So I went in to give my bunnies food as I always do, and Delilah immediately ran up to hover over me and demand I pour faster, and Lahi... didn't. He wouldn't move, wasn't interested in the food at all, and kept lying down. Show How he's currently lying down: More usually, he relaxes in the typical bunny ball pose: But I've never seen him hunch like this. He just sinks down so his knees stick out. It reminds me of how lions sit. Just like that. So anyway I did some google-fu and it all pretty much matches GI stasis symptoms, I don't have mashed food or any fresh fruit or veggies really, so I tried the massage. I didn't feel any particular hardness, but his stomach wasn't exactly squishy and soft either. The one article I read suggested massaging down to try and encourage gas to move along, and as I did that I heard (and felt under my fingers) a gurgle near his side, but no more than that. He stopped being cooperative at that point, and also stopped tolerating me touching him quite so much. This was slightly more lively than before, so I put him down. He ran back into the enclosure, hopped directly back into his cage and immediately went back into his box where he's lying down. As I was writing this he got out and drank some more water, which is super encouraging. This started around midnight. It's now 5 in the morning and I'm literally crying from exhaustion alone, nevermind how stressed out and scared I am. I'm going to keep trying to encourage him to eat and drink, if he still won't eat by the time the vet's office opens at 8 then I'll bring him in. I don't want to bring him into the emergency clinic (no small part because they'd charge me $165 just to look at him, my vet might give me a frequent customer discount and only charge me $40). I'm going to try and get him to eat and drink again, then go to sleep on the couch until about 7. I can't function right now and my fiance is literally forbidding me from driving to the vets office if I don't get some sleep. I really will fall asleep while driving if I'm too tired. I'm not exactly asking for advice, my google blitz all seemed to agree on what to do--keep trying to make them eat and drink, massage, vet ASAP--but some moral support would be welcomed with open arms, and I found earlier in the year that keeping a written record of things as they happened was super useful, and I wished more people had detailed their experiences to compare. (http://www.rabbitsonline.net/showthread.php?t=79227&page=4) My poor little man had a new health problem on the second week of every month from January until May, and I thought we were done with May's problem of laboured-sounding breathing that turned out to actually be snoring. My vet is literally giving me pity discounts. I can't handle all this stress, since Lahi's sister passed away last August I've been living in paranoia over Lahi's health, but you know the saying "It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you"? So far my paranoia has only been unjustified once, and I wasn't wrong about his breathing being unusual, only that it wasn't actually a problem.
6:00 am, he ate a bite and a half of oat groat, and suddenly his stomach started gurgling so loud I could hear it across the room. I massaged his stomach and found that I could feel a few bumps I don't think I could before. He really hates the gurgling too: one particularly loud gurgle he actually jumped, though whether because it surprised him or its loud I can't tell. His whole stomach ripples as it happens. I hauled him out of his cage to massage more, and now most of his upper abdomen below his ribcage feels bumpy. If I had to describe it I would say it feels like his stomach is stuffed full of poo and I can feel the poo balls under his skin as I rub my fingers down his tummy. He's nibbling on food now rather than turning his nose up at it, but he isn't actually eating any of it, just taking a bite and then dropping it.
You need to stop feeding the oats. Gurgling is not a good sign in rabbits. The gurgling is an indication of bacterial imbalance and/or gas and giving more oats and carbs is only going to make it worse. The trembling is likely due to pain and if he is still trembling and having problems eating/pooping, you need to get him to the vet for pain meds and other medication to get him better.
Right so I just got back from the vet, and he was very impressed with how I managed... He gave Lahi a thorough go over, didn't feel any blockages or hair balls, his breathing was clear and his stomach wasn't gurgling anymore. The bumps I'd felt are now only in a small line along the centre of his tummy.
If he's still not eating well, it would be because something is causing him pain and discomfort still. Did the vet give you any pain meds? Did the vet check his teeth? He may not be eating well and having problems eating hay because of dental problems. If you have critical care mix you could see if he'll eat some of that, or soak some of his pellets in warm water and see if he'll eat the soft mush.
So Lahi's doing great. His poo on Sunday was unusually small and misshapen, but it was there and there was a fair amount of it. By Monday it was completely back to normal, so I didn't end up bringing him to the vet to check for diarrhea. I'm continuing to take pictures of it every day though, just to keep a record.
What does it mean when a bunny just lays down?Laying down is (usually) a sign of a comfortable rabbit
It means that your rabbit feels safe and comfortable in their environment. This is especially true if your rabbit is sprawled with their back legs stretched out or flopped over on their side.
When should I worry about my rabbit not eating?If your rabbit is quieter than normal, is sitting still and hunched up, does not want to move about, or has not eaten for more than 12 hours, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Why is my rabbit not eating or moving?Why Do Rabbits Stop Eating? The most common reason for a loss of appetite in rabbits is a gastrointestinal problem called ileus. Ileus occurs when normal peristalsis—the contractions in the intestines that push food through the gastrointestinal tract—decreases or stops.
Why is my rabbit sitting in one spot and not eating?Your rabbit may sit in one spot as a safety mechanism if it feels afraid or senses danger. It may also sit in one corner when nesting, resting, eating, or molting. In some cases, bunnies stay in a single spot when they feel unwell, shy, or cautious about something new.
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