POOR POOR RUSSEL!

[Bo B Bunny]

RusselandRoxy wrote:

his head just seemed in an odd way for a bit earlier, ithink it was tilting rather than drooping, its back up now though.My vet is just an ordinary vet, I've no idea where to look for aexotics vet to be honest. I think he may be drinking a bit, i haventseen him but i think my mum said he drank a bit earlier. Leannexxx

You need to find a vet to take care of exotics. Hemay have something going on in his ears ..... head tilt is a badthing.

 

[bunnysgalore]

How is Russel today?

 

[JimD]

I'm just getting back .

How's Russel today?

 

[RusselandRoxy]

Today, We took Russel back to the vets and he wasgiven the anti biotics injection, we were then given a weeks supply ofantibiotics to give to him. The vet said the redness inside his mouthhad gone down slightly and his face swell had gone down a very smallamount. He's still not himself and is sleeping, however i managed toget him to eat a few pellets from the food, 2 leaves from a sprout anda small amount of lettuce as well as the hay he's been eating on hisown. He has been drinking a bit as i saw him this morning but i amstill very worried about him, leanne xxx

PS. we noticed his left eye was also very watery this morning

 

[bunnysgalore]

I hope he is okay - at least he is managing toeat and drink a bit. I'm sure your vet is very good but it isworth ringing around local vets and asking if any of them specialise inrabbits. Apparantly, a lot of them do now as there are almostas many bunny owners in Britain as cat and dog owners.

Be careful how much lettuce he has - can cause diarrohea. Youare doing a good job. Keep it up. Good luck! Keepus posted. xxx

 

[RusselandRoxy]

Since last night, he seems to have perked up abit. He has eaten a fair bit of veg and even some of his food! He'sstill sleeping alot, i've just given him his antibiotics which hecertainly didn't like but he was a good boy. I'll see how thistreatment goes, and if he deosnt get properly better soon, i will ringround for other vets.

He seemed to forget about his illness as soon as Roxy appeared roundthe corner, obviously i took her away but it made him feel better, heloves her so much.

I'll keep you posted on how hes coming along,

Leanne xxx

 

[RebeccaUK]

Glad to hear Russell is coming on better.

We don't have such a thing as an Exotics vet in this country so you're right to try and find a vet who specialises in rabbits.

When my old bunny was ill the vet recommended syringe feeding him waterwith a little liquid glucose dissolved into the water mix. Iwasn't quite as clued up on rabbits at the time as I am now so I'm notsure if this is a sensible thing to do or not. Perhaps somemore clued up members can advise me. We don't have nutricalor anything similar in the UK so I think he recommended glucose to givemy rabbit an energy shot.

Keep us posted on russells progress. I know how frightening it is when one of your babies gives you a shock.

 

[RusselandRoxy]

thanks Rebecca, i was wondering why i hadnt heardof an exotics vet when others suggested it, i will certainly try thesyringe thing even if its just for water as although he is drinking,hes not drinking enough, Leanne xxx

 

[Bo B Bunny]

RusselandRoxy wrote:

He seemed to forget about his illness as soon as Roxyappeared round the corner, obviously i took her away but it made himfeel better, he loves her so much.

I'll keep you posted on how hes coming along,

Leanne xxx

Oh, that can cause him to not eat.... being away from hismate. All of it put together probably had the little guyreally down

Good to hear he's coming along well.

 

[RusselandRoxy]

they dont actually live together because 1)neither are neutered and 2) shes got 3 babies at the moment but theydid used to be in cages above or opposite eachother, and they led nextto eachother when possible. He's seen much less of her lately, blesshim. Luckily the vet said his illness wasnt contageous. Leanne xxx

 

[Buck Jones]

RebeccaUK wrote:

Glad to hear Russell is coming on better.

We don't have such a thing as an Exotics vet in this country so you'reright to try and find a vet who specialises in rabbits....

"Exotic" vet in the U.S. means nothing more than someone who has hadsome training and experience with animal patients in more than theusual dog, cat category. Here that might include, rabbits,ferrets, marsupials, birds, reptiles.

I do not believe is is a "formal" title but serves to distinguish a vetwho claims it, as opposed to another vet who may not be very wellgrounded in any of those species. I did not want you to thinkit is more than it is, as I believe many of your professional peoplemight be better equipped to handle rabbits because your pet rabbitpopulation is proportionately larger than our own.

For all I know in this country, anymore, a vet who treats farm animalsmay be justified in applying that nomenclature to himself aswell. LOL

Buck

 

[RusselandRoxy]

Thanks for that Buck, i thought that it was aspecial type of vet or something. At the moment i am not thinking oftaking him to another vet anyway as he seems to be coming along better.He actually left the room today and walked round the upstairs of thehouse which may sound like nothing but to me it was a big step for him.He has also continued to eat a bit of his food, hes eaten more lettuce,carrots, apple, banana and hay. Hes been drinking too. I also caughthim standing on his hindlegs taking a sniff around earlier. The swollenlump is still there though and he was grinding his teeth earlier, atleast i think he was, i read this can mean pain but he doesnt appear tobe in much pain since then, Leanne xxx

 

[JimD]

Great news Leanne!!!

Sounds like Russel is improving. Keep us posted!!

:~) Jim

 

[RusselandRoxy]

tthis morning, he was his old nutty self runninground the house, on 2 legs staring into roxy's cage, eating, etc. Butthen we gave him his antibiotics and he was kinda quiet all day, hedoes similar to this most days. Is it possible there is something in itmaking him dopey or hes just angry about having it? Leanne

 

[JimD]

RusselandRoxy wrote:

Is it possible there is something in it making him dopey orhes just angry about having it? Leanne

Hi Leanne!!

I'm so happy that Russel is improving so well.

He may just be upset about having to take the meds. Or he might be having some slight side effects like an upset tummy.

You might want to call the vet to see if there are any side effects that you should be concerned with...just in case.

:~) Jim

 

[cirrustwi]

I'm so glad Russel is doing better. I'm suddenly really concerned about head abcesses -- I think I'll read up on that.

I'm thinking the antibiotics could be making him sleepy. Allkinds of medicine make me sleepy LOL. Seriously, I have seenit in animals where the antibiotic makes them just not quitethemselves. I would call the vet and see if he agrees withthat, but if Russel was normal before the medicine and then off afterthat, it is probably either the medicine is bothering him or he is justpouting because he is mad.

Jen

 

[bunnysgalore]

Am glad he is doing well. Is it Baytrilhe is on. I know my Daisy was on it for months after her abcesses andshe went all quiet and dopey for a few days when she came offit!

 

[RusselandRoxy]

I'm not to sure what the antibiotics is calledand i will call the vets soon if i am sure he is just not himselfbecause of it. Hes happy again now, he took the medicine 14 hours ago.The other reason he might be upset after medicine is because i'm notaround in the day and he loves me so much, lol! but infacthe does always perk up when i get back. Bless him, i'll keepyou posted, i think hes on his wayto betterness, lol! Leanne

 

[*nepo*]

I'm glad Russel's doingbetter . If you want to change to a rabbit vetgoto:http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/PB_vets.html

and scroll down until you find your area

 

[RusselandRoxy]

hes perked up alot and been himself for a week orso now. But yesterday we noticed a little lump under his mouth - itdoesnt seem to bother him but it sure looks painful, any help?