My rabbit has been losing weight since a week or so. He is eating normally. He is active just the way he always is. But for some reason just not gaining his weight back. Hes become boney. And his fur has become greyish. The vet said hes dehydrated but he drinks enough water and now I give him peditral too. Nothing has changed! Also his poop his very small hard and green. Please help anyone!!
HELP!!! Losing weight!! GI STASIS?
- Thread starter Louisbaby
- Start date
Help Support Rabbits Online Forum:
My first thought is your rabbit has coccidiosis, possibly hepatic coccidiosis. It can cause poop abnormalities like that, the hepatic one affects the liver which could result in issues with bile production and green poops as a result. Hepatic coccidiosis can also result in ill thrift, weight loss, wasting along the back and hindquarters, rough coat, etc. Your vet could see if it will show up on a fecal float test, but sometimes the test may be inaccurate, especially if it's the hepatic kind instead of intestinal. So it may be advisable to go ahead and treat based on symptoms exhibited, with a sulfa antibiotic or ponazuril/toltrazuril.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm. (contains graphic medical related photos )
The other possibility that comes to mind is a liver issue other than coccidiosis, in which case a blood test and possibly xrays, may be needed to help determine whats going on
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Protozoal_diseases/Cocc_en.htm. (contains graphic medical related photos )
The other possibility that comes to mind is a liver issue other than coccidiosis, in which case a blood test and possibly xrays, may be needed to help determine whats going on
I feed him fresh greens every day along with some pellets. And i dont know his age. I dont think he is old at all. Also I can not feed him any hay because we dont get it where I live and that hasnt been a bog problem until now
I don’t think it’s that because he is very active and he isnt actually thirsty I am spiking his water with apple to make him drink it. If I give him just water he wont have it. Could it be parasites or GI stasis or do I need to just get him a deworming shot??
bunnylove2024
Well-Known Member
yes, that could be it, however, it's not likely. depending on where you are located in Pakistan... if you have grass try feeding him that. the grass is a live version of hay considering that hay is dried grass. be super CARFUL about pesticides and other things people put on the lawn, that could things worse. so fresh grass, lots of water, and wash your veggies in hot water. The hot water will kill anything in the veggies and wash it off. If you are concerned about Gi-stasis ask @Mariam+Theo, she knows a lot about it!
If he gets grass and weeds that'S fine, mine don't eat nuch hay all summer long. I offer it anyway, you can make your own by drying grass,
Antibiotics can mess up their digestion, so when this started after he got the medication, yes, that can be a reason.
If it is coccodosis, or just in case it could be, you can offer things like chives, the green parts of garlic and onions, not a wonder cure but it can help. Start with rather small amounts.
Antibiotics can mess up their digestion, so when this started after he got the medication, yes, that can be a reason.
If it is coccodosis, or just in case it could be, you can offer things like chives, the green parts of garlic and onions, not a wonder cure but it can help. Start with rather small amounts.
I don’t know where I can grass from now because the whole city is in lockdown due to corona virus but I have been giving lots of water. Thank you so much I will go to the vet again on monday!
Actually his poop was really small and he was constipated from before. After the antibiotics he is pooping more but its still small and now it is green. His poop and him not gaining weight is my main concern since everything else seems normal! Everywhere Ive searched it seems like its the beginning of GI
bunnylove2024
Well-Known Member
it also is a good thing for there health and coat but it fills them up fast.
thevanguard6
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2020
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 28
Going without hay will eventually become a disaster for a rabbit's gut. If there's no pet store in your area, is there any possibility that you can purchase a bale of hay from someone with horses?
Other things that might work as a contingency are dried fruit tree leaves (e.g. apple leaves). Also, try slicing the veggies and fruit thinly, drying them, and then giving those to your rabbit instead of fresh veggies. Some rabbits cannot handle 'wet' food. You can also give your rabbit dried carrot tops and dried parsley. Again though, hay is super important and a must-have in order to maintain proper gut flora.
Another thing to watch for is how well your rabbit is chewing. If your bunny is having chewing issues, that'll result in weight loss and a lack of roughage. Usually it's caused by bone spurs on the teeth. A rabbit vet can file those down (similar to floating a horse's teeth).
More info here:
http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/otherworld/RabbitCareGuide.pdf
Oh, and go easy on the oats. They can cause bloat.
Other things that might work as a contingency are dried fruit tree leaves (e.g. apple leaves). Also, try slicing the veggies and fruit thinly, drying them, and then giving those to your rabbit instead of fresh veggies. Some rabbits cannot handle 'wet' food. You can also give your rabbit dried carrot tops and dried parsley. Again though, hay is super important and a must-have in order to maintain proper gut flora.
Another thing to watch for is how well your rabbit is chewing. If your bunny is having chewing issues, that'll result in weight loss and a lack of roughage. Usually it's caused by bone spurs on the teeth. A rabbit vet can file those down (similar to floating a horse's teeth).
More info here:
http://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/otherworld/RabbitCareGuide.pdf
Oh, and go easy on the oats. They can cause bloat.
bunnylove2024
Well-Known Member
Thevanhuard6 is right, be careful with oats. They are helpful in many ways but can be dangerous if they get too much.
I need to stress that he really, really should be eating hay. Hay provides the necessary fibre to keep the gut working and prevents GI stasis. Greens are not enough. If possible in your area, you could try ordering on Amazon or a similar online website that can ship it to you.
If you are feeding him pellets then he is getting some hay, indirectly.
If you are going back to the vet you might ask for a fecal test. A rabbit who continues to eat but not gain weight may indicate what jbun said or some type of worm. Can’t hurt to test for it if the vet hasn’t yet.
If you are going back to the vet you might ask for a fecal test. A rabbit who continues to eat but not gain weight may indicate what jbun said or some type of worm. Can’t hurt to test for it if the vet hasn’t yet.
Thank you all so much for the help! My baby is still losing weight. I took him to the vet today and he said we cant do a blood or fecal test because all the labs are closed due to coronavirus. He told me to give him Albendazole (even tho we arent sure if he has parasites) and tood me to give him this medicine brand Called Jetepar (i think its local but ive posted the ingredients in it) of detoxicating because he might have medicine toxicity from giving him metronidazole previously (another vet told me to give him that). Does anyone know if any of these medicines are safe because he is very weak I dont want the medicine to possibly kill him. And he told me to feed him more pellets. He is pooping not as much as he should but still pooping takes him a while tho. And also I live in Pakistan where amazon doesnt deliver and I have asked hay from the people who have horses here. They say they dont feed the horses hay either. I have tried to order it too no hope. And I give him oxybow timothy pellets.
Attachments
Also he said he doesnt think he has coccidiosis because there would be blood in his poop. He just think he might have toxicity or parasites. Im starting to feel it is toxicity from metronidazole because he started losing weight after that. Im so confused guys. I feel like **** that my rabbit is slowly dying and I cant do anything about it
Metronidazole is given to rabbits to fight certain anerobic bacteria. It’s usually good to give rabbits probiotics while they’re on antibiotics, to help with any gut issues, but from what I see this med is usually well tolerated in rabbits. Without being able to run tests it’s hard to know what’s going on. If he had worms the fecal would show it and bloodwork would show him anemic.
I’m not familiar with this detoxicating agent so I can’t help you there, but if the vet recommends it I guess it’s worth a try. You’re in a tough situation.
I’m not familiar with this detoxicating agent so I can’t help you there, but if the vet recommends it I guess it’s worth a try. You’re in a tough situation.
