Acupuncture and the Bunny

A middle aged rabbit was presented for not eating or making poos for 12 hours and having a little yellow nasal discharge. He was quiet and also had a slight fever. After an exam and discussion with the owner we gave him fluids and antibiotics, as well as an injectable anti-inflammatory to help with pain. We needed to keep him well hydrated and to try to prevent an overgrowth of bacteria in his intestinal tract that can lead to death. Our goal was to get him home as soon as possible as rabbits do much better with their owners, in their own environment. We sent him home the same day. He was a little perkier the next day but still not eating so we did acupuncture to treat his lethargy and gastrointestinal disease (spleen qi deficiency), and put him on Chinese herbs in his food (critical care food). The owner gave him the herbs for 5 days and stopped when he started eating happily and was back to normal. Another episode occurred a year later and the owner elected acupuncture on the first visit and Orlando did great (yes, he got fluids, antibiotics and more herbs, as well as a pain medicine).