Post OP feeding

I’m a fairly new rabbit owner and I am at a loss of what to do. I drive quite a distance to go to an exotic vet and I’ve been back there 3 times in the last week. I am exhausted and my bunny is refusing to take critical care.
I’ve tried mixing it and mashing it with banana, pumpkin, a little bit of pineapple juice. (separate mixes btw) and he just keeps turning up his nose.
i am really reluctant to force feed him because he did just get surgery on his gut. He has a mass of hair stuck in his belly :’( that caused a bad obstruction in his digestive tract
He takes his medicine orally just fine but refuses the critical care >.< idk what to do. I feel like I’m ruining my friendship with him every time i try to get him to eat or drink something.

Is the vet not wanting him to be eating his regular foods and just critical care because of his gut surgery, or is he refusing to eat his regular food and so you have to feed critical care?

JBun said:

Is the vet not wanting him to be eating his regular foods and just critical care because of his gut surgery, or is he refusing to eat his regular food and so you have to feed critical care?

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She recommended no solid foods for 5-7 days. So I’m assuming it’s because of the surgery. Although i feel it might be worse if he doesn’t eat at all.
I tried to call emergency vet services today too for some advice... but unfortunately no exotic vets available

Maybe try making a pellet mush by soaking his usual pellets in warm/hot water, and see if he might be more inclined to eat that. If the vet didn't say no leafy greens and he is used to eating any, I would also try those, and if he'll eat them feed the greens too.

If he won't, there might be no other choice but to force feed. If you don't and he goes more than 24 hours without eating enough he' could develop stasis. Did your vet show you how to properly syringe feed?

JBun said:

Maybe try making a pellet mush by soaking his usual pellets in warm/hot water, and see if he might be more inclined to eat that. If the vet didn't say no leafy greens and he is used to eating any, I would also try those, and if he'll eat them feed the greens too.

If he won't, there might be no other choice but to force feed. If you don't and he goes more than 24 hours without eating enough he' could develop stasis. Did your vet show you how to properly syringe feed?

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She did not show me how to force feed.
Should I give him greens as is? He only took a little bit of pellet mash.

If the vet didn't give you instructions not to give greens, it's what I would do. I would stick with greens that he is used to having in his diet and serve them recently rinsed so he gets extra moisture eating them.

Force feeding has to be done carefully since there has just been a surgery dome. Here's this video on doing it, but the rabbit is pretty compliant. Burrito wrapping is an option for buns that are particularly resistant, though needs to be done correctly. If you're not sure about any of this, just contact your vet first thing in the morning instead.

Medirabbit: restraining for medicating

Medirabbit: burrito wrap

Wow, never heard of this. I had a bunny who had a gastrotomy and he had to eat right away.

Diane R said:

Wow, never heard of this. I had a bunny who had a gastrotomy and he had to eat right away.

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Really? My doctor said it was a good idea to take away his hay and pellets for awhile.

JBun said:

If the vet didn't give you instructions not to give greens, it's what I would do. I would stick with greens that he is used to having in his diet and serve them recently rinsed so he gets extra moisture eating them.

Force feeding has to be done carefully since there has just been a surgery dome. Here's this video on doing it, but the rabbit is pretty compliant. Burrito wrapping is an option for buns that are particularly resistant, though needs to be done correctly. If you're not sure about any of this, just contact your vet first thing in the morning instead.

Medirabbit: restraining for medicating

Medirabbit: burrito wrap

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thank you so much for the advice with the veggies. My vet was very glad that I at least did that for him over the weekend. I did try the the force feed one more time... but I was very unsuccessful and think he is a bit upset with me for trying to burrito him into a blanket to get him to stay still. He is still so active even after surgery =_=. I don’t know how that bunny in the video is so calm.
I’m worried that I’m stressing him or hurting him

@Kamibuns you will find a wealth of info here, so welcome.
I feel the exact same way with my buns.
I am always so fearful to force-feed and have only had to do it to my last girl.
I'd try romaine lettuce, dill maybe some black berry leaves (helps with pain)
Make him some chamomile tea to have a few sips of even.
I'd also put a few pellets into water to soften up and allow bun to try that.

I was also told (by vet) to soak any hay I give him and cut it for him... but I’m unsure if he’ll even eat it or how long it takes to start getting gross or moldy... thoughts?
Also where can I get black berry leaves I don’t think I’ve only seen the berry itself in stores

@Kamibuns The hay cuts soaked in water, I'd say change it every 2 hrs to keep it as fresh to the dry taste as possible. So only do a bit at a time.
I actually have a bush in my yard, but usually find them in alleys, along trails, train tracks (although I don't use those due to the oil and creosote along the tracks) roads that are not traveled much will most likely have them too.look for these

I wouldn't leave soaked hay for more than 3 hours(or soaked pellets). If he's eating greens, I would keep offering plenty of those as long as it doesn't start causing his poop to get mushy. And keep offering moistened pellets, though like wet hay, don't leave it sitting out for too long. If you can get him eating enough this way, then you may not need to keep trying the critical care feeds.