Help, my bunny is depressed.

[Mimira]

Hello! Recently I got a pure breed female dwarf that was 2 months old and few days after that I got her a female friend who’s a mix breed, also 2 months old. My first rabbit is Hoppy and the second one is Hazel. Hoppy suddenly passed away two days back when I left it for a day, my mom and sister who was at home called and informed me about her passing. Hazel on the other hand is now not eating or drinking water properly, and is not pooping well. Her poop gets stuck in her bum and is not the usual round poop. I brought her to the vet and they gave some antibiotics, probiotics as well as vitamin. I had to force her a little to have the meds. Now I let it back into the cage and she’s just sitting in one corner not eating her hay. Hazel was much more active than Hoppy, she would jump around and even nibble my fingers when I pet her. Right now she’s the total opposite.

I am very much afraid and wondering if she would be okay if I get her another friend.

 

[Preitler]

She isn't depressed, she doesn't feel well, maybe because of the same issue the other rabbit had, so I would not get another one until this one is well again.

What are the antibiotics for, what is the diagnosis? Usually you don't give a rabbit antibiotics "just in case". Which antibiotics were given?

 

[Mimira]

The antibiotic is vetoquinol. The other rabbit was completely fine the night before it died. The vet said that it is probably sad which is why it is not eating well. Both of the rabbits were absolutely fine, hopping around and eating well before one died.

 

[Watermelons]

Rabbits are a prey species and hide illness well.
Sounds more lile your current rabbit is sick with whatever the the other one died from just as Preitler said.
Please do not get another rabbit until this one is well.
It sounds like you may need to find a different vet. Do you have other options where you are located?

 

[Diane R]

The antibiotic is vetoquinol. The other rabbit was completely fine the night before it died. The vet said that it is probably sad which is why it is not eating well. Both of the rabbits were absolutely fine, hopping around and eating well before one died.

Vetoquinol is the name of a company, not of a drug. What was the actual antibiotic that was given? And why antibiotics? I know it's probably not easy in your country but you need a rabbit vet.

 

[Momma Luvbun]

I'm sorry for your loss and I can understand your worry for your surviving bun.
Where did you get them from?
What kind of set up does it live in?

I'd recommend encouraging your bun to get eating/drinking by soaking bite size pieces of romaine lettuce in water for a while and then giving it to her on a plate. You could count the pieces and keep a running daily chart on progress.
With soaking the romaine, it holds water and at least gives bun some type of liquid.
I have heard dandelions and lavendar help naturally with pain and even a light steaping of chamomile tea, cooled is soothing for them..
To get bun to eat more hay, may I suggest you get oxbow hay stacks with chamomile. They are compact hay pucks you break up and for some reason buns love this stuff. It's expensive though so I only get it when I notice my bunnies aren't acting right.

 

[JBun]

STOP the antibiotic right now!

What is the active ingredient/antibiotic in the vetoquinol? Because if it's what I'm finding on the internet, it can kill your rabbit. Is your rabbit producing any normal round fecal poop, or is it mushy or watery diarrhea?

The vet gave you the wrong medications. Your rabbit has something called GI stasis, and needs to be on a gut motility med like metoclopramide and a pain med like meloxicam. You also need to be syringe feeding your rabbit using oxbow critical care for herbivores or making a pellet mush from your rabbits food pellets.

https://rabbit.org/gastrointestinal-stasis-the-silent-killer-2/

 

[Mimira]

The antibiotic that was prescribed is Marbofloxacin. Her poop was mushy and watery. I got very scared and took her to the shop I got her instead as they said they could look after her till she gets better. I stopped the medication from the vet, thankfully I only gave my rabbit once. The shop owner took care of her, she said she fed my rabbit some critical care herbivore vitamins. After a day my bunny was so much more better and healthier. She has been eating well and pooping normally now. I would be getting her back in a few days.
I am still a little worried of what might have caused my other bunny to die suddenly? Because she was doing fine the night before, eating and playing well. I do let them roam around my room with my supervision. Now I am a little scared to what might happen to my bunny if I bring her back home.

 

[JBun]

Ok, well that antibiotic is actually ok for rabbits to have. I was finding a different antibiotic under that brand name. It was showing amoxicillin, and rabbits should never be given that orally.

I'm glad the shop was able to help you. The critical care is actually perfect and just what is needed for a rabbit not eating on it's own.

If you maybe want to describe in detail, exactly what you feed your rabbit, what your rabbits set up is(with a photo would be helpful), and does your rabbit always have access to hay and water? Do you know for sure, if your rabbits were eating and drinking well after you first brought them home? Sometimes when a rabbit is in a new home, they get stressed and stop eating.