nobunnynoclue
Well-Known Member
I had noticed that Fiona had just been laying around this week but that's what bunnies do... I did think it was unusual for her but I thought maybe she was just feeling more relaxed around me. So yesterday I did my routine cleanout and replenishing of hay, pellets, fruits, veggies, and she would not touch it. The red flags immediately went up. It was friday so I made an appointment with a vet and then picked her up to take a closer look. She had poop caked on and hard around her butt. I soaked her rearend, worked off the poop, got her clean, and dried her off. I noticed during all this, that her fur was just sloughing off. Seemed odd. I figured something was *really* wrong.
At the vet visit, to make a long story short, I was told it's digestive stasis due to the amount of fur she must be ingesting. The vet said that I really needed to start brushing her regularly. This came as a shock because after I had bought all the brushes, etc, to brush her off, I was told by someone with more rabbit experience than me, that it was not necessary to brush a rabbit. That they had never heard of such a thing and to not bother brushing her. Similar to how a rabbit is not supposed to get baths.
While at the vet, the nurse took off a MOUNTAIN of fur from her back. Then I went home and proceeded to pull off more of this old, dead fur.
Here's Day 1 (second mountain of fur) of shed removal.
Here's Day 2 (3rd mountain of fur) of shed removal.
That last photo was today. I will spend more time on her coat tomorrow. She still has more dead fur on her...
So the doc sent me home with 3 medications for her.
Metacam (once daily)
Cisapride (twice daily)
SMZ/TMP (twice daily)
I think metacam is for pain, the other is other is to get her digestive system moving, and the 3rd is to settle her stomach.
The Vet also gave her a huge subcutaneous injection of fluids.
I'm not sure if she is eating but I will find out tonight when I offer her fresh veggies. Her rear was much better today. I had to clean her up after she had more loose stools last night, but this morning she had a little stuck to her fur but it was solid and looked more like cecals than mushy diarhea. With a full coat of fur off of her she looks like a skinny version of herself. Underneath she has a brand new coat of fur.
Anyways.. . it was an expensive way to find out that I need to keep her well brushed.
At the vet visit, to make a long story short, I was told it's digestive stasis due to the amount of fur she must be ingesting. The vet said that I really needed to start brushing her regularly. This came as a shock because after I had bought all the brushes, etc, to brush her off, I was told by someone with more rabbit experience than me, that it was not necessary to brush a rabbit. That they had never heard of such a thing and to not bother brushing her. Similar to how a rabbit is not supposed to get baths.
While at the vet, the nurse took off a MOUNTAIN of fur from her back. Then I went home and proceeded to pull off more of this old, dead fur.
Here's Day 1 (second mountain of fur) of shed removal.
Here's Day 2 (3rd mountain of fur) of shed removal.
That last photo was today. I will spend more time on her coat tomorrow. She still has more dead fur on her...
So the doc sent me home with 3 medications for her.
Metacam (once daily)
Cisapride (twice daily)
SMZ/TMP (twice daily)
I think metacam is for pain, the other is other is to get her digestive system moving, and the 3rd is to settle her stomach.
The Vet also gave her a huge subcutaneous injection of fluids.
I'm not sure if she is eating but I will find out tonight when I offer her fresh veggies. Her rear was much better today. I had to clean her up after she had more loose stools last night, but this morning she had a little stuck to her fur but it was solid and looked more like cecals than mushy diarhea. With a full coat of fur off of her she looks like a skinny version of herself. Underneath she has a brand new coat of fur.
Anyways.. . it was an expensive way to find out that I need to keep her well brushed.
Only 1 of my buns has ever had problems with fur in the belly, but I know to be super proactive with him. My favorite brush- actually, the only one I use- is a Furminator. It's SO GOOD at getting the fur off! I actually have to be careful using mine, once I accidentally gave Rory a bald spot on his back from brushing too vigorously. I got my Furminator (the blue one) on Amazon.com for a lot less than it sells in stores.
