How to care for older & mature rabbit

[Darojati]

Hello...

So my dearest Pochi turns 6 today...

She's an orange holland lop, sometimes have overgrown teeth and we check to Vet for teeth trimming every quarter.. she has 2 bonded male bunnies with her, 4 & 2 y.o.

Pochi has been a lovely bunny that love to run, flop, binky... but now less of that, but still run fast.. she has been having teary eyes ever since 3 years ago which then we found about the problematic teeth.. she is also a little overweight (1.7kg) which we need to work on for her to lose a bit..

So last month and this month, we had blood check for her, and found that she has a concerning liver, while all other blood result come okay.. we had been advised to give her milk thistle and so we give her liver support supplements..

Now i'd like to seek your advice of what else I need to be aware of to take care older bunnies as they become more mature.. and what do you usually give as supplements for older bunnies?

We want her to live long and happy. Thank you!

 

[samoth]

My doe's almost 12, and my buck's almost 8.5.

Outside of the normal (regardless of age), like regular vet checkups, watching diet/weight and health, making sure they're active, providing chew toys, there's only been one difference for me.

I now give my doe 60 mL water (lactated Ringer's solution, subq injection) every 6 days or so. She never drank water (although she always ate two heaping human dinnerplate of greens every day), and ended up almost dying of a large bladder stone (urinary blockage -- identified early when she was straining to urinate).

Now that I'm giving her water injections... she's drinking water regularly! I assume it's due to her feeling the "urge" to replace water as fluid is moving through and out of her body, but it's great to see. She's back to her old self, and actually maintaining a lower body weight after being very overweight all her life (she loves to eat).

That's really the only big elder bun issue I've experienced.

Also, my rabbits are free range on two floors. I strongly believe that using one's body (whether rabbit or human) and performing exercise, like hopping up & down stairs, goes a long way to preventing premature old age problems.

 

[JBun]

Arthritis is a pretty common one in older rabbits. My rabbit was about 8 when she started showing signs of having it. There are meds that can help. Also supplements, but I don't know if they're really helpful or not.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Arthritis

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Elderly_rabbits

 

[samoth]

I totally forgot until JBun mentioned it -- I also give my rabbits meloxicam for arthritis. (Note: it's a drug, not a supplement.)

My vet said it's a very common drug to give older rabbits to help them move around (less pain = more moving around).

 

[JBun]

I totally forgot until JBun mentioned it -- I also give my rabbits meloxicam for arthritis. (Note: it's a drug, not a supplement.)

My vet said it's a very common drug to give older rabbits to help them move around (less pain = more moving around).

Yeah, my rabbit was prescribed meloxicam as well, 2x daily. And it did really help when we got to the right dose for her. She was a lot more comfortable hopping around.

The one I'd wish I'd known about soon enough to help, is Adequan/Cartrophen injections. A past member here had really good results with it helping his rabbit that started to have signs of arthritis.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Our 4.4 lb. harlequin Mindy is now over 12 y.o. according to shelter info (when surrendered). She was spayed at age 7 months after transitioning to our home. She is diagnosed with spinal disc disease.

She receives Gabapentin and meloxicam, a healthy diet, and Oxbow Joint Support tabs.
We sprinkle Cosequin for small mammals on our elders' bun salads 2x a week.

The .34 ml lower-end dose of Gabapentin combined w/.7 metacam worked better than a higher Gaba' amount Rx'd by our DVM. Mindy got lethargic on the higher amount allowed. Her metacam and Gaba are drawn up in the same oral syringe and admin'd 2x daily.

During her playshift time she hops from her bunny bedroom to the opposite side of the house.

"Also, my rabbits are free range on two floors. I strongly believe that using one's body (whether rabbit or human) and performing exercise, like hopping up & down stairs, goes a long way to preventing premature old age problems." - samoth

^ I agree, @samoth
p.s. The photo att/ does not show the cotton bed sheet we lay over the d/k crate doorway so Mindy does NOT get her foot trapped when going in and out of her private d/k crate.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Notes from Mindy's go-to DVM in case this helps as bun parents care for their elders:

ASSESSMENT SECTION
NOTES
- Severe spinal arthritis with compressed disc spaces at thoracolumbar junction, suspected teeth grinding due to
discomfort, unable to scratch ear, to move leg up to ear, suspect spinal vs hip pain as cause
- A- Stable weight
- Current pain management change in medications today recommended
PLAN SECTION
NOTES
Gabapentin dosing to 0.34ml Three times daily, monitor for sedation ( up to 0.68mls 2-3 times daily to see if helps
with arthritis, dose can be increased further if needed) monitor for sedation
- Continue current Meloxicam dosing (at maximum dose) Give 1.3mls by mouth once daily of 1.5mg/ml solution
Tramadol:
- Discussed potential treatment options including:
* Adequan injections ( polyglycan)
* Assisi loop therapy
* Laser therapy
- Recheck as needed

 

[TreasuredFriend]

@Darojati , Thank you for sharing photos of your cherished Pochi.

She is fortunate you care for her and want her to live her happiest & healthiest in her senior years.

It's comforting you care so deeply and take her for lop-prone teeth trimming. Additionally, Pochi has two comfort bondmates in your home.

 

[EdwardV]

Lola is 11 1/2 and diagnosed with arthritis in her back. She still runs whenever she can. We have been giving her https://oxbowanimalhealth.com/product/natural-science-joint-support/ everyday for the last three years.

 

[Darojati]

@samoth @JBun @TreasuredFriend @EdwardV thank you very much for sharing your experience, guidance and wisdom! This is super helpful!!

So we have started to give Pochi meloxicam once a day with hope to ease her toothache due to her roots overgrown (fom x ray, doesn't look good).. sometimes she looks good after, sometimes no difference. I'll try to adjust 2x/day and monitor how it goes.

Unfortunately due to her liver situation from blood check, we couldn't do any teeth trimming as it requires sedation.. so we give her meloxicam.. hopefully the blood test next month show progress after daily milk thistle...

Noted on the water, and we'll monitor her water intake.. interestingly, she used to be shy having us seeing her drinking water... these days, she just drinks water even when i see her.. good sign hopefully. Or maybe she tries to prove she's okay

Thanks for sharing about the sub Q injection for arthritis, something to note for future state. I also share this thread to our Vet whom we visit often to check our trio buns.

We recently added extra cat tunnels and carton cat houses that they can chew.. so it's been fun to see pochi and her 2bonded boys play.. truly get her moving vs lethargic.

How about any additional vitamin B or C via syringe? What to consider on giving any addition vitamins such as this?

 

[Fluffy19]

Hello...

So my dearest Pochi turns 6 today...

She's an orange holland lop, sometimes have overgrown teeth and we check to Vet for teeth trimming every quarter.. she has 2 bonded male bunnies with her, 4 & 2 y.o.

Pochi has been a lovely bunny that love to run, flop, binky... but now less of that, but still run fast.. she has been having teary eyes ever since 3 years ago which then we found about the problematic teeth.. she is also a little overweight (1.7kg) which we need to work on for her to lose a bit..

So last month and this month, we had blood check for her, and found that she has a concerning liver, while all other blood result come okay.. we had been advised to give her milk thistle and so we give her liver support supplements..

Now i'd like to seek your advice of what else I need to be aware of to take care older bunnies as they become more mature.. and what do you usually give as supplements for older bunnies?

We want her to live long and happy. Thank you!

my buns also have the chewing teeth not even but not that bad to need trimming yet, also one of them need move execirse lol. my Vet recommending to stop feeding pellets (she said pellets for the new research doesnt do anything good but filling the buns stomach and making them eat less hay) to increase hay take in and careful with treats. since I started the new diet as the vet recommending my buns poops better size and the latest checked up my buns teeth are better too. I think these will help yr bun too. however, 6 years old isnt old bun yet. my first bun started to slow down when she was 8 yrs old and her digestive system started to go down having lots of wet poops stuck on her butt. I had to help her wash her butt a few times a day. she had longer bed time and had to take pain relief med for the rest of her life. I hope my information somewhat help you and yr bun.