of all animals in order to be licensed.


I. Life-threatening-emergencies:


1) Coma, stupor: Any situation where your rabbit is recumbent and minimally or nonresponsive to voice and touch. The rabbit may be in cardiac arrest from chewing on an electrical cord or in shock from a dog attack
2) Seizures or sudden neurological changes: Falling to one side, head tilt, nystagmus (eyes moving constantly in one direction). Possible causes are systemic Pasteurella infection or hypoglycemia.
3) Severe continuous bleeding: This can result from any type of trauma; dog attack, fall, run-in with an automobile.
4) Hypo- or hyperthermia: In the first situation your rabbit will be ice cold to the touch usually recumbent and nonresponsive. In the second, your rabbit will be burning hot, panting, and sometimes seizuring.

All of these situations require that you grab your rabbit, your car keys and go immediately to the emergency room. This is where your advance planning can save your rabbit's life; you may have only minutes. Please find a good rabbit vet near you.

I really hope your baby is ok but I am extremely concerned.

Please let me know how he makes out.

Thank you

Pam