my rabbit is ill after a vist to the vet

Question
I took my 7 year old Netherland dwarf neutered male to the best and most costly vet in our area to have a growth removed from an ear.
the vet also discovered a spur on a molar and earwax both of which needed removing.
He had responded to his neuter surgery two years prior highly well, eating and playing so soon afterward they were letting him hop about the animal hospital.
this time I was called to be told he needed fluids and to be force fed as he was not yet eating and drinking.
When i finally got him he had a wheeze, was lethargic, unresponsive and in pain.
I was given meds to administer to him as the vet had found an inflammation under the wax plug, and now there was an abrasion on his tongue which the vet seemed to attribute to the spur on the tooth.
I gave my bun his evening meds and he immediately began wheezing more and whimpering in pain, this he did for hrs.
He now eats well but is unable to eat hay which is keeping his digestion poor. When he eats hay he coughs sometimes for as long as a few minutes and he raises up and paws at his mouth as if he had something stuck in his throat or mouth.
he also has snuffles which started a couple days after he returned home.
Otherwise his energy and interest is good.
Of course the logical thing is to take him back to the vet right away, but I'm afraid to.
I took a very healthy bunny into the vets and took him a sick bun.I'm afraid this vet is considered good because he covers all his bases and uses prophylactic drugs. I'd prefer a more natural approach.
Is there anything i can give him at home or a way I can look into his mouth myself? what is your suggestion?

Answer
What type of antibiotics is he on? All antibiotics can cause an unnatural balance of the good bacteria in a rabbit's digestive system, causing digestive problems.

Prophylactic antibiotics are antibiotics that are used to prevent an infection rather than to treat one. Since antibiotics can mess with a rabbit's digestive system, it is generally not advisable to use any antibiotic more than is necessary.

Penicillin with Benzathine (aka Pen BP 48 or Dura-Pen) or Biomycin have been know produce less digestive problems in rabbits than Baytril, but a lot of bacteria strains are no longer affected by Penicillin (they have become resistant).

As for the snuffles, he was probably already carrying the bacteria, and the stress of the proceedure put it into full blown snuffles. This is very common in rabbits. Many rabbits  carry Bordatella, Pasteurella, and Staph (the most common bacteria species to cause snuffles), but the numbers are low enough to keep an actual disease at bay. When something stressful happens, the immune system is compromised, and the bacteria numbers can grow out of control.

You can try giving him rolled oats such as is found in oatmeal (make sure it is plain oatmeal, no sugar). This can help his digestive system get back on track, and it will most likely be easier to eat than hay.

Bene-Bac is a product that you can use to help maintain a good gut flora (keep the bacteria levels balanced) while he is still on antibiotics. This will usually keep him on his food and keep him from having bad digestive problems.

You can open his mouth by finding the area on either side just behind the front teeth where there are not teeth. I say to find this part because it will mean you are much less likely to be bitten. You can gently pry open the mouth and look inside. You will most likely only get a quickly glance before he struggles and closes his mouth, but if you do it a few times, you may be able to see what is the matter.

Since he has snuffles, he will need to go back to the vet to have a culture done, anyway. The bacteria that is causing the infection may be resistant to whatever type of antibiotics he is on right now. A culture can determine what type of bacteria it is and what it is most succeptable to so that an appropriate antibiotic can be given to get that under control.