GI Stasis and vet problem.

[Usagi_Chan]

In another thread here I posted that Usagi stopped eating and I took him to the vet this last Tuesday. Thurs and Fri he ate normally. However yesterday he stopped eating again. I took him to an emergency clinic for pets and they diagnosed him with GI Stasis. The gave me three choices, to leave him in their care at $350, to have x-rays also for $550 or to take him home and try to force feed him with the Oxbow Critical Care mix for $230. Fine, now I know he has GI Stasis which says that his digestive system has stopped working but gives no indication as to why. For an extra $320 they would be kind enough to find out why and present a proper diagnosis.

The crappy syringe and mixture glops up in the syringe and shoots finally explodes out of it, threatening to asphyxiate Usagi.Running it through a blender and poking a hot skewer down the tio of the syringe helped a bit but still it doesn't work reasonably.

I am really angry at this vet and frankly vets in general. Between the$230 and the $152 form Tuesday that's 1/2 of my disability income. I mentioned that and they just shrugged. It seems to me that at these prices they can take down their cup that they have in the office for "donations." I have the impression that this vet at least has no consideration of animals at all just how much money he can make.

All I'm left with now is maybe enough money to pay the rent, dumpster diving to eat, tears and prayers that Usagi pulls through.

Usagi_Chan

 

[polly]

Thats really steep i was taking my bunny to the emergency vets today and the consultation would have been �35.00 around$70.00 then whatever he would have got on top of that. Hopefully someone will come on and tell you how much the critical care costs but it does seem rather steep. Try getting some vegetable or fruit baby food other than that if you feed pellets try making mush out of them and syringe feeding that sometimes i can get them to eat it off a teaspoon for less stress.

Hope he gets better soon

 

[TinysMom]

I would try mixing it a bit with some baby food or pedialyte so it is more liquidy and less firm...and maybe you can get it in Usagi easier that way.

I'm sorry about all that.....I understand your pain in a way as I am fighting with GI Stasis with a doe right now.

She's gotten to the point where she'll drink water and she's hopping around and not acting like she's in pain....now to get FOOD in her. She will nibble on a bit of hay...

Peg

 

[Haley]

Im sorry youre going through all this. Have you tried really watering the mixture down and letting it settle before putting it in the syringe?

Or adding some pumpkin or baby food and offering it to him on the spoon? Try to get him to eat as much hay as you can. Sometimes holding it and offering it to them helps.

Did you get some gas meds as well? I would think some simethicone wouldnt hurt to try.

 

[pamnock]

I've found Nutri Cal to be very effective and isn't is as messy to administer. You only need to give a very small amount. Much less stressful for you and bunn.

Pam

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Thank you for your help and concern. I called the SPCA. They said they wanted only healthy bunnies but that they would take him His fate there was obvious.

I called a local rabbit rescue and said they would take him and that they would do everything to try to save him. I hope they do he is such a beautiful bunny.

They came a bit ago and took him. I can't stop crying I miss him awful.

Usagi Chan

 

[Haley]

I dont understand? GI stasis can be fairly simple to treat. How long had be been with no poops?

Was it just too overwhelming for you to try to treat him at home? Is there any way they will return him to you or did you have to surrender him?

Im so sorry.

 

[seniorcats]

I am so sorry you had to give up your bunny. It seems like these vets could have given him propulsid, reglan or something to get his gut moving. Gotta' wonder how rabbit savy they are.

I hope the rescue is able to to help him out. The resue I work with is very good at treating GI stasis and they have an excellent rabbit vet.

If you don't mind me being nosy, are you a senior citizen by any chance? I ask because I just came across an organization that helps seniors adopt and keep companion animals. The organization is funded by a charitable trust established by a pet loverup here in northeast Ohio. I will look up the info again and post it in the rescue section.

Again, I am very sorry your bunny is ill. You certainly made the best decision to help him as much as possible.

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Haley:
All I know about rabbits is what I've read and by watchingUsagi. This article says anything over 12 hrs without poop iscause for alarm:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html

I don't have an exact hour but he stopped pooping sometime on saturdayafternoon. He wasn't eating anything and more alarmingly hewasn't drinking a drop. I took him to the emergency clinic atabout 5:00 A.M. Sunday.

Usagi has always been easily frightened. I think more thanmost rabbits but I have no yardstick to measure with. He hates beingheld which is part of why I couldn't force-feed him. Heslammed his mouth shut so getting the syringe was nigh on toimpossible. When it did get in he spit out whatever Ifed. Besides, when I called the rescue they explained that ifhe has a blockage force-feeding could rupture his stomach or intestine.

After a less than happy experience with people who quite obviously hadfar more interest in my MasterCard balance than in my rabbit it wasrefreshing to see and hear the immediate concern from the rescuepeople, Randy and his wife Hollly. Holly drove about an hourfrom her place in Rocky Mount to Raleigh to get Usagi. It waseasy to see that she was caring and would do all she could for him.

They have a website here:
http://rabbitresq.org/

Their rules say that I had to surrender him. I love thatlittle critter more than most people could imagine but I'd rather partwith him and give him a fighting chance than to watch him slowly andpainfully die in my arms.

By this afternoon when Holly arrived Usagi was shivering, grinding histeeth, sitting hunched up and appearing like he might topple over. Hedid brighten up when Holly arrived so I have hope.

I don't know for sure if I'll ever see him again. Maybe I'llbe able to adopt him back. I can hope. SurrenderingUsagi was one of the most painful things I've ever had to do.

seniorCats:
Yes to senior, if 60 counts as senior. I am disabled but I'mable to get around just fine. I do live in a Sr Housing building.

I felt this was a timing matter. Yes I might learn how toforce-feed and get the right mixtures to feed him but in this sort ofemergency there isn't time to experiment.

I had found another bunny which I had hoped to bond withUsagi. I was supposed to go get "Thumper" today but with thishappening I missed that appointment. Thumper is a 3 year oldMini Rex who I'm told weighs probably 3-4 lbs. At the momentI'm just too hurting to get "Thumper." I also fear that shemight get sick and I would have to face this all over again. I think alittle time is needed at least.

Usagi Chan

 

[Haley]

I understand. You did the right thing. God blessyou, I cant imagine how difficult thisis for you. What youdid was very selfless. You put his life and well being above your ownhappiness. Unfortunately, Ive seen too many people do the opposite andhave their rabbit suffer a horrible death in the process.

I'll be keeping Usagi in my thoughts and prayers. Can you call to check on him tomorrow?

Sounds like these people are very wonderful and knowledgable rabbitowners. Sometimes thats better than a vet. Heres hoping they can helphim pull through.

We're here for you if you need to talk. ray:

 

[naturestee]

I'm so sorry you had to give him up, but it doeslook like he went to great, knowledgeable people. Bless youfor caring so much to do this for him. I hope he pullsthrough, and maybe you can be reunited.

ray:

 

[Pipp]

So sorry... :bigtears:

Just re-read the thread more carefully, the vet was an ER vet? That probably explains the price.

Did they give him a sub-qinfusion and a gut motilitydrug?Did they give him gas meds? Painkillers? Did they tell you to keep him warm?

Its too late in this case, but twelve hours without eating and poopingis cause for concern, but 24 hours is more of an ER situation, althoughif he was grinding his teeth, etc, he was asickbunny. It just bothers me thatthis washappening AFTER the vet visit.

Yes, GI stasis is a symptom of something else -- a bug, a gas attack, adental issue, blockage, etc -- so they're right in trying togetto the bottomof the problem, but if itwasa gas attack,a bottle of baby gas meds and sometummy massages may have sufficed. Because ofthediet change after his molar spurs,it'sagoodpossiblity.My bunnies looks REALLYsick when they have gas, and probably would be in trouble if I didn'ttreat it quickly and persistently. The pain send them intostasis and shock.

I'd still like to know exactly what they did for that enormousfee.

Sorry you had to go through this. Thanks for being such a caring bunny slave.

:hug:
Here's hoping he's okay.


sas ray:

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Pipp:
I believe they gave him a sub-q infusion because they did say that Imight notice a lump on his back when I petted him. They gaveMeloxicam 1.5 mg/ml 4 doses of .12 ml each. What else theymight have done I couldn't tell. I was given a bill that wasnot itemized and was hand-written. The writing was so badthat I could only read a word here and there.

I took Usagi to the ER at about 12 hrs of no poop-no drink-no eat butthe rescue people got him at about 24 hrs. The fact he wasn't touchinghis water at all was probably the deciding factor for me taking him toER.

You are right of course that GI Stasis is a symptom of a condition, notthe cause of it. That's why I was taking him to the ER tofind out what the cause was so it could be properly treated.I thought that was what the $230 was for, to find out thecause. To be told that GI Stasis was the problem is somethingI already knew from my reading and observations of Usagi'sactions. I didn't need to leave the house or pay over $200 tohave someone tell me what I already knew.

To prescribe treatment for a symptom without ever having diagnosed theactual condition was totally irresponsable of the ER vet. To tell methat for an extra $320 they wouild investigate the possible causes andotherwise they would just take a guess... well.

Holly from the rescue aksed if she could take the bill so they wouldbetter know what was done for him so I don't have the bill any more.

I did write the owner of "Thumper," the bunny I was going to adopt tobond with Usagi. I explained to her what has happened withUsagi. We'll see what she decides. But I'm not inany rush because I'm still hurting and I'm sure I will be for some timeinto the future.

I pray he's ok.

Usagi_Chan

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

ray:

 

[Usagi_Chan]

Some say that "Everything happens for a reason"That may be the case here. Randy from the rabbit rescue called a bitago and told me that Usagi is better. He's still "not out ofthe woods" but he's better. He didn't say that I would getUsagi back but they try to place bunnies in good homes and both he andhis wife can see that I'm a good daddy for Usagi. Randy saidthat Usagi showed them that just by his actions so I'm hopeful.

Randy and his wife are truly exceptional people. If you visittheir website([url]http://rabbitresq.org)[/url] you'll seethat they try to nurse sick bunnies back to health but they keepdisabled bunnies for life and care for them. Ones that getwell are moved to shelters in the area where they hopefully get adoptedout. I cannot think of anyone more worthy of support thanthese people.

Randy is very knowledgable about rabbits. From talking to him on thephone I would bet that he knows about twice as much as anyvet. I am so very happy that Usagi is better and that hemight be ok. I volunteered to do anything that I can to helpthe Rescue. I have a lot of free time and I live inRaleigh. With time, location, maybe fostering abunny or two and knowing website programming Randy said I can be a bighelp. I'd get to spend a lot of time with a lot of beautifulbunnies too.

Besides helping others it will help me. Keeping busy and feeling usefulis a major factor in making anyone happy so this will helpme. As a bonus I get to help people and BUNNIES !

Usagi and I both still need prayers. I thank allof you for all your support. For a change I'm crying now withhopeful happiness. I'll add here as I get more news.

 

[Haley]

Aww Im crying for you as well! That is greatnews and it sounds like you've met some really wonderful people throughthis experience.

I'll be keeping your little one in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefullyhe will be back to his normal self soon-and you'll be reunited again.

Its great that you might be able to help them out as well. I know how overworked rescuers are, every little bit helps

 

[naturestee]

I'm so glad he's starting to feelbetter! Hopefully you can be reunited. It's awesomethat you're going to be helping the rescue now. :thumbup

 

[seniorcats]

Wonderful news! I am so happy to hearyour good news and of course, will keep sending prayers. Ilooked at the rescue web site last night and was struck by how love forthe animals is expressed on the site. It sounds as though newavenues are opening for both you and the rescue. Please keepus posted on the recovery of your little one.

Ann

I also meant to add, it's great to see rabbit rescue in N.C.I lived in Fayetteville during the late 1960's through early 1970's andthen attended ECU in Greenville. Moved up here to thesnowbelt in 1978. There is so much I miss about NC.

 

[TinysMom]

I'm praying for you and Usagi to be reunited once he gets better.

Peg

 

[ra7751]

Hi Everyone,

I have just read the many posts regarding Usagi. He is onespecial rabbit and he has a very special human that has really shownhow much Usagi means to him. And I know, because Usagi ishere with me right now. It seems a lot of people areconcerned about him...and that is good to see...so I thought I wouldupdate everyone on his treatment and progress.

Usagi presented with a condition known as ileus and I listed him ascritical. It is a life threatening event. Instasis, the GI tract slows down...in ileus, it stops. When itstops or slows dramatically, there is a tremendous change in theclimate of the gut. It is similar to what happens when a babyrabbit weans....and if any of you have even done cottontails, you knowabout 21 days is a dangerous time for them. This conditionstarts to kill the benficial bacteria that help digest food and allowsharmful species to take over....mainly clostridium....which isrelated to tetanus and botulism.You have to treat ileus veryaggressively, but be patient all at the same time. Isuspected an impaction near the turn of the gut near the cecum basedupon palpitating the gut. That is a difficult spot due to thetwist and size in that area. Gut motility drugs are dangerouseven in the lightest cases of stasis and can easily cause death frompain due to muscle contractions. We do not use them atall. Simethicone also has somewhat of a constipating effectin these situations so we use that only when radiology has shown thatlarge pockets of gas exist. In this case, I decided the bestcourse of treatment was to hydrate and to attack the mucus that bindsthe impaction. The first attack was to rehydratehim. We started Lactated Ringers administeredsubcutaneouslyat a higher than normal dosing. Thatwas on Sunday night. I did also force feed some high octaneformula we use with cottontails. It is very rich and helpedto raise his glucose levels. I also put him on a pain medcalled Tramadol for GI pain andto allow him torelax. By Tuesday night, we were getting gut noises so weknew something was going to happen one way or the other. Weintensified the treatment using a combination of freshly squeezedpineapple juice and Oxbow Critical Care. There is someevidence that the composition of fresh pineapple juice (or freshpapaya) aids in the breakdown of the mucus binding theingesta. The Critical Care was used due to it's fiber content(to add just a little pushing pressure inside the GI) and theacidophilus...which slightly acidifies the gut to allow a goodenvironment for beneficial bacteria. He is also getting anantibiotic known as Flagyl which specifically targets theclostridium in his GI. On Wednesday morning Usagipassed a huge mass, technically known as a trichobezoar, as wellas numerous strands of stringy poops. I have never seensomething so big be passed from any sized rabbit much less one thissmall. As of Wednesday night, he acts like he is feelinggreat. He is jumping and climbing all over theplace. He is eating pellets on his own for the very firsttime since he arrived. I am starting to ramp down thetreatments and concentrate on reestablishing his gut. Withoutadditional problems, I hope that Usagi's gut is fully establishedwithin a week. Also during that time, I hope to add someweight to his body. He has lost down to less than 800g...Isuspect he should be more in the 1200g area. He is nottotally home free yet and we may still yet have to deal with some gutissues as he recovers but all signs are positive now.

I was very concerned about his prognosis coming in but feel much betterabout his chances now. He is a trooper. He hastaken all the force feedings and needles without any problem.More updates on Usagi will be forthcoming. And maybe even ahomecoming soon. And on a personal note...I see so many badthings during many rescues. It is such a boost to read aboutall the concerns out there for Usagi. It has made myday...thanks.

Randy