Not eating (RIP)

[jimbo]

Robbie isn’t eating and unfortunately I am out of town for work so relying on a combination of my wife who does shift work and a friend who is checking on him.

He’s not eating his hay and while last night (around 10 hours ago) he did eventually seem to eat most of a romaine lettuce leaf (which he’d usually gobble up in 5 seconds), he seemingly hasn’t touched anything since.

He has been pooping and they look normal enough but he’s just pooping right where he was lying in his hutch overnight and he never does that, usually he goes to his usual spot. He just wants to lie in the same spot which again is not something he usually does for prolonged periods.

I have some critical care in the fridge that someone could give him. Realistically I don’t think anyone can take him to a vet for 12 hours though. Any suggestions on what this might be and what we could do?

 

[Blue eyes]

I would suggest offering some simethicone (baby gas drops). If his tummy is bothering him (lying in same spot could indicate this) then the gas drops may be just enough to get him feeling better. That typically gets them eating again.
1-2cc per hour for 3 hours, then 1cc every 3-8 hours as needed

 

[jimbo]

Robbie died a few hours ago. I am heartbroken. My wife took him to the vet who said he had abdominal swelling and he did an X-ray which showed a large obstruction. My wife tried giving him critical care at home but it wasn’t helping and he died some hours later. It’s all so sudden, 48 hours ago he was his happy bouncy self and eating fine. We will miss him so much. RIP beautiful Robbie.

 

[overhear]

I'm so so sorry for the loss of your adorable bunny. Very, very sad.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

I am very sad that Robbie incurred the gastric obstruction. My deepest condolences. I understand the loss and emotional pain of losing a bun.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Indigestible fiber, chewed rug edges, excessive cardboard consumption of cellulose that does not break down and causes a blockage, have taken the lives of a few of our indoor companions.

The vet visit to seek help, xray, and/or a necropsy brings answers when we are worried and perplexed.

Again, my sympathy for the loss of Robbie.

 

[DelawareRunner]

So sorry, I lost my bunny (avatar pic) a month ago too, just minutes from arriving at the vet's office. It still hurts. Again, my deepest condolences on losing your sweet baby.

 

[littlebluejay]

He was so adorable. So sorry you lost him so soon.

 

[Mom to Minx]

I share your grief! Every time I read when one has gone to bunny heaven I cry with and for you. I’m so very sorry for your loss of Robbie

 

[EdwardV]

Very sorry for your loss. Sounds like you took very good care of him. Take comfort in knowing you will see him again.

 

[ElfNugget]

Robbie died a few hours ago. I am heartbroken. My wife took him to the vet who said he had abdominal swelling and he did an X-ray which showed a large obstruction. My wife tried giving him critical care at home but it wasn’t helping and he died some hours later. It’s all so sudden, 48 hours ago he was his happy bouncy self and eating fine. We will miss him so much. RIP beautiful Robbie.

Oh no, I m so saddened to hear of your loss of your adorable Robbie. RIP. So sorry that I lost my password and had to re log in. RIP sending you guys lots of hugs.

 

[jimbo]

Hi everyone, thank you for your thoughts. We are still upset and in shock about Robbie's sudden passing. We are trying to work out what might have caused it.

When he first came to us 7 months ago he was 2.6kg but eating the muesli type stuff they sell at the supermarket which is not good for rabbits obviously, so I transitioned him off that and on to unlimited hay (which he eventually took to though didn't like it as much as other stuff) plus a handful of pellets and fresh greens. He actually went to the vet a month or so ago with the same symptom of not eating or moving but it cleared up within about 6 hours and he went back to his normal self again. The vet weighed him then at 2.1kg so he had lost quite a bit but looked better I thought, and the vet thought so too in terms of proportions - when we first got him I thought he looked overweight, so I thought at the time that was a positive development due to feeding him hay rather than sugary muesli mix. He then snuck out under our fence maybe 3 weeks ago and was missing for 30 hours, not sure if the stress of that would have had an impact as he seemed quite shaken by it to start with.

TreasuredFriend above mentioned some factors that may cause this to happen for indoor rabbits, though Robbie was an outdoor rabbit. Are there any things that may have caused this? Would it have been building up a long time or the impact of something recent? Perhaps self grooming and too much hair ingested (I was for the past month trying to brush him each day as he was shedding a lot recently)? I had recently changed his bedding from straw to more comfortable looking hemp, gotten a new fresh batch of hay (same brand as he had been having though), and new (seemingly healthier) pellets too. Not sure if anything like that could impact.

You can see the photo of the x-ray posted in this message. If anyone has any thoughts I would love to hear them. We would hopefully like to get a pair of rabbits a little while down the track so wanted to see if there is anything we did or didn't do that might have contributed.

 

[ThePelletnator]

I just lost my beloved Zena, pictured as my avatar, just on Friday. Totally devastated doesn't even being to tell how horrible I feel since she passed in the same way. Completely bossy and loving as usual, refused a treat in the morning, then I picked her up and felt her stomach, which was bloated. Gave some gas drops and within mere hours she was gone.

I too am constantly going through the what if scenarios, but in the end, it just means we as bunny parents, need to be far more vigilant in the caring of our little angels.

Don't be so hard on getting the answers, just love yourself, be proactive and there's always another little angel that needs your loving help.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

@jimbo, we always seek answers in hopes we learn and can provide the best life possible for our treasured companions.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

@jimbo I don't know what to add wrt perplexity of losing an outdoor bun?

A rabbit-savvy DVM is my go-to when it comes to mysterious reason why a medical condition occurs; suddenly, or in a short time period. For sure, talking with other bun guardians and observing posts on forums in addtion to close communication with your vet is beneficial. What @ThePelletnator typed, "being more vigilant in the caring of our litte angels" yet some matters and deaths will always trouble us.

I struggled last summer when two of mixed breed Rex rescues died within a few months. One lovable boy was chewing on indigestible material in his large romping and exercise space. The vet did a necropsy and I was stunned at what was discovered! You may not want to see the mass that accumulated in his stomach unbeknownst to us. We have learned from his death and I will always miss him, regretting in hindsight that I didn't do something which would enable him to have more birthdays.

Rabbits are fragile and delicate creatures, vulnerable to many dangers. Perhaps that is a reason why I endear to them. My sympathies to you @ThePelletnator on the loss of your Zena.

A rabbit-friend on another forum mentioned her girl died from a tapeworm infestation. That was perplexing to me as her buns spent most of their time indoors. Perplexing that she did not see the tapeworm segments emitted in feces or blood passed from the worm/s growing inside?

The level of grief is equal to the amount of love invested, are consoling words I tend to repeat. - Thank you for the TLC you provide to your little "charges" and "furry loves", and for reaching out to your vet and experienced bun owners for solace and answers to concerns. Sending comfort hugs,

 

[Nancy McClelland]

So sorry for your loss of Robbie, words are just so inadequate. Binky free little one.

 

[jimbo]

Thanks everyone, and sorry for your losses ThePelletnator and TreasuredFriend. I try not to be too hard on myself, there are probably things we could have done differently but we did our very best with Robbie. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[Catlyn]

Back when i lost one of my boys, i got a consoling quote from one of the members here- "You get what everyone else gets-a lifetime."
No matter how short or long their lives are, we still grieve. We can only do our best and it feels so bad when it doesn't help.
My latest loss went to a boy who (at the time) was supposed to have his third birthday real soon, but got taken to the hospital's ICU for gut problems. He was still lost even affer improving, though the vets watched him constantly.
But at least we can have the ease of mind that we tried. That you tried.
I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[cwebster]

Am so sorry and send love to those who have lost their buns.

 

[Cheesepaws]

I'm so sorry, rest in peace Robbie. He was so beautiful though and I'm sure he lived a happy life