Oat Hay's (or Medicines') Affect on Megacolon...

[Jenk]

A few people suggested that I try Zoe (my megacolon/ gut-flora-imbalance bun) on hay other than timothy. Last Thursday and Friday, I gave her a small amount of oat hay, which she enjoyed. My question is this: Can oat hay, being so stiff,upset a bunny's gut (if prone to ileus)?

For a 24-hour period (from late Friday night until Sat. evening), Zoe didn't have as many poops as she's been having since starting hercourse of multiple medicines. She also started a second round of Baytril (.45 mL/ day) on Thursday. (She's also taking Dandelion Milk Thistle [.30 mL/ day] and Bene-Bac [.50 mL/ day].)

I don't know if the oat hay has irritated her gut, or if the multiple medications are affecting her (though they didn't seem to previously). Ack! What has me concerned is that, although she's still eating, she was very gassy/ gurgly Sat. night. And she's seemed uncomfy at times since then (even remaining in her cage for a little bit tonight after her door was opened, which is unusual for her).

I guess I'll be calling the vet tomorrow(for the millionth time). This is stressful, being this worried about Zoe's health all of the time. I feel as though I must watch her like a hawk....

Jenk

 

[naturestee]

I haven't had an issue with coarse hay before. I actually just got a bale of timothy that turned out to be extremely coarse, and Fey loves it. Generally when they chew it, hay gets folded up and worked a lot so it shouldn't poke at their bellies or anything.

I have found that when Fey has a bad episode, she'll bounce back and forth for a while before she's back to normal (as normal as she gets). I'm going through that right now.

 

[Jenk]

naturestee wrote:

I have found that when Fey has a bad episode, she'll bounce back and forth for a while before she's back to normal (as normal as she gets). I'm going through that right now.

I don't know the difference betweenstandard megacolon issues and those that indicate a more serious problem/ side-effect. I know that Zoe won'thave "normal" poops; but when her poop production slows and the poops themselves become more misshapen than usual, I don't know if I should call the vet for advice (due to all the med's she's on), or if this is par for the course and should justwait and see (as long as she continues to pass something everyday).

Afew moments ago, I found her stretched out on her bed. Typically at this time of night, shecontinues eating hay without stopping until I go to bed. It's these little breaks she's taking (combined with her decreased output, irregular-shaped poops, and gassiness) that have me more worried. Still, she's eating and drinking.

Is the rule of thumb that when a megacolon bunny continues to eat, drink, poop (at least some) and remains somewhat active, all is relatively okay--even if the bun seems more uncomfy at times?

Thanks,

Jenk

 

[naturestee]

I don't really have a rule of thumb since each problem seems a little different.

I would treat her for gas (baby gas meds/Simethicone) to relieve the discomfort. I think a little Nutri-Cal would also be a good idea to see if the Vitamin E in it helps. Just give a pea sized amount and squish it on her paw so she has to lick it off.

 

[Jenk]

Your response regarding Simethicone raises another question for me. I think I'll start another thread.... :biggrin2:

 

[Jenk]

naturestee wrote:

I think a little Nutri-Cal would also be a good idea to see if the Vitamin E in it helps. Just give a pea sized amount and squish it on her paw so she has to lick it off.

Zoe sees one main vet but also occasionally sees another one (at the same practice). Zoe recently saw this second vet, who advised me against feeding her Nutri-Cal due toitssugar content.

Zoe's gut flora swings out of balance at the touch of a breeze. One of her tests performed in March cultured Bacillus, Prevotella and Enterococcus; her follow-up test in early April cultured a little Staph and Enterococcus. Egads!

 

[JimD]

our chippy has gi issues that sound a lot like your zoe.

we've always suspected that chippy had megacolon/ileus.
however, since her bout with clostridium her system is super sensitive.
We treated her with benebac at the time and then followed upby supplementing her diet withacidophilus.
then rick recommended trying ascorbic acid (vit C).
I started to give her a few pieces of dried *papaya with each meal (breakfast & dinner) andi've had very good results.

she also gets rolled oats and black oil sunflower seeds.....and lots of timothy hay





*i found that papaya has a high % of vit C....even more than oranges