Rabbit sitting in own poop! Please help

[EmilyS0813]

I have a show rabbit that I keep at school. Recently, about a week ago, I bought a hammock for my rabbit and left it over the weekend and on Monday I cleaned out her cage and saw she was pooping in the hammock, in fact, the more I pay attention to her, the more I notice I only see her in the hammock. Occasionally, others will play with my rabbit and feed her, much to my dismay, but I’ve also noticed her food isn’t going down. Today, I forced her out of the hammock and she has burns on her legs from urine and it’s hard for her to walk. I’m giving her a bath now, but I’m extremely concerned because she’s hobbling and won’t stop shaking her paws. Can someone please help me?? I’m really scared for my rabbit.

 

[JBun]

You need to get her to a rabbit vet right away. If she's not eating, she needs to be seen today as that is an immediate emergency with rabbits. The urine burn is called urine scald and could be from sitting in her own urine in the hammock, or it could be from urinary incontinence from a UTI, which would need antibiotic treatment and pain medication, and if the urine scald is severe she may also need a skin cream for that as well. Hobbling means she's in pain from either the urine scalding and/or something else going on. If her paws are dry and she is continuing to shake them, there is also a medical issue there as that isn't normal. If she isn't eating, she will likely need to be given some sub q fluids, motility medication, then she will need regular syringe feeds with a rabbit recovery food like oxbow critical care, given at home about every 4 hours, until she is eating well on her own again.
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/urinary.html
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

I would take the hammock out, and if the school setting is causing her to feel nervous and stressed, she should not be kept in that setting.

 

[Lauren Kiernan]

I hope she is improved!