PLEASE HELP--SICK BUNNY (UTI - resolved)

[dianerae]

I am really hoping someone can help. My 11 month old female bunny is straining to void, and when she does it is only about the size of a dime. she is not eating (a few bites of romaine) or drinking. She was grinding her teeth this morning-not in the happy way she usually does. There was also a jelly like mucousy substance on the floor about the size of a silver dollar this morning. About 2 days ago she had several accidents on the floor(urine). On May 10th I took her to the local vet (not the one that spayed her, because that vet is a 7 hr. round trip for us) for alot of the same symptoms. She put her on smz-tmp 4 mls bid for 10 days. It seemed to help but now she is dispaying the same probs. Does anyone have any ideas? I would greatfully appreciate any and all help!!!!

my husband is taking her to the vet as i am typing this. I just hate having to put her through a 7 hr. long car ride on top of her not feeling well but we feel helpless just watching her and not trying to do all we can.

 

[Pipp]

Did they do a culture on the urine? An radiograph for stones?

I'd certainly go for a different antibiotic, even Baytril is better than SMZ/TMP. ETA: Baytril isn't the best thing, either, but it's what most Vets prescribe (which is why its losing its effectiveness). Its more effective if they give it to her via an injection.

Pain meds are important! Metacam if it can be taken with fluids and food, or something stronger.

And subq fluids (under the skin) to get her hydrated.

She has to drink. Cranberry juice (the real thing, not the cocktail) would be great. Also maybe try putting down a little very diluted apple, berry or grape juice in a bowl and see if that entices her.

Soak her veggies in water for quite awhile before giving them to her. Soaked parsley and dandelion leaves might especially help.

Keep her warm. You may have to force feed her something like a dab of Nutri-Cal (a paste for cats and dogs that works great for rabbits) or a tiny bit of honey in warm water if she doesn't eat on her own for 12 hours, and something like Critical Care if she hasn't eaten for 24 hours.

EDIT: Oh, and get her a pro-biotic like Bene-bac to help with her upset gut, which is probably the reason for the mucus.


sas :clover:

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

dianerae wrote:

I am really hoping someone can help. My 11 month old female bunny is straining to void, and when she does it is only about the size of a dime. she is not eating (a few bites of romaine) or drinking. She was grinding her teeth this morning-not in the happy way she usually does. There was also a jelly like mucousy substance on the floor about the size of a silver dollar this morning. About 2 days ago she had several accidents on the floor(urine). On May 10th I took her to the local vet (not the one that spayed her, because that vet is a 7 hr. round trip for us) for alot of the same symptoms. She put her on smz-tmp 4 mls bid for 10 days. It seemed to help but now she is dispaying the same probs. Does anyone have any ideas? I would greatfully appreciate any and all help!!!!

my husband is taking her to the vet as i am typing this. I just hate having to put her through a 7 hr. long car ride on top of her not feeling well but we feel helpless just watching her and not trying to do all we can.

time for the exotic specialist,..asap...the bunny has issues-starting with teeth-(diet)-pain,,infection,no eat/hays/or water--is an emergency--you are welcome to check my profile for my web address,,lots of info already covered...sincerely james wallerray:

 

[dianerae]

Well, my bunny had the overhaul yesturday. The vet did a thorough exam. A urinalysis was done along with a urine sediment exam. They found lots of bacteria, crystals were present, but vet said that crystals are often found in bunnies and that it is not too many to be concern about. Just a small alteration to her diet. She stated kidneys are concentrating approp. Also did an ultrasound: No stones present but she said the bladder wall seems a bit thickened. Stated we will monitor this with another ultrasound down the road. Also did an intestinal parasite fecal exam. Dx: UTI with crystaluria. Pipp, you were right on with the tx. plan!!! She was started on baytril 1 ml twice daily (vet said baytril s being overused but since slinky has never been on it before it will work good for her. They gave her 150 mls sub-q fluids. She will be getting 10mls of critical care everyday (slinky lost 1 lb. since her spay back on 3/25/10. ) Also am to give her.74grams of bena-bec for several days. I also am to hold her papaya tabs until she is better because of the sugars in the pill. Other recommendations were just what Pipp said--soak greens, give her cranberry juice, and some pumpkin. Today Slinky has perked up and running around!!!! I m so happy we decided tp make the 7 hr. drive. She is feeling better and so are we.

Oh, she was alo given a bottle of metcam for pain control. I was told to only use it twice daily and discontinue it as soon as possible because vet said it is hard on her kidneys. I am a bit afraid to use it but vet said if the pain is under control she will eat and drink(which she is already started eating cilantro, some romaine lettuce--but still no pellets:expressionless. Hope she starts to eat soon--she looks so thin--poor little girl.

Thank you for your wonderful advice:big wink:

 

[pla725]

Glad your bun is doing better. What kind of changes were made to the diet?

 

[dianerae]

I was feeding veggies to high in calcium and oxlates. too much kale and coullards. The vet said not to exclude them just limit them. Also said that she is old enough to limit her timothy pellets (after she starts to gain some more weight.) I was letting her have free pellets--she usually only ate about 1/2 cup a day but vet said a 1/4 cup is more than enough.

 

[slavetoabunny]

Sounds like good advise from your vet. If it were me, I would totally exclude those veggies until your bunny was 100% well and then maybe slowly reintroduce them on a limited basis.

 

[Pipp]

Kale isn't too bad, but collards (and mustard greens) I think top the scale.

Kale is the fav around here, the most popular of all, but I try to only give it no more than three days in a row and then take a three day or so break. The oxlates accumulate, they need to be given a chance to be flushed out of the system. Ditto with spinach (although it's not quite as popular).

Otherwise, no restrictions around here because my bunny salads have so much variety, they get small amounts of everything, so nothing else is much of an issue.

I believe parsley and dandelion leaves have diuretic properties promoting urine formation, so they're especially good (and even better when soaked), you may want to make a point of adding those to the diet.

So glad she's feeling better and happy you have such a great vet!

It would be great if you could post your experience in our Rabbit Savvy Vet listings thread for your area.


sas :bunnydance:

 

[dianerae]

I am def. going to post in the rabbit savvy vet listing for Michigan. I had to do alot of research and calling around and interviewing before I found a wonderful place, just too bad that it is a 7 hr. round trip drive for us---but totally worth it!!! My Bunnies love parsley--they eat it almost everyday. I was feeding the kale--their second fav. almost everyday too,thought i was doing them good. I knew about the spinach, which they also love, there isn;t much they don't like!!! I am going to do like you do Pipp and give it for a few days, along with other veggies of coarse, and then take a 3-4 day rest from it. I will wait until she better though. I try and give a large variety of greens but it is not always possible through the winter months. In the summer We grow all kinds of yummy stuff.

Slinky will not drink the cranberry or apple juice. I was hoping she would like the cranberry but she has no interest in it. My male bun loves it! Has anyone ever heard of giving bunnies cranberry extract from a healthfood store? Just wondering if it would be beneficial.

 

[pamnock]

james waller wrote:

time for the exotic specialist,..asap...the bunny has issues-starting with teeth-(diet)-pain,,infection,no eat/hays/or water--is an emergency--you are welcome to check my profile for my web address,,lots of info already covered...sincerely james wallerray:

Exotic specialists are often no more versed in rabbit health care than any small animal veterinarian. Rabbits aren't considered "exotic".

 

[tonyshuman]

I bet you could give cranberry in a tablet form to bunnies, if they make that, as long as it isn't too sugary. I'm very glad that you found a good vet, although it was so far away.