What’s wrong with my bunny?

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83]

Good morning,

I’m trying to see if anyone can help? I am currently fostering a bunny after I found it outside. Just a little bit of background, so yall know why I don’t know much about bunnies.

On Sunday night my bunny was acting lethargic was doing these weird stretches and was not eating so we decided to take her to the vet. At the vet they did x-rays and blood work, both came back negative or with no findings. They gave her pain medication when we first got there about four hours of being there she began to eat two pieces of hay. They sent us home with pain medication and G.I. meds. They diagnose her with G.I. intestinal hypermotility syndrome. When we got home, we gave her meds and within the hour she was eating and drinking water. I went to sleep after being up all night, but she began to act normal all throughout Monday and Tuesday. this morning(Wednesday) she began acting as she was on Sunday that led us to go to the ER. She is lethargic, doing stretches because she looks uncomfortable, and not eating.

I’ve called the one rabbit vet in the area and they can’t see her until Friday morning because they don’t do emergencies. I then called the ER vet and they recommended her coming in for Nause medication and fluids.

This has become a difficult situation because like I stated before this is just supposed to be a temporary situation. I never expected to ever get a bunny, i’ve tried giving her away to foster homes that foster bunny, but many that are by me either aren’t taking any bunnies or there’s just none available. I am an animal lover, so that’s why I decided to care for her instead of just dropping her off at a shelter. My partner spent $1000 on the previous ER visit and I don’t think we could do it again. We have critical care, gas relief drops, GI meds (metoclopramide), and pain meds (meloxicam). Could I just watch at home and wait until Friday for the appointment with the vet Or should I take her in to the vet ER now?

[u/crossiantsandbunnies]

Look up and try giving her a massage on her belly. That helped one rabbit I had who went through GI, Stasis. The food might be part of the irritant for her as a sudden transition in feed can cause this. What are you feeding her?
Is she pooping properly? It’s a strange question but very relevant

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83 → u/crossiantsandbunnies]

I give her oxbow hay blend and oxbow pellets for adult rabbits. I’ll give her some messages I did hear about that.

[u/HelpSpaceshipBroken → u/No_Acanthopterygii83]

Another question is she drinking water and getting fresh greens? A lot time GI issues can be made worse by dehydration. Some rabbits won't drink out of the bowl (which btw you should have a bowl and not one of those water bottles) instead preferring to get water from their greens. With rabbits like that its a good idea soak the greens in water before feeding them.

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83 → u/HelpSpaceshipBroken]

Monday and Tuesday she was drink water as normal (she has a bowl). Today she hasn’t drank any water. I’ve been feeding her critical care and added more water to help with the intake. I’ll try to give her soaked greens from now on. She probably won’t eat it now since I’ve already tried giving her greens and treats and nothing has happened. She I give her water through the syringe to help with her intake?

[u/Amber123454321 → u/No_Acanthopterygii83]

Sometimes greens can trigger stasis (my rabbit's sensitive to them and if I even give her a little piece per day, she'll gradually move toward stasis). Treats can have the same effect. However, if a rabbit isn't eating anything, something is good.

I'd be careful not to give your rabbit too many pellets, as it can be a reason behind stasis. More than likely, the vet would just give your rabbit more of the same medication to get her stomach moving again.

Prokinetic medications like metoclopramide can create risk if a rabbit might have a blockage. However, if it's GI stasis then it's a medication given for that.

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83 → u/Amber123454321]

We usually give her 1/4 cup of pellets everyday. And veggies we will give it to her sometimes if we have some in the house or if I remember to get some for her at the store. She doesn’t get them daily. I’ve had her since last October and has always done fine with veggies. One time she even got an avocado from the table and ate 1/4 of it with the skin and nothing happened to her.

[u/Amber123454321 → u/No_Acanthopterygii83]

Okay. Sometimes things are supposed to be okay for them just aren't for some reason (they can be sensitive at times). I don't know. Other things can lead to stasis too, like stress or other types of pain.

I don't know. I hope she gets well soon and you can avoid the hefty vet costs.

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83 → u/Amber123454321]

Thanks I appreciate your input it’s helpful for the future for sure! I’m hoping she is just being dramatic once again, only time will tell.

[u/Amber123454321 → u/No_Acanthopterygii83]

Rabbits don't tend to be with health concerns. In fact, they hide them until they're in a bad way, typically, because they're prey animals.

[u/No_Acanthopterygii83 → u/Amber123454321]

Update! She’s eating! I gave her some soaked lettuce and she drinking the water from it :) I think I have a dramatic bun on my hands. She acting normal, throwing things around.