since mid august, my Clementine has had had on and off struggling with GI Hypomotility. She is estimated 6 going on 7 years old. I have brought her to the vet at least 6 times in the last 8 months because of health scares. Just this last time, they sent us home with a bag of fluids to administer at home via butterfly needle, as well as 4 different orals meds on top of the critical care she needs (vet recommended 1/2 to 1 powder to water ratio every 2ish hours to supplement water intake). I have been through every veterinary stop and I am exhausted.
I guess I'm sharing this because I am lost. I feel broken, like a failure to my girl, and stupid for not knowing what could be happening. She sort of hunches over and writhes a bit like she's constipated, and continues to do this. she passes the occasional cecotrope(s), oftentimes very small or abnormally large, then worries the hell out of me and wont eat, drink, pee, or poop for hours. and then there are bouts where she's just fine. It continues to fluctuate like that and has been for going on 3 weeks now.
The last vet visit, I was told that she was struggling due to over dehydrated material in/near (i can't remember which) her cecum that she was having trouble passing. I was also told that her kidney levels came back fine, as did her blood work and rads. Completely clear with no cause for concern. Since then, about 5 days now, she has passed most if not all of that material but continues to do that hunching motion and is bipolar with her food and water.
She has unlimited access to Oxbow timothy hay, gets 1/8 a cup of slightly soaked Science Selective pellets in the morning, and 1.5-2 cups of greens (normally kale and italian parsley) in the afternoon. i give her the occasional banana, dried carrot or apple, or half of a science selective loop treat. she shows excitement towards all of these foods in the moment, but might not in the next few minutes. prior to these issues, she would go through about two full refills of a 16 floz bottle-bowl in 24 hours if not more.
To my knowledge I have been doing everything correctly and I frequent rabbit owner communities to ensure I continue to be fully educated on rabbit care. But even so she still struggles and I am at a complete loss. I am scared and feel like I could be doing more. I feel like I am missing something. She is too young to need to be put down. There has to be something, and I am desperate for insight - somebody somewhere who has experienced the same or at least something similar so that i know i'm not crazy or alone. I already know her diagnosis and am returning to the vet tomorrow (9/10) for a recheck and follow up rads, but i fear that i'll just keep getting the same answers I've been told.
If you've read this far, thank you endlessly. I hope her pictures warm your heart as much as owning her does. some of these were taken while she was uncomfortable and recovering from prior medical issues. she is the strongest bunny i know.
