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Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Bunny sneezes
In 8-1/2 years of life with Bunya (and bunnies), I have never heard him sneeze. At first, I thought he might be choking, but he was very casual about it, seeming maybe a little annoyed and not stressed at all. (But just in case, read about the Bunny Heimlich here).
Since he has been under the weather with a hairball blockage, anything out of the ordinary shaves years off my life expectancy. So here's about 35 seconds of a bunny sneezing. Yes, we will watch for repeat episodes to see if there is something else to worry about (and help the vet pay off any college loans). *sigh*
Since he has been under the weather with a hairball blockage, anything out of the ordinary shaves years off my life expectancy. So here's about 35 seconds of a bunny sneezing. Yes, we will watch for repeat episodes to see if there is something else to worry about (and help the vet pay off any college loans). *sigh*
Monday, June 20, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
If your bunny is choking
Serious topic - Bunya scared the ever living shiznat out of me this morning when he began to, I think, choke. Fortunately, he worked it out himself fairly quickly but I aged several years in probably less than 20 seconds.
Save this link that describes a "bunny Heimlich" maneuver: https://coloradohrs.org/bunny-heimlich-maneuver/. Here's what it says:
Rabbits often choke on pellets, especially if they tend to “gobble” their food. If you have a “gobbler,” you may want to spread his pellets out on the floor so he can’t eat as fast as he can from a dish.
It’s also very important to be sure that pellet dust isn’t included with the pellets. If rabbits sneeze, and then inhale, the dust can enter their nostrils, which generates mucous, causing them to choke.
If your rabbit is “coughing,” and trying to rid himself of the blockage, leave him alone. But if he isn’t coughing, and if his lips are turning blue, he needs your help. And you need to know how to perform the “Bunny Heimlich Maneuver.”
Place the rabbit on your forearm (right arm for right-handed people; left arm for left-handed folks) with his legs straddling it. Grip his head on both sides with that hand, and use your other hand to hold him tightly against your arm.
Lift him so he is just above the level of your head, and then quickly swing him downward. Obviously, if you don’t have a tight hold on him, you can throw him onto the floor, so be very sure that you have a tight grasp. It might help to wrap a dish towel around him and your arm, so that the towel helps hold him on your arm.
It may take several repetitions of this effort to dislodge whatever is choking him. Once he begins breathing, he may cough and sputter, clearing out whatever has been left behind, but his lips should begin to grow pink again. Don’t continue the Heimlich maneuver if he’s doing this.
It’s a good idea to visit a rabbit-savvy vet after an episode of this kind, since it’s possible that some of the material got sucked into his lungs, and to be sure that dental problems haven’t contributed to the episode.
Save this link that describes a "bunny Heimlich" maneuver: https://coloradohrs.org/bunny-heimlich-maneuver/. Here's what it says:
Bunny Heimlich Maneuver
Rabbits often choke on pellets, especially if they tend to “gobble” their food. If you have a “gobbler,” you may want to spread his pellets out on the floor so he can’t eat as fast as he can from a dish.
It’s also very important to be sure that pellet dust isn’t included with the pellets. If rabbits sneeze, and then inhale, the dust can enter their nostrils, which generates mucous, causing them to choke.
If your rabbit is “coughing,” and trying to rid himself of the blockage, leave him alone. But if he isn’t coughing, and if his lips are turning blue, he needs your help. And you need to know how to perform the “Bunny Heimlich Maneuver.”
Place the rabbit on your forearm (right arm for right-handed people; left arm for left-handed folks) with his legs straddling it. Grip his head on both sides with that hand, and use your other hand to hold him tightly against your arm.
Lift him so he is just above the level of your head, and then quickly swing him downward. Obviously, if you don’t have a tight hold on him, you can throw him onto the floor, so be very sure that you have a tight grasp. It might help to wrap a dish towel around him and your arm, so that the towel helps hold him on your arm.
It may take several repetitions of this effort to dislodge whatever is choking him. Once he begins breathing, he may cough and sputter, clearing out whatever has been left behind, but his lips should begin to grow pink again. Don’t continue the Heimlich maneuver if he’s doing this.
It’s a good idea to visit a rabbit-savvy vet after an episode of this kind, since it’s possible that some of the material got sucked into his lungs, and to be sure that dental problems haven’t contributed to the episode.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Friday, June 3, 2016
The NO bunny burrito medicine administration
This is Bunya taking his meds and Critical Care last night. NO BUNNY BURRITO needed!
I retrieved him from his hay cube box, so he had to finish chewing before the meds could begin.
He did the same thing in the morning plus his Bene-Bac dose (it adds another 5 seconds). He takes his Metoclopramide in 12 seconds and a syringe of Critical Care in another 20-ish seconds. Check out the lip-licking at 18 seconds.
I got a little overzealous when finishing the Critical Care so some glopped out onto the counter (my bad, not his). Such a good bunny!
This is a new development. I tried it and he seem to realize this was easier that the burrito tussle and he got the same reward treat either way. This way, he gets back to Ethel and hay cubes faster.
Now just stopped getting GI blockages, Bunya!
I retrieved him from his hay cube box, so he had to finish chewing before the meds could begin.
He did the same thing in the morning plus his Bene-Bac dose (it adds another 5 seconds). He takes his Metoclopramide in 12 seconds and a syringe of Critical Care in another 20-ish seconds. Check out the lip-licking at 18 seconds.
I got a little overzealous when finishing the Critical Care so some glopped out onto the counter (my bad, not his). Such a good bunny!
This is a new development. I tried it and he seem to realize this was easier that the burrito tussle and he got the same reward treat either way. This way, he gets back to Ethel and hay cubes faster.
Now just stopped getting GI blockages, Bunya!
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Bunya knows what time it is
That bunnies can tell time has been asserted here before, a few times.
This picture is from last night. If I am absorbed in a book and miss the 9pm Probios treat (their favorite), Bunya hops on the sofa next to my chair and stares at me until I remember. This time, I angled the camera so you could see the time on the clock in the background - EXACTLY 9:00pm!
Since he's on all kinds of medicine and Critical Care, I take this as a good sign, that he shows his usual interest. He's getting tiny pieces right now, until he's better, but he still loves them.
This picture is from last night. If I am absorbed in a book and miss the 9pm Probios treat (their favorite), Bunya hops on the sofa next to my chair and stares at me until I remember. This time, I angled the camera so you could see the time on the clock in the background - EXACTLY 9:00pm!
Since he's on all kinds of medicine and Critical Care, I take this as a good sign, that he shows his usual interest. He's getting tiny pieces right now, until he's better, but he still loves them.
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| This picture angle may better reflect his haughty "where's our treat, human" bunnitude. |
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