r/rabbitry • u/Wild_Income1324 • 19d ago
Question/Help URGENT bunny lethargic
My doe sudden started laying down and not being able to stand, eyes and nose clear. Not eating but she is pooping. I don’t know what to do. She’s weak and not walking or standing up. help!
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u/TheOtherCourier 19d ago
This is an absolute emergency. Needs a rabbit savvy vet immediately. :(
This is my general stasis advice:
We keep pain meds (meloxicam) on hand for emergencies. It can help in situations where your vet may be unavailable, and is helpful for GI stasis. It is definitely something worth discussing with your vet, as this often is noticed at dinner time when most vets are already closed. We also give a small snack first thing in the morning to check how they may be eating.
We administer pain meds at the first signs of stasis when they won’t move much and refuse their favorite snacks, as catching it early can make a huge difference in how fast they may recover.
Make sure and stay on top of his pain meds, as well. I like giving 2 smaller dose per day after an initial larger dose, as opposed to just one large dose per day, but as always, discuss this with your vet. There’s definitely nothing wrong with doing the one big dose per day.
I also recommend encouraging movement periodically if you suspect stasis. I personally put them in our play area (living room, for us), and leave them out in the larger area 24/7 until they recover, so they can move around more if they feel like it, even if briefly.
If they like to lay under the coffee table, I will occasionally move them up on to the couch, so they have to jump back down and hop back over to the table. Keeping them moving keeps the tummy moving. 🙂
I also keep hay, veggies, pellets, or other typical snacks, and water all around near where they are generally laying, so the have access to any of it if they have the urge for a little nibble. Even just a nibble on their own accord is helpful and a lean in the right direction. Wet the veggies down once in a while and you can put them on a plate with water on it so they don’t wilt. Plain oats (not the flavored kind with added sugar) and Science Selective pellets can also be enticing treats when they are not wanting their normal foods. Even though alfalfa hay is not suitable to give long term to adult rabbits, small amounts can be given to entice them to eat a little on their own in times like these, as well.
Syringe water once in a while, as well, to be sure they aren’t getting dehydrated.
Simethicone (baby gas drops) may be helpful in some cases. We give 1ml to start and can be given a few times a day. There are mixed opinions on how effective Simethicone may be though.
Very GENTLE tummy massages may be helpful for him. Emphasis on gentle, as certain ailments like blockage can be very delicate and you don’t want to make it worse.
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
okay i will try the massage and some baby gas stuff, im scared that this mayb be from stress? she was in with my buck earlier and they were chasing eachother a bit, and i separated them and a few hours later this all started. unfortunately most vets are closed at the moment and i tried to call and none of them had anyone i could even talk to about the issue
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
was wiping some buildup off of her, but and there’s a yellow jelly like substance?? Color of her pee is this normal?
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u/TheOtherCourier 19d ago
Jelly like substance coming from her rear can be a sign of stasis, but usually when it’s been going on for a while. Be careful when handling her in case there is a blockage. How long since you’ve seen her eat?
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
she ate this morning not exactly sure when? i just offered her water with a syringe not forcing it but just giving some and she drank a bit
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u/TheOtherCourier 19d ago
Also a good sign! Keep working with her, leave her in a larger environment, and keep lightly encouraging movement once in a while. If she’s not back to normal by morning, get her in to be seen. 🐰👍
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
thank you! i gave her some liquid foods and she liked that, still no movement but im gonna keep her out and about and hope for the best and take her in tomorrow morning. hopefully she can make it through the night
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u/TheOtherCourier 19d ago
Being willing to take anything on her own is a very good sign. Hopefully she’ll be feeling better soon.
Even if she is better by morning, I still recommend talking with your vet about some pain meds to keep on hand and instructions on what to give. It’s been a life saver a ton of times in the middle of the night for us over the years. 🐰👍
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u/Thumper-King-Rabbit 19d ago
I am just seeing this.
Any updates OP?
Did you continue to offer her critical care?
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
so it’s currently 3 in the morning, i’ve been staying up with her and giving here pellets that i have crushed and mixed with water. earlier around ten i put her skin to skin on my stomach to warm her up, which helped, ever since then her kennel has been on my bed and i’ve been doing those hourly feeds and in the last two hours she has gotten up and moved around! she’s cleaning herself and standing and i think she drank some water on her own and now she is not wanting to eat from the syringe. i’m not to worried though since she has since realized there is food near here and is willing to drink water. I think she is going to be okay but i’m gonna continue throughout the night to check up on her hourly. the skin to skin, smoothie foods, and darkness seemed to do great. I also gave her bottle water instead of tap water, in case she had a sensitivity even though my other rabbits are fine with it. but overall she seems to be improving
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u/Thumper-King-Rabbit 19d ago
I would offer her solid food to see if she will eat on her own a few times that my rabbits have had G.I. stasis, and I have fed them critical care in a syringe & I have continued to offer them solid food in terms of pellets and hay and when they have started to feel better, they will start eating the pellets and hay on their own.
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
yup! she is doing great this morning and has returned to her normal personality
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u/Amber123454321 19d ago
I'd take her to the vet anyway and get them to check her out. I'm so glad to hear she's doing better.
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
i would if i could like i said but it will probably be 1000+ because of the vets in my area, but i think i might invest in some pet insurance ancase something else like this happens
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u/Wild_Income1324 17d ago
UPDATE: bunny is doing great but is still not eating hay or pellets just treats and her supplements and critical care i’m giving her. any advice?
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u/Wild_Income1324 19d ago
i will try to maybe lay her out in an open space with food to see if she will move