I have an 11 year old female Dutch rabbit named Penelope. Until about a month ago she was racing around like normal. One day I noticed she was running over for her treat but not eating it all and she NEVER does that. I watched her over the next few weeks and she would seem okay for a few days then not. I decided I'd better take her in. The vet said he could see spurs on her molars and one of her front bottom teeth had cracked and left a sharp point. So, her said she she wasn't eating or drinking as much as she should be he'd put her under and trim everything up. While he was examining her her heel started to bleed which shocked me. I guess buried beneath her fur was a scab and somehow during out trip to the vet it came off. Under was a fairly significant open cut. I have dealt with rabbits for 30 years and never seen anything like that. I can't even imagine what happened. Anyway he decided while she was under to put three stitches in it which kind of surprised me but it's healing nice anyway.
So, after she got home she nibbled a bit of food and seemed okay for having been under. The next day all things went to hell. She hasn't eaten anything other than a sprig or two of cilantro since the 17th. I have been syringe feeding her and giving her sub q fluids every day. I didn't want to give to much fluid because I noticed she was absorbing it. It was pooling in her legs and under her chest area. But she's not drinking at all. Then a couple of days ago I notice her breathing is labored. Any time she exerts herself at all she breathes quite heavy. I'm in an area where rabbits are considered livestock so it's almost impossible to find a rabbit savvy vet. I took her in today and they put her in an oxygen chamber. The vet couldn't get blood after 5 times of trying. They did take an xray which she said her heart didn't look enlarged but it looks like she does have something going on in her lungs. BUT she could tell if it was pneumonia a tumor, fluid???? I'm frustrated to death by this. So she's put her on Baytril. She said she didn't want to do more that a tiny bit of lasix because her kidney values were a bit high BUN is 16.8 mmol/L CRE is 207 umo/L She said to keep giving fluids because she's dehydrated, but if she isn't absorbing it and it's pooling in her lungs won't that make it worse? However she needs fluids????? I'm really frustrated. I'm wondering if anyone her might be able to have a look at the xray and see something? I have her back at home because they couldn't really do anything more they said. I'm really worried this won't end well.
So, after she got home she nibbled a bit of food and seemed okay for having been under. The next day all things went to hell. She hasn't eaten anything other than a sprig or two of cilantro since the 17th. I have been syringe feeding her and giving her sub q fluids every day. I didn't want to give to much fluid because I noticed she was absorbing it. It was pooling in her legs and under her chest area. But she's not drinking at all. Then a couple of days ago I notice her breathing is labored. Any time she exerts herself at all she breathes quite heavy. I'm in an area where rabbits are considered livestock so it's almost impossible to find a rabbit savvy vet. I took her in today and they put her in an oxygen chamber. The vet couldn't get blood after 5 times of trying. They did take an xray which she said her heart didn't look enlarged but it looks like she does have something going on in her lungs. BUT she could tell if it was pneumonia a tumor, fluid???? I'm frustrated to death by this. So she's put her on Baytril. She said she didn't want to do more that a tiny bit of lasix because her kidney values were a bit high BUN is 16.8 mmol/L CRE is 207 umo/L She said to keep giving fluids because she's dehydrated, but if she isn't absorbing it and it's pooling in her lungs won't that make it worse? However she needs fluids????? I'm really frustrated. I'm wondering if anyone her might be able to have a look at the xray and see something? I have her back at home because they couldn't really do anything more they said. I'm really worried this won't end well.
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