5 Things You Need to Do When Your Bunny is Sick

A couple of days ago, my rabbit got seriously ill. Here is what I did (including some adorable pictures!)

So, my normal mornings look something like this: My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. I have read way too many articles on morning routines these days and they have actually made me set my alarm two hours early then I used to. I try not to wake my boyfriend who still refuses to join me in the challenge of sticking to this new but crucial routine and stumble into the kitchen to get some desperately needed caffeine.

Then, I enter the living room to check on my rabbit. I have had him for four years now and he has been the most amazing pet ever. Every pet owner might say that about his animal — but believe me: In my case, it’s true.

I got him from a shelter right before I started medical school. He was aggressive with his brothers and sisters, so his old owners decided to just get rid of him. Horrible, right?

It took about two seconds until I fell in love with that beautiful fluffy little creature. Since then, he has been by my side. He sits next to me when I watch TV. He has breakfast and dinner with me (carrots for him, pasta, and pesto for me, most of the time). He loves to snuggle. And in the morning, when he hears me switch on my coffee machine, he starts running around in his fairly big cage to tell mummy that he is awake and ready to start the day.

He had even picked up my morning routine and also decided to get up early with me — what a keeper!

Last Thursday though, he was still laying in his corner when I entered the room. I opened the door of his cage — but he didn’t move. I put a fresh and juicy carrot right underneath his nose — but he didn’t move. Then, I picked him up and he immediately snuggled up to me. He felt colder than usual. Two minutes later, I had brushed my teeth, grabbed his travel-cage and we were on our way to the emergency vet.

Thirty minutes, an abdominal X-Ray and two-hundred dollars later, I knew that he suffered from massive gas formation in his gastrointestinal tract and therefore couldn’t move around nor intake food. This was a very serious condition since rabbits have a very fragile stomach and are dependent on constant food intake. They basically eat the whole day to stay healthy and fit.

He was given some pain medication which made him calm down. Also, I was advised to take really good care of him — or he might have to be put to sleep the next day. The vet didn’t give me much hope.

I was crying the whole time on my way home. When I got back to the kitchen, it was seven o’clock in the morning. The coffee was long cold.

I could barely look at my sweet little companion. Instead of looking sharp and happy like he normally does, his fur was shaggy, his eyes were closed a little bit and he looked quite sad.

“I am not going to give up on you now”, I whispered and started to come up with a plan on how to save him.

Now, here is a spoiler alert for you: While I am writing this story, he is sitting next to me on the couch, happily chewing on some cabbage, looking happier than ever.

Here is what I did and what you should do if your rabbit is sick:

1. Measure the body temperature

Rabbits are very fragile. Once they are sick, they tend to deteriorate super quickly and can’t hold their body temperature any longer. Feel their ears. If they are cold you should try to measure their temperature rectally. You can use a normal temperature for humans (of course, after you have used it for your rabbit, it is definitely time to buy a new one for yourself).

Turn your rabbit around and hold him like a little baby. Then, measure the temperature rectally. It should be at about 100 Fahrenheit. If it is lower, you should warm your rabbit up as soon as possible. Put him in front of a warming lamp, wrap him in a towel or offer him a hot water bottle.

2. Help him with food intake

Rabbits need to eat constantly. If they don’t start eating by themselves for more than two hours or don’t respond to the food you offer — start feeding immediately! You can use special critical care food which is specially made for rabbits and soluble with water or you can mix soft foods like baby food or carrots yourself. Put it in a syringe and apply portions of it directly into the rabbit's mouth every two hours. Make sure to also include water, if he does not drink by himself. If the rabbit starts moving too much while feeding, wrap him very tightly in a towel and hold him close to you. It works better if you have a friend who can assist you.

3. Try the kangaroo-method

This method is used for premature babies to speed up their own metabolism a little bit. Pet the rabbit softly and have him sit on your belly for a while. He can warm up and feels the comfort you provide.

4. Turn to prescriptible medication

The vet might offer you some medication to help the bunny digest the food you give him. You should definitely support your rabbit with this. It can also be applied by the syringe and helps to speed up the motility of the bowel and digestion of whatever is causing the gas formation. The medication applied is for example Dimeticon and is not even that expensive.

5. Go to the vet every day if the bunny does not get better

If your rabbit does not start to eat by himself if he doesn’t poop, pee or run around like he used to — revisit your vet. Your rabbit might still be in pain. He might need another medication or another treatment. The vet is the one to turn to with all of your questions.

For my rabbit and me, it took three visits to the vet until he finally got better. This all happened three days ago. Since he got better, he hasn’t stopped eating, he drinks quite a lot and snuggles up to me even more than he used to. Maybe he knows that I did everything in my power to make him better.

And what about me? I am so tired! I have fed him day and night, watched him breathe, and was not able to concentrate on anything else than on my beloved pet.

Oh, what people do for their pets, right? It is a little crazy.

Maybe I am going to skip on the morning routine tomorrow. Just this once, of course.