My bunny is lying on his side, freaking out and "digging" and won't get up. This is part of a litter of three, one died previously and was found much in the same position only 5 minutes before he died.
This bunny does not seem to be in pain, but is unable to get up. I can NOT get to a vet for probably another 2 hours. Unless I can find someone to watch my toddler or find a taxi with a child seat.
Is there anything I can do at home?
If I do get to the vet is there any chance there is anything that can be done?
2007-06-18 12:37:41 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Ok he got up and started spazing upright so I dunked his butt in some cool water.
And I rubbed his belly.
Now he's shivering and pooping a lot, the poop was a little larger than normal but seems more normal now.
His movements are still uncoordinated.
sorry typing one handed
2007-06-18 12:58:18 · update #1
I held him for 45 minutes because he couldn't really hop properly. Then he seemed fine so I put him back in the cage (plus it was past my son's bedtime).
He seems ok, I guess I will leave it til morning.
2007-06-18 15:45:30 · update #2
did he get too hot if yes could be heat stroke
2007-06-18 12:42:01 · answer #1 · answered by fawneyblue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the rabbit have any control over it's lower extremities?
It's hard to say with definite certainty what it is, but if it can't walk I'd most likely say it has gotten scared and broken it's spinal chord. If it has broken it's spinal chord there really not a way to save it. Rabbits when they are scared will run around the rabbit cage and often finally end up running into the wall and breaking their spinal chord. In 25 years of raising rabbits, I have never seen a rabbit have a seizure. I think people mistake other things as seizures in the rabbit.
One way to help prevent this is to keep the radio playing for your rabbits 24/7. It gets them used to constant sound and they don't scare nearly as easily.
Your rabbit also might be suffering from being overheated if you see it breathing hard and it is wet around the nose. It's not that the rabbit can't get up but that it doesn't want to get up. If this is the case, place cool water on the rabbit's ears and put an ice bottle in the cage for the rabbit to lay against and cool down. You might also want to put a fan on the rabbit. If the rabbit is tilting it's head really far back then it is really hot.
It's hard to decipher more without a little better description of what all is going on.
If the rabbit does end up dying, I recommend that you place the rabbit in a plastic bag and stick it in the refrigerator or in a cooler full of ice and take it to the vet for an autopsy. An autopsy will cost about $20 or so. It should be easy for the vet to check if it has a broken spinal chord.
2007-06-22 07:28:53 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he's on his side paddling his feet, and otherwise non-responsive he is dying. IMMEDIATELY try to find the cause!
If he is hyperventilating he could be over heated. Place a cool, wet towel over his body (don't cover his face) and move him someplace cooler. Take his temperature rectally. If it is over 103 degrees he is definitely overheated! (animals have higher body temps than humans). Try to cool him off by placing him in a cool tub. Be sure to stay with him and keep his head up. Talk to him in a comforting tone and stroke his head and ears. Continued... If you can get him to swallow, try dribbling small amounts of Gatorade, Pedialyte, or sugar water into his mouth. Make sure he is swallowing or he can aspirate and it will go into his lungs. Do NOT put him in front of the air conditioner or a fan - just keep the water cool and replace it if it gets warm. You can ad some ice cubes but don't overdo. You want to bring his body temp down quickly but not throw him into shock. Once you get him past this critical phase, still follow thru with a vet - there can be permanent damage from heat stroke. Also - try to find out WHY your rabbits are getting sick. There may be an easy answer and a "fix". Good Luck.
2007-06-18 12:46:24 · answer #3 · answered by PixieCat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i does no longer feed an 8 week previous rabbit carrots, its no longer good for them at that age. in any different case your rabbit is advantageous. My rabbits continuously lay down while they consume hay, or while they are drained from working around. She is purely drained and could regain her interest in purely a touch. purely make shore that she has water and hay. good success!
2016-09-28 01:30:40 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lost a few rabbits as you describe when I used to breed them. The vet told me on the phone that it sounded like a bacterial infection and was quite common in young rabbits and they usually didn't recover.
2007-06-18 12:52:32 · answer #5 · answered by Jacky D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've had my bunny sick before. when i moved him from wisconsin to georgia in a car six months ago he was kinda nervous and was bleeding. but that thing is rabbits won't show you that they are in pain (i read this in many rabbit books) im unsure of what might be wrong...maybe digestive problems? but i would get him to a vet asap!
2007-06-18 12:44:41 · answer #6 · answered by Amanda 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think maybe you should just call a vet hospital or any other animal help places, since you can't leave the house.
2007-06-25 11:12:07 · answer #7 · answered by angela l 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try giving him CPR... seriously! he might have some gunk in his lungs and is not able to breath. Take a towel and start massaging his chest very fast. HURY!!!!
2007-06-18 12:42:40 · answer #8 · answered by DiamondBabyXO 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
take it to the vet
2007-06-24 10:16:22 · answer #9 · answered by michelle_markwica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good luck let me know what happens. I care!!!
2007-06-18 12:45:01 · answer #10 · answered by snooks2468 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋