Help with Critical Care

[HMBunnyMom]

Hi bunny people,

My bunny, Dory, about 2 years old, was spayed two days ago and is not eating. I bought critical care and have been trying to feed her through a syringe, but she is so squirmish and even with the help of two people holding her, she just won't take it. If I can manage to get a bit in her mouth, she spits some out, so I'm getting nervous.

Does anyone happen to know any tricks for how to administer the critical care to the bunny? I have not tried holding her on her back for fear that she'd choke, so I'm only tried with her sitting upright. Any suggestions?

Thanks so much for anyone with advice!

Krista

 

[ra7751]

Hi Krista,

Is she on aggressive pain meds? Did she get fluids during her spay? If she is on pain meds (preferably narcotics)....don't sweat the food. You are most likely stressing her much more than any benefit of food. If she was healthy enough to have the spay performed.....don't worry about the food. I have had rabbits not eat for over a week. Irarely syringe feed anything like Critical Care to an adult rabbit. Will she eat greens? If so, make the Critical Care into a paste and spread it on a leaf of lettuce.....then roll it up into something like a burrito and hand feed it.

If she is not on pain meds....I would be on the phone with the vet immediately. Metacam is better than nothing but is not sufficient to post-op spay pain. I prefer narcotic type analgesics....Buprenorphine (Buprenex) is best but Tramadol is acceptable. Concentrate on hydration....rule is hydration before nutrition. Sub-q fluids might also help the situation. And again, if her gut was healthy going into surgery....just keep her hydrated and things will be OK.

I use Buprenorphine in all moderate to severe pain events. All of my spays are always eating that night. Pain control is the key. Offera buffet of her favorite foods. And give her time. A spay is a major invasive surgery.

And by all means....don't panic. She will sense that and will respond to it. Pain meds, cage rest and hydration should take care of things.

Randy

 

[tonyshuman]

I wanted to add that critical care needs to be very well rehydrated. It needs to soak for a few minutes in more water than they say it needs. As for greens, parsley, romaine, and dandelion leaves are really great, tasty, and easy on the system. If she'll eat veggies, you can soak them in water for a little bit--they'll absorb some of the water. It does sound like she's in pain and that's why she's not eating, though. good luck!

 

[ra7751]

And just to add to Tonyshuman post....Critical Care itself can be dehydrating (as can Nutri Cal). That stuff just sucks in water. And it sits heavy in the gut. While I don't use it any longer....it can be very beneficial in some situations. It does have an "acquired" taste. The anise flavor has never been taken easily but the apple-banana seems to be a little better accepted. If you try to syringe it on it's own....make it very runny. Just be careful that force feedng can be aspirated into the lungs and cause additional problems.

You can mix small amounts of Critical Care in something like canned pumpkin (not pie filling...canned). It can also be mixed in appropriate baby food. Keep in mind that if they eat the CC....you need to closely monitor hydration.....hydration is always more important then nutrition in this type situation.

Randy

 

[HMBunnyMom]

Thank you so much Randy and tonyshuman. Both of your posts are very helpful, and you have definitely put me at ease.

She is on pain meds right now -- it is the Metacam, and she is drinking water at least. I love the idea of spreading some of the critical care on veggies. She did take a few bites of lettuce (her favorite) earlier, so I'll try that trick for sure.

Unfortunately, she has a protective collar on because she was grooming too much and some stitches opened, so she has two staples on her belly now. Definitely can't let her near them for fear that she'd open the wound again, and even worse, swallow the staples - so I'm keeping a very close eye on her. I definitely feel a bit relieved though to know it's natural for her to not be eating while on the Metacam, so many thanks for all your help!!

Krista

 

[Maureen Las]

The e collar is stressful in itself so can you take it off her when you are right with her and watching her closely and put it back on her when she is alone?

 

[HMBunnyMom]

Absolutely... I've been watching her closely and leave the e-collar off of course when I'm right there but put it back on at night and when I leave the house. It's torture to watch her with it on so I can't wait until the staples are removed

 

[Maureen Las]

I understand how you feel.....

"Hugs"

Maureen

 

[tonyshuman]

Yeah, I've never had to have a bun with the e-collar, but I know they get really upset and/or sad with it on. Letting her have it off for a little bit each day with supervision will help. Good luck with getting her fed and healed up!

 

[SOOOSKA]

Someone on here made a collar for their bunny out of material so the couldn't get to the stitches. Now the only problem is I can't remember who made it. Maybe someone else will remember who posted it.:foreheadsmack:

Susan

 

[tonyshuman]

Sometimes you can put a dog t-shirt on them, or make the soft e-collar, which I also cannot find. It looks like one of those neck braces you wear if you have a neck injury and I think it's made out of folding a tube of material placed around the neck several times to make it bulky.

 

[naturestee]

Found it!

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=37816&forum_id=16&msg=2

Scroll down to Djakarta's post.

 

[ra7751]

Staples??? I would suggest finding a rabbit savvy vet to take a look at what is going on. Couple of things. First....metacam, while better than nothing, is totally insufficient pain control. All of my spays/neuters have narcotics. None of my spays have ever had externalsutures. We insist on laser surgery with internal self absorbing sutures and final close with Vetbond (tissue glue). I don't even think I could discuss the idea of putting staples in my rabbit with a vet.....ain't gonna happen. Never used an e-collar on a rabbit either.

I would hope and expect by now that the pain is starting to subside on it's own. I would put my attention on making sure those staples don't cause an infection.

 

[BrandonB]

I agree with ra7751. I never had a rabbit stapled after surgery, they are always glued. As for feeding, roll the bun in a bath towel with its head sticking out. That always seems to help and less stress on the buns spine when it tries to free itself. Make sure the critical care is nice and wet with water before giving it. I put some cut up apples in a bowl with the critical care on top, when I had a sick bun. The buns love it...

 

[pamnock]

ra7751 wrote:

And just to add to Tonyshuman post....Critical Care itself can be dehydrating (as can Nutri Cal).
Randy

I've actually found that Nutri Cal helps the rabbits stay hydrated without need for additional moisture in many cases.

Pam

 

[Maureen Las]

Actually a few of our shelter rabbits have been stapled after spays as an addition to self absorbing sutures and glue. The reason behind it was that the rabbits were big and/or overweight. It was used as reinforcement. Nothing every happened in a negative way.

 

[HoneyPot]

And just to answer the original question in case anyone needed the information ... I put instructions in this thread of how my vet showed me to administer critical care.

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=11658&forum_id=16&highlight=honeypot+syringe

Just scroll down to my post. I use this method anytime I need to give it to the buns and they won't take it willingly.