Dutch bunny in need

[aberneth]

My 6 year old neutered female Dutch has some pretty rough symptoms. Right now, she's eating a brand of food called carnival, with all the little bits of fruit and such. She used to eat this variety, then we switched to something else, and now we're back to it. She used to love being cradled on her back and rubbed on the belly, but now, when she is turned upside down, her breathing grows loud and eratic. She has begun chewing at her back paws, and smells faintly of urine (though that might be because she peed in her last bunny bath). Is it time for her to go, or might it be dietary or environmental?

 

[tonyshuman]

It might be helpful to have a vet take a listen to her lungs. You could try to listen yourself, if you had a stethoscope, but I personally wouldn't know what a sick lung sounds like. She could have pneumonia.

The Carnival food is not a very good option. Did she not eat the other stuff? It's best to give them a pellet that's just plain pellet, no colored bits. It often takes 2 weeks to switch a bunny from one pellet to the other, gradually mixing them together.

The chewing at the back paws is a bit worrisome. Have you checked her feet for sores, or her hind area for urine scald?

 

[aberneth]

Urine scald?

 

[tonyshuman]

Urine scald is when the skin gets irritated by being in contact with the urine too long. It looks like red, angry skin.

 

[Pipp]

Chewing at her back paws is a sign of stress.

She shouldn't smell like urine, I'd get her to a vet and have her checked for a urinary tract infection among other things.

It could just be that the breathing and chewing is a pain response from arthritis and the urine smell is from her not being able to position herself properly when she urinates.

Does she have any trouble hopping into her litter box? (Or anywhere else?)

Is she overweight?

What food did you switch to? How long ago did you switch?

It's good that she's spayed, it cuts down the risk that it's cancer -- I've seen that 'breathing' symptom several times from a uterine tumor that has metastasized to a rabbit's lungs -- but cancer still could be the problem.

There's a bit of a questionnaire we ask people to look at pinned to the top of the forum, best to check for anything else that looks pertinent.

Hope there's a simple fix!


sas :clover:

 

[aberneth]

We're moving her to her summer home for now. Her hutch outside will hopefully provide relief from any stress she has.

I think she smells like urine because she peed in the bath water last time I gave her a good going over with wondercoat.

Arthritis, eh? That makes sense. She's definitely not as playful as she used to be. She just kind of sits around when she's in her grassy playpen.

She's overweight, but just barely.

We switched to a brand called "Tropical Carnival". Lots of dried fruit. That was a few weeks ago, around the same time the problem started, which is why I've been suspecting the food. As of tonight, she's back to plain pellets and carrots.

Here's a questionaire, filled out

IMMEDIATE INFORMATION:


Location: Oregon

Description (Breed, color, weight) Tricolor dutch, weight unknown

Age 6-7

Sex Female

Concise Summary of the Rabbit's Condition: Chewing back legs, possible respiratory distress, smell of urine



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / CHECK LIST: (Please fill in relevant info).

Fecal and Urinary Output

- are the bunny's poops and pees normal? Yes
- when did they last use their litterbox? 30 seconds ago
- any unusual behavior? straining to pee? unusual litter habits? No
- what litter and/or bedding do you use? Cedar

Medical History

- spayed/neutered? Yes
- has s/he been to the vet or been sick before? Neither
- is s/he on any medications? No

Diet

- what specifically does your bunny eat? Pellet mixture, "tropical carnival"
- when and what did s/he eat last? Usual diet, tonight
- any changes in the way s/he eats? (ie: not eating a particular food, odd chewing motions, etc) No


Other

- movement - any unusual movements? Is s/he hopping normally? She doesn't move much due to the chewed up back legs
- is the rabbit molting? No
- any weight loss? No
- any sign of drooling? wet face? No
- runny eyes? No
- wet nose? coughing? sneezing? No
- is s/he breathing normally? No, breathing loudly when she's on her back


Additional

- any plants, chocolate or other substances within reach? She is part time outdoors, so yes. Lots of grass.
- has the rabbit been outdoors? Yes
- any other pets? if so, have they been ill? Dog, cat, neither are ill.

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

aberneth wrote:

My 6 year old neutered female Dutch has some pretty rough symptoms. Right now, she's eating a brand of food called carnival, with all the little bits of fruit and such. She used to eat this variety, then we switched to something else, and now we're back to it. She used to love being cradled on her back and rubbed on the belly, but now, when she is turned upside down, her breathing grows loud and eratic. She has begun chewing at her back paws, and smells faintly of urine (though that might be because she peed in her last bunny bath). Is it time for her to go, or might it be dietary or environmental?

i am very sorry to hear about the bun with medical issues,,is an exotic specialist part of her future,,prey animals don,t complain to the point of dying.//.i raise and rehabb exotics,..sounds like the clock is ticking and the life span is more than 6 years,..last december one of my prize rex,s,passsed away in my very hands and with cpr,,nothing worked--she was just gone,,-she wasn,t quite 6 years old.//.this does sound fixable,,a good exotic specialist will examine her and take a radiograph of the gi-tract/lungs,,perhaps a urine/poop culture,,diagnosis,,initiate/prescribe proper treatment--sincerely james waller:innocent

 

[pla725]

It sounds dietary to me. Increase the hay and greens. Cut back on the carrots and pellets. Also change the litter. Try something other than cedar for bedding/litter. It can cause respiratory and GI problems

 

[aberneth]

She's definitely got some weird dermatological stuff going on on her paws, but her health seems to be improving right now. She's been spending most of the day outside as of late.

She just seems healthier. Like she's more vital and energetic, and the urine smell is gone. I think she gave herself a bath and it disappeared. I'm going to start easing her in to a diet of just greens and veggies. I think she'll get better. It must be environmental/dietary.

 

[pla725]

Glad your rabbit is doing better. I agree sounds like a combination of the bedding and diet. Keep us updated.

 

[Pipp]

I'd still get her to a vet. A dermatological issue with her paws can be a symptom of all sorts of odd things from syphilis to arthritis and all sorts of other ailments, and the chest issue really needs a closer look.

As James noted, rabbits don't show signs of illness until they're literally at death's door.

Spending money on expensive diagnostics like blood or urine tests and x-rays may not be crucial, but a visual exam and a stethoscope to the chest may save her a lot of pain and stress.

Trying antibiotics if there are signs of an upper respiratory issue and/or pain meds for arthritis may also tell the tale.

The vet may want to check her kidney values first, but meloxicam is a great anti-inflammatory med for arthritis.

Mild exercise is also great.


sas :clover:

 

[aberneth]

The rabbit guru tells us it's two thing: An acute irritation on her paws (which is mysterious, but clearing up on its own), and arthritis. She's now on metacam, and on the mend! Thanks all for the advice given!

 

[Maureen Las]

green and veggies are good but please keep grassy type hay in her diet .