Dead Chicken, Sick Bunny, help?

[tiffwilhelm]

Okay, I posted in another topic about my Maran, Nicky, wheezing and making terrible sounds a few weeks ago. After 3 vet visits, x-rays, antibiotics, nebulizing, hand feeding, anti-fungals, etc. she passed on last Thursday. We never did blood work, so I never found out what happened. The other chickens seem okay. I'm feeling terribly guilty that I prolonged her torture because I couldn't stomach the idea of letting her go.

Tonight I went out to get Turbo Fluff, my bunny, and we couldn't find him anywhere. My husband finally found him hunched in a ball next to our shared fence (with the chicken hating neighbors) in the garden. I'm not sure if he'll be alive in the morning.

I'm starting to suspect poison? We hadn't let the rabbit in the garden all summer until two nights ago. Suddenly he's extremely ill. He's just laying there, listless.

I'm worried that I have psycho neighbors and that all the pets and possibly the rest of us could be affected. Clearly we're not eating anything from the garden. But how do I find out what's going on and stop it?

It may not even be the same thing. But I need a place to ramble. I'm still feeling terrible over the loss of my chicken. I can't loose my bunny. But I don't want to prolong any more torture and have nothing to show but thousands of dollars in vet bills and a pet cemetary.

Could it be rat poison? What would the signs be?

 

[CarriBrown]

I'm sorry to hear about your animals. Is there any way you can get a necropsy done on your bird? I'll keep my fingers crossed for the bunny!

 

[tiffwilhelm]

I didn't think it would go beyond her passing. My husband actually offered getting the necropsy done before he laid her to rest. But I couldn't bear it. I figured I should have gotten that done before and maybe she'd still be alive. Maybe I will have to take the bunny in tomorrow and get a blood test or something? Just words ringing in my ear from the avian specialst, "Chickens are prey animals and usually won't show any sign of weakness until the last minute. Then it's too late." Bunny is a prey animal too. Wonder if it's too late.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I am so sorry for you loss hun. Personally if you suspect something funny going on, I would have blood work done on the bunny... I hate to say this, but even if it does not make it, you might want to test the blood anyways and then talk to Animal Control in your area if something is found. Believe me, I have a "witch" for a neighbor and she has cost us thousands poisoning our horses... sad thing is, we havent done blood work... until Animal Control told us too... and by then it was to late. Luckily we have not lost an animal (horses) yet, vet pumped stomache never thought of doing blood work... tested stomache contents... but not blood... if it ever happens again... she is going away for a long long long time.

Hope the bunny gets better... I am so sorry.

 

[tiffwilhelm]

Well, our exotic specialist returned my call late tonight. He does not suspect poisoning in the case of our chicken. He felt it was something respiratory. Of course without looking at the bun he cannot tell what it is. I said I felt some gurgling in his tummy. He said his intestines are probably blocked with a furball or something and to try and feed him dark green babyfood with a dropper tonight and bring him in tomorrow. Maybe my suspicions are unfounded. But I am thinking I ought to at least get bloodwork on the bunny done. I hope it's not my neighbors. Could it all just be a sad coincidence?

 

[bantymum]

Hi, im very sorry to hear this.
What types of plants have you got in the garden,
Azaelias, rhododendrons etc anything like that?
they are very toxic to bunnies, just a thought. If you do have any exotic plants out there go for a walk and check them for signs of chewing on the leaves or stems.
If by chance Turbo has had a munch, it may just make him ill for a few days and damage his kidneys but prolonged eating of these will due major damage.
Ill be hoping for a good outcome for little turbo.
Please get well soon.

 

[tiffwilhelm]

Thank you for your kind thoughts. Turbo Fluff has a bit more energy and passed some little bunny balls this morning. I dropped some water and mushed up greeens and pellets mixture into his mouth last night and put him to bed with his carrots and parsley. He was just so limp when I did that, I figured he was done for. So, we do have some eggplants and tomatoes left in the garden that he could have eaten the leaves. That would not be good. But he usually prefers the peppers and squash. I'm wondering if it isn't GI Stasis brought on by eating the chicken scratch and being so darn fluffy? He could have a clogged up GI? I am going to bring him in to a vet today to have a look and listen. I'm so relieved that he didn't pass on. I was honestly afraid to look this morning.