Bun not producing enough fecals. Time for Sub-Qs/Reglan?

[Jenk]

Zoe, our "charlie-marked" Mini-Rex (33 mos. old) typically passes large, misshapen fecals. Her "cow-pile-syndrome" symptoms have varied from "butt leakage" to super-dry fecals combined with ileus.

For several weeks, her fecal production has varied. And for nearly a week, she's been producing less fecals than is normal for her. (What's in her box this morning is too small/too few for what she's been ingesting.)

Her digestive tract has never functioned normally and"dries out"at times, which seems to be the case now.I hear some gut sounds but think that her system can't be counted on to "catch up" on its own at this point. I'm considering giving her one dose of sub-Qs (30 cc) today. I'm also considering starting Zoe on Reglan--once the fluids have time to be absorbed into her system--since I can't call the vet until tomorrow and the gut issues are ongoing.

I have been giving her extra water (between 30-50 cc's/day); nothing is helping at this point. I feel that bigger guns are needed.

Thank you,

Jenk

PS: Zoe just had her blood chemistry checked (ALP/ALT levels are a bit off), and we're waiting on the results of a urinalysis. Also, we plan to do a fecal float (yet again) and possible fecal culture (yet again), though that gets hard if she's not producing stool.

 

[tonyshuman]

I would do sub-q's before Reglan.

 

[Maureen Las]

tonyshuman wrote:

I would do sub-q's before Reglan.

:yeahthat:
Overuse of Reglan can cause dependency just like laxatives in humans.

 

[Jenk]

angieluv wrote:

:yeahthat:
Overuse of Reglan can cause dependency just like laxatives in humans.

I know. *sigh* I also know that motility drugs eventually stop workingfor rabbits who may need it tomove their stools. (Zoe's digestive tract is nearly always struggling to function. )

I've not yetintervened beyond syringing her extra water (like Emma, she views water from a syringe as a treat) and gently massaging along her digestive tract each night.

She's still passing stool, but it's more dry, misshapen and broken-lookingthan usual; so another concern is thatshe may not be passing it quicklyenough to prevent a bacterial overgrowth. Time will tell....