Poorly Bunny - Need advice

[stevie153a]

Hi my little man Chester a 4 year old mini lop had surgery yesterday to flush his bladder that was full of calcium sludge, he doesn't want to eat today he is drinking tiny amounts though. The Vets I took him to explained he had morphine intra-op and lots done to him to try and make him better. I need advise to help him eat ive given him his antibiotics this morning (with grimace) hes also been given a pain killer called metacam now my vet told me it isn't licenced in rabbits so now im wary to give it.

Im trying everything... mushed up pellets his fav fruit and veg treats hes refusing point blank and I know how important it is to eat.

Is it safe to give this medication to relief his pain?
any eating tips would be great:apollo:

 

[rebeccalyn7]

Mine was like that after she had heaps of stitches.
She didn't eat for two days but then realised how hungry she was.
As long as he is drinking at least half a bottle of water he will be okay, if he isnt eating by two days, I'd ring up your vet

 

[whiskylollipop]

I believe metacam is safe and often used in rabbits. When my buns went for surgery, the vet said that if they refused food later, it was a sign they were in pain and needed another dose of painkillers, so I would definitely go ahead give your bunny metacam right away.

 

[stevie153a]

Thanks I gave him some of his pain relief and given him a bowl to drink from rather than make him work at his bottle. Hes drinking more now. Amd ive managed to get some rocket and parsley down him. Unfortunately hes still passing blood in his urine.... im keeping a close eye on him and making sure he doesn't deteriorate.

Hes such a good boy its hard to say how hes feeling cos hes a little brave un.

:sickbunny:

 

[Azerane]

Do you have any critical care you can give to him? If so syringe feeding him in the side of his mouth might not be a bad idea. But the metacam should certainly help getting him to eat again to stop pain.

 

[stevie153a]

I mushed up some of his pellets with camomile tea and syringed some into his mouth but he put up a big fight and I was worried id hurt him after only having surgery yesterday

 

[jemm]

Hope he pulls through, my Oscar was on metacam it had no negative effect on him, I did all sorts to get mine to take syringe apple sauce on the tip helped he was happy to hate that in his mouth also wrapped him in a towel to keep him still and put it in to the side of his front teeth.

 

[stevie153a]

We managed another few syringes of food. He picked up a little thanks :-D

 

[Maureen Las]

A bun with a sludge problem should get a lot off fluids so you could ask your vet to teach you to give fluids under the skin at home. this is actually easier on the rabbit than "forcing fluids" orally.
When I have a bun who is not drinking adequately I spike the water bowl with a little apple juice and have found that a reluctant bun will drink a whole bowl at once. Despite the argument that sugar is bad for them I have never had any GI issues from using apple juice judiciously.
metacam is safe as long as your rabbit is taking in enough fluids. Probably every rabbit owner on this forum has used Metacam for their rabbits...very common pain med

 

[tonyshuman]

Agreed on the metacam and trying to get him to eat. If he's not eating on his own after 12-24 hrs post op, I would definitely call the vet and ask about some critical care. It's complete nutrition for a rabbit that can be given via oral syringe. It also can be bought in apple-banana flavor which some buns will eat willingly.

As a side note, most drugs aren't licensed for use in rabbits simply because the process of getting a drug "approved for X" where X is some species is very difficult and costly. The market for rabbit medicine isn't as great as dogs or cats, so many manufacturers don't bother getting drugs "approved for use in rabbits." Most drugs are thus used "off-label" in rabbits, even if there are many scientific studies showing their safety in rabbits.

 

[stevie153a]

Awww thank u all for ur advice. Hes very reluctant to eat but we are doing better than we were im literally following round and leaving the bowl of food and water near him wherever he gets comfortable. Im so lucky he's indoors its much easier to help in this way. The uncontrolled urine has stopped and there doesn't appear to be any blood left in it. Hes got more energy and seems a lot happier in himself. Ive been giving the metacam as prescribed. As well as antibiotics and while hes taking those from the syringe ill give a couple of mushed up pellets via syringe too. This morning he was voluntary sucking the syringe which I thought was a good sign.

Its such ashame when buns are not themselves I feel helpless. Just want my baby boy to get better

 

[tonyshuman]

Sounds like he's on the road to recovery. I hope he starts to eat more on his own soon. When mine aren't eating well, I put them in "food jail," which is where I set up a pen where they hang out with tons of food and everything they could want. That way I know which bunny is eating what (since I have bonded pairs), and they're always near food for when they do decide to eat.