Was worried about Rosie.

For most of last week I was worried about Rosie as she was definitely out of sorts. She was fine at breakfast time and last thing at night, supper time but during the day had really lost her spark. She wasn't interested in veg, or being nosy at cleaning out time or going down onto the grass. She was just sitting in one spot in the run. There was no sign of her being in pain but she was just sitting looking old (she has just turned 8). On the plus side however she was accepting a treat from me, was grooming herself and BJ and he was not ignoring her. I am a great believer in partners sensing if something is very wrong with the husbun or ladybun.

I did check her over a couple of times and couldn't find anything amiss and knew that she was still pooing. Of course catching Rosie is counter-productive as she absolutely hates being handled and then her naturally suspicious nature becomes even more pronounced. She then refuses to eat with me watching and I have to resort to creeping around and trying to spy on her.

I did wonder if the sudden increase in temperature last week was upsetting her, her breathing seemed more pronounced and she was moulting too. So I agonised over whether to take her to the vets or not given she was eating and pooing and a possible nearly 2 hour round trip to the vets would stress her further.

On Thursday teatime however she refused a treat, even Chris agreed that she looked miserable so off to the vets we went in rush hour traffic. My stress levels went through the roof - stuck in traffic and convinced she had a heart, lung or tumour issue.

And guess what - the vet could not find a single thing wrong with her. Yes her heart and lungs were racing, but this we put down to stress, there was nothing abnormal about her breathing beyond that. She had not lost weight, her gut sounded good and her teeth looked ok. The vet was reluctant to stress her further by trying to take blood so we agreed to try her with some painkillers and then return if there was no improvement. He gave her a painkilling injection and we returned home. There was much stamping when she went back into her shed.

The next morning she was a different rabbit. Whether it was the painkiller of the fact that the temperature had significantly dropped I do not know. I only know she is now back to normal. I have not carried on with the metacam because of this. The stress of catching her and dosing her if not needed will just intensify her distrust of me. Gabe and BJ have there metacam on treats but there is no way Madam Rosie would accept metacam like this. She is very stubborn and strong willed and once she has made her mind up over something she will not change - shown by the fact she still won't use the middle step on the way back up to the decking.

I am still slightly worried there maybe an underlying heart/lung problem intensified by the heat last week so will obviously keep a close eye on her. We are back to our truce where she will be around me when I am cleaning out rather than hiding and stamping, but as for touching her, no way.

Me, I now have a few more grey hairs.

Think perhaps her age, her moulting and the warmer weather may be the reason for her being a bit off. Clawed used to get like that in her Golden Days, she just wanted to sit and soak up the rays and not be troubled with the minutia of the daily grind.
Hope this is the case with Rosie.

What a horrible thing to go through sweets, I am so glad she is better. We all know exactly how you felt, you always suspect the worst.

Hugs
Jo xx

I'm glad she's ok - I hope it was just an off stint and nothing more

Willow has been similar the past few days. She's still eating, drinking, pooping etc but she is not her usual nosy and 'in your face' self so much. I don't know what to put it down to... the only thing that has changed at all is that I filled their run up with hay and cardboard etc to make a bit of a 'forage pit' for them with the empty space. The first few days she wouldn't come out of hiding or explore it (most unlike her) but she is using and enjoying it now but is still off... so I don't know. They're going to the vets next week anyway for a manicure so I will ask then if it's still happening.

Bunnies - they do know how to ramp up the stress levels!

Poor you! And poor Rosie all this for ? Nothing. Hope she calmes and settles and of course glad there is nothing sinister found.

I would think it is age, she is a nice old age and she must feel it like humans do. I am glad she is okay though ans the vet gave her the all clear.

Please keep us up to date hun, hugs to you.

Thank you all. Rosie is back normal now it seems, and even dared to eat her veg in front of me this morning.

I am trying not to fret about what may happen if/when the warm weather returns.

Sixer wrote:Thank you all. Rosie is back normal now it seems, and even dared to eat her veg in front of me this morning.

Pleased to hear it Sixer xx Glad all is well again x

Aww it's hard when bun's aren't quite right.  
My Bobby has a hard time moulting, he's not keen on me grooming him either especially on round his hips and flanks which are very fluffy and before he had his ladybun he would often have periods of not eating when the temperature rose. After Bobby had a 2-3 episodes where he was refusing to eat a normal amount, my vet let me have a small supply of zantac and emiprid so I can give him some as soon as I notice he's stopped eating.

Taking them to a vet is always a good idea even if just for your piece of mind but also to stop any potential stasis - I think also it serves as a reminder for them - you can sit and sulk and not eat and I shall take you to the vets repeatedly and feed you medicine OR you can suck it up, all of us are hot and we're still eating our food like good bunnies. Your going to eat one way or the other so the choice is yours.  

I wonder if it was moult related. Mine haven't moulted fully yet and so Annie struggled wit's the heat last week.

I'm Glad she is ok hun.

I have to say her hatred of the Middle step does tickle me !

They're such a worry aren't they!

Fingers crossed that's her back to normal!

How are things hun? Lots of love.

Hugs
Jo xx