Blockage in tummy

[GUSYS GRANDMA]

Hey guys, we are very sad right now as we lostour beloved Gusys yesterday. He wasn't even three.On Monday night we noticed he wasn't himself and even the mention ofcheerios did not spark him. I picked him up and he feltcold. We took him to the emergency vet and they xrayed himand discovered that his tummy seemed enlarged. They thoughtthere was a blockage of some sort. They sent us home withAntibotics and told us to give him strained baby vegetables andpedialite. In the morning we checked him and his tummy seemedvery swollen and he again was cold. We called our own vet andset up to see him when they opened. We also called theemergency vet back and asked them what we should be. Theytold us to put him on a hot water bottle and we brought him in bed withus in his bed and kept him warm until our vet opened.

Our vet called us and told us to bring him in at 9:30 which we did andat that time they told us that he probably would require surgery toremove the blockage which we said we were Ok with but he decided totake a needle sample of what it was to make sure that it wasn't atumor. After going this he determined that it wasn't and toldus he wanted us to try prunes and Pinapple juice for 24 hours and seeif we could break it down naturally as surgery is very hard on theselittle guys.

We returned home and he died a few minutes later before we even had a chance to give him the prunes and juice.

I just need to know if anyone else has gone through this and if therewas anything that could have been done to save him. Werethere signs that we should have noticed?

We are not ready for a new rabbit as we are hurting too much but myother daughter has one and I would like to have any information on thisto pass on to her.



THanks for listening

Gusys Gramdma and Mom

 

[ayglnu13]

Oh I am sosorry!

He isat the Rainbow Bridge,running happily with the other bunnies now:bunnyangel:

I lost my baby last week as well, he was only 7 weeks old.

Again I am so sorry, you did EVERYTHING you could!

~Amy

 

[Zee]

Ahhhh !!!

I'm so sorry to hear your bad news :tears2: :rainbow:

He will have lots of fun at Rainbow Bridge, with all our other dear departed buns.

 

[Fluffy]

:sad:aww im really sorry to hear about that!! awww bless!!hope you are ok anyways!!

 

[CorkysMom]

SO sorry to hear it... Sounds as if youdid all you could by picking up on the signs of him not acting rightand getting him to a vet right away.

 

[onnie]

So very sorry i to lost my dear onnie recentlyit's very painfull .The same sort of thing happened to my rabbit'hewent cold 'would'nt eat'his stomach swelled all overnight.My vet triedto save him for a week but finally his stomach shut down'she thinks hepicked up some kind of viral infection:rainbow:

 

[dootsmom]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear about Gusys. Blockageis such a miserable thing to happen. Sometimes it's cronic and anongoing battle to keep their insides moving properly. I lost my Lumpy ayear & a half ago to it. We fought it for 3 years. Lumpy wouldnever eat hay, his pellets and papaya supplements weren't enough.

I keep an eye on all my guys/gals poops (29 of them). When you startseeing tiny balls, it's a good indication that blockage is occuring.Loose stools is also another indicator...especially loose/runny "nightpoops". When they are in discomfort, they usually pull themselves intothe ball/fetal position instead of stretching out as they sleep. Bunstummys should be gently felt down every day, just as a precaution. Minethink they are being petted & loved as I give them the once dailygut check!

It's also a good idea to groom a little more when shedding. Wiping downwith a damp washrag seems to work the best..at least it does for me.

Again, I am so sorry about Gusys. ((((Hugs))))

 

[Carolyn]

Oh Gusy's Grandma,

I'm so very sorry. My heart goes out to you and yours.:tears2:

If you're not familiar with the Rainbow Bridge Poem, I'd stronglyadvise you to read it as it has brought comfort to many who have lovedand lost their little buddies. You acted quickly with yourGusy's health in getting him to the vet, but unfortunately, it was toofar advanced. Smaller sized poop or no poop and not eatingare typically the signs of a blockage.

I'll be thinking and praying for you and yours to find peace at this difficult time.

-Carolyn


"At Rainbow Bridge":http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=575&forum_id=1

 

[pamnock]

I am so sorry for your loss. We havehad to deal with GI stasis resulting in blockages a number of timesover the years.

GI stasis/bloat frequently occurs in the spring and fall during extremeweather changes, and is often preceded by a viral infection that slowsthe GI tract down. Bacterias often propagate during this time(the reason antibiotics are sometimes used to treat the ailment).

Some rabbits and some breeds are more prone to the fatal blockages than others.

The first sign of trouble is generally when the rabbit stops eating. It may appear uncomfortable.

At this point, I start pushing a product called Nutri Cal -- a high calsupplement for dogs and cats. Aspirin can be givenfor pain, and simethecone for gassy human babies is oftenused. In some cases, the vet may prescribe a gut motilityagent and may also administer lactated ringers solution if the rabbitis dehydrated.

Prognosis is often guarded, as some rabbits may appear to improve, then succumb to kidney failure.

We have nursed a number of rabbits through these "blockages", but thereis no one single treatment option that offers a certain cure.It sounds like your vet proceeded with generally accepted treatments inyour situation and you did the best you could -- and yes --the surgery is extremely risky and not advised.

I know how heartbreaking it is too lose a beloved bunny. Welost our very loved house bunny "Princess" to a blockage a number ofyears ago. I still miss her.

Pam

 

[GUSYS GRANDMA]

Thank you all for the information. Iwill pass it on to my daughter as she feels she let him down.I am sure that everyones comforting words and experience will reallyhelp as it has made me understand a little better and make me moreaware if we get another bunny.

 

[Snuggys Mom]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss.

I know that some folks regularly give their rabbits fresh pineappleand/or canned pumpkin to help prevent blockage. Oats(teaspoon daily) are also good and I've heard of some folks usingpapaya tablets, too.

Laura

 

[Pet_Bunny]

I'm sorry GUSYS GRANDMA for your lossof Gusys. You did all what you could tohelp him in your situation. I wished itturned out better.

I glad you posted and let us know what happened. Yourinformation will certainly help some other members onthis forum.

Gusys, may you forever blinky free at Rainbow Bridge.

Rainbows! :angel:

 

[samandshawn]

Sosorry

 

[GUSYS GRANDMA]

This is Gusy's mom, Thanks so much. Here is a picture of gusy wasn't he the cutest!:angel:

 

[naturestee]

I'm so sorry for you. What a sweet lookingbunny. Was the vet able to tell what had caused the blockage? Sometimesit's caused by hair but it can also be from less natural things. Carpetfibers are a particularly bad one. Other causes may also be otherfabric fibers or large amounts of cardboard. Sometimes you can see thatthey are ripping up carpet and such, but rabbits can be sneaky littlebuggers.

I hope you do get another bunny.:angel:

 

[pamnock]

GUSYS GRANDMA wrote:

This is Gusy's mom, Thanks so much. Here is a picture ofgusy wasn't he the cutest!:angel:

Absolutely adorable!!!!! I note that he is spotted.The particular genes involved in the limited the migration of neuralcrest pigment cells also control the migration of nerve cellsthroughout the intestinal lining. These rabbits (especiallythe homozygous ones) are more prone to the effects of a viral infectionslowing the GI tract down, which can sometimes result in a blockage.

Pam

 

[Kricket]

AW! Dear, I am so sorry!Rainbow Bridge is a nice place for Gusys to be. He will waitfor you there. Lots of love and kisses, Kricket

 

[GUSYS GRANDMA]

No unfortunately he was not able to tell us hecould only tell us that the mass was not a tumor by what he hadinjected from the needle. I was a little concerned that hedid damage with this needle as he died shortly after. I guesswe will never know but as I sit typing this in "his" room I am verysad. I keep expecting him to go under the computer anddisconnect the internet.

 

[seniorcats]

pamnock wrote:

GUSYS GRANDMA wrote:

This isGusy's mom, Thanks so much. Here is a picture of gusy wasn't he thecutest!:angel:

Absolutely adorable!!!!! I note that he is spotted.The particular genes involved in the limited the migration of neuralcrest pigment cells also control the migration of nerve cellsthroughout the intestinal lining. These rabbits (especiallythe homozygous ones) are more prone to the effects of a viral infectionslowing the GI tract down, which can sometimes result in a blockage.

Pam

I have a question for Pam. Would the above statement be truefor other breeds as well? Are there any particularproblems - especially digestive problems - associated withBEW lops? I ask because a friend of mine recentlylost her BEW lop to what appeared to be GI stasis. He hadmassive and sudden diarrhea. He failed to respond tosubcutaneous fluids and antibiotics. The necroscopy showedslightly inflamed intestines but no blockage or mass. Myfriend had hi on a diet of pellets, unlimited timothy and a minimalamount of vegy's (rare sugary treats).

Thank you!

 

[pamnock]

seniorcats wrote:

I have a question for Pam. Would the above statement be truefor other breeds as well? Are there any particularproblems - especially digestive problems - associated withBEW lops? I ask because a friend of mine recentlylost her BEW lop to what appeared to be GI stasis. He hadmassive and sudden diarrhea. He failed to respond tosubcutaneous fluids and antibiotics. The necroscopy showedslightly inflamed intestines but no blockage or mass. Myfriend had hi on a diet of pellets, unlimited timothy and a minimalamount of vegy's (rare sugary treats).

Thank you!

I have not read any specific genetic studies on how the vienna geneeffects the migration ofpigmentand the GI tract orwhether it just "shuts offs" the pigment cells.

In the case of the BEW, the signs you describe are those of a rabbitsuffering enterotoxemia -- the sudden and often fatal onset of massivediarrhea. This isoften aviral/bacterialcombinedillnessin cause.

Pam