Need advices

[lorenzobunny]

I've a 4 year old female neutered rabbit.
In the last week of August I noticed stools become a bit little than usual so I started to keep an eye on it.
Then, a week after, feces became softer, joined together and losing their physiological shape.
I went to a rabbit-savvy vet that prescribed a probiotic paste for pets and a proper diet with hay and pellets.
I little premise: my rabbit has always eaten high quality hay, pellets, fresh vegetables like chicory,
carrots and nothing else.
Then her gastro enteric situation continued to deteriorate until to runny stool and diarrhea.
My vet prescribed a 7 days therapy with antibiotics.
3 feces exams have been made to look for intestinal parasites but they resulted negative meanwhile the rabbit
experienced moments of diarrhea and moments of intestinal stasis. No temperature alterations.
She's losing weight. So it's one month and a half that she's experiencing this situation.
She doesn't seem to have physical pain but obviously she rests a lot.
Now, as if that were not enough, a new symptom is appeared: she sneezes and snuffles (like a whistle).
Is not very noisy, without discharge: my vet did not find anything in checking her teeth, no fever.
The problem, not feeling the smell (so it seems), is that she's less enticed to eat.

Is there anyone who can help me?

Thanks
Lorenzo

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

What antibiotic did the vet give you?? Antibiotics many many times just make the situation worse, as it changes up all of the good GI flora.

The sneezing-have there been any changes in her environment? Keep an eye on it. Are her eyes every runny? Any other symptoms? NO wetness around the nose at all?

Are you sure your vet is rabbit-savvy (Do they see and successfully treat ALOT of bunnies?)

If she is not eating well, that is a bad thing. How much less is she eating? A bunny not eating, could likely be a bunny who is in pain.

I would possibly try removing the veggies (or alot of them) and see if that helps at all. to digest.

 

[LakeCondo]

I agree with Mia's suggestions. I hope your sweet rabbit gets better.

 

[majorv]

Are you still giving her the probiotic paste? It would help offset the affects the antibiotics may be having on your bun's digestion. Is she still eating hay, because the fiber will also help.

 

[JBun]

If it's not bacteria or a parasite causing the diarrhea, maybe it's the pellets or the veggies. I have one rabbit that can't have regular rabbit pellets or he starts having GI stasis problems. Have you tried just feeding hay to see if that helps.

 

[lorenzobunny]

Thanks for your answers.
I gave her Enrofloxacin (also known as Baytril).
I think my vet is a rabbit-savvy because works in a vet clinic and deals only with rabbit.
Eyes, nose, ears are normally dry, no discharge. Antibiotic therapy was termined and I'm keeping on giving her probiotic.
In the environment nothing changed and, for safety, I've bought a new pack of pellets.
So I give to her only pellets and hay. Actually there's no diarrhea but stool is not formed and she doesn't have much appetite.

Thanks
Lorenzo

 

[Geoff]

I would stop the pellets, too.. just hay until soft stool resolves. And be sure it is a grass hay (such as Timothy, Bermuda, Orchard grass etc.). It won't make her gain any weight, at least not initially, but it is the diarrhea you need to get rid of first. Pain meds might still be recommended even if she doesn't seem painful (rabbits can hide their pain sometimes, and the only symptom can be a poor appetite). Be sure she is drinking well or you may need to give her extra fluids injectably.

What are the ingredients of the probiotic (effectiveness of probiotics in rabbits is very controversial though they at least usually appear to be harmless)?

 

[lorenzobunny]

Geoff wrote:

Be sure she is drinking well or you may need to give her extra fluids injectably.

Yes, she drinks and she doesn't seem dehydrated.
Also vet confirmed this.

Geoff wrote:

What are the ingredients of the probiotic (effectiveness of probiotics in rabbits is very controversial though they at least usually appear to be harmless)?

Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus Clausii, Lactobacillus Sporogenes, Fructooligosaccharides, Manno-oligosaccharide

Thanks