Rabbit Not Eating

Hi all I am new to here. We have a major problem :shock: My daughters rabbit is not eating as it should. Its not eating its dry food or hay at all. And as far as we can tell is not drinking either. We have visited the Vet 3 times now and each time the rabbit has lost wait.

The rabbit has been give injections to stimulate its appetite, and for any inflammation. We were also given some Recovery food to feed with syringe. We have tried our best to feed the Recovery but it does stress the rabbit quite a lot. Have only managed to get small amounts into him.

Now apart from that he has been eating some veg but only a little. Mainly Dandelion leaves, finely sliced carrot, a few spinach leaves, and small amount of Russel sprout.

He is still refusing to eat his hay and dried food.

I was told that if the problem continues, to take him back to the Vet and they would check out his teeth under anesthetic.

I have been giving im water by syringe as and when I can. The reason being I work shift work and my daughter is not confident enought the do the syringeing on her own.

Is there anything else I should be doing that we have not tried. I am not sure if my Vet is doing the right thing. Any help please. Really am getting worried now.

Mick

Keep feeding the stuff hes eating that better than nothing! Try mushing up his pellets with warm water or if you have some weetabix do it with that. Try some Pinapple juice brilliant for blockages of hair in guts and gets stomach moving also if hes not drinking water then he will get some liquid.
Does his mouth look wet is he grinding teeth looking in pain? Is he pooping normal running around like usual and how long has he been like this?

I think he needs to have his teeth checked properly and treated before he gets any worse. How long has this been going on?
Is he toileting ok?

The vet should be able to check the teeth without Aneasthetic, just using a scope. It's not much fun for the bun but is safer than putting them under for it.

Have you considered getting a second opinion from another vet? If you can find another vet it will be worth the consultation fee and you don't even have to mention to the first one that you have been to another one.

Keep feeding the stuff hes eating that better than nothing! Try mushing up his pellets with warm water or if you have some weetabix do it with that. Try some Pinapple juice brilliant for blockages of hair in guts and gets stomach moving also if hes not drinking water then he will get some liquid.

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Thanks for the quick replies, I will try what you have suggested. He is weeing ok but as for poo he is doing some but not a lot, and very small. He is not wet round the mouth but is grinding his teeth. And we did notice when he was feeding on veg he got some stuck to his teeth and could not get it off. does that mean he has problems with his teeth.

If so why didn't the Vet do a teeth check sooner. He has been like this for a 7- 10 days now.

Mick

Go back to the vet and ask for them to check his teeth. If they are fine ask to feel for a blockage. My bun died a few weeks ago due to a blockage, he stopped eating and pooing for a week and after his op to remove the blockage he passed away as his little body couldnt handle anymore.

How long has he stopped eating?
Does his tummy feel bloated/hard?
Pain relief is the key to helping the bunny, a bunny in pain wil deteriorate quickly.

Sending lots of vibes xx

UPINSMOKE said:

Thanks for the quick replies, I will try what you have suggested. He is weeing ok but as for poo he is doing some but not a lot, and very small. He is grinding his teeth. And we did notice when he was feeding on veg he got some stuck to his teeth and could not get it off. does that mean he has problems with his teeth.

If so why didn't the Vet do a teeth check sooner. He has been like this for a 7- 10 days now.

Mick

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He is in danger of going in to stasis, and he is dehydrated by too the sound of it. If he is gringing his teeth he is certainly in pain. He needs to see a vet who is experienced with rabbits, today i'm afraid.

Does his tummy feel bloated/hard?

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The Vet has checked his tummy and said it felt ok. I have been giving water with a seringe every 2 hours when I am not at work. I am at work at the momment and will not finish to 9pm tonight. So will have to visit the Vet tommorrow. He was given pain relief on friday when I last visited the vet.

He will need oral pain relief to be given at home. The pain relief he was given on friday will only last 24hours so he really needs more.

Keep syringing water every couple of hours if you cant get to the vet soon. Another of my bunnies started producing very small poo last week and was admitted on Thursday to stay the night. She seems fine now but i strongly recommend getting to the vet ASAP!

It could be a number of problems which is why the vet is needed ASAP.
7-10 days is very long not to eat, im thinking the bunnies teeth are the problem. Happened to mine once and got to vet straight away and she had a small cut on her tounge!

Your vet is clearly not a rabbit specialist. Visual inspection should have been given long ago on the teeth molar. Teeth grinding is a sign of pain.

The bun is either have a GI stasis, which is a secondary cause of something else in her system. The most likely cause can be the teeth, or it can due to a lack of hay, and thus, fiber.

If the bun was eating hay in the past, and stop eating, then it's very, very high chance that the teeth is either having a molar injuring the inner jaw, or a tooth growing upwards from the inside towards the jaw in which x-ray is needed.

A good rabbit vet can simply put a bun under a deep sedation, (instead of a GA) and take a x-ray if needed

here's a medical link on Gi stasis

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=124510

Try mushing up his pellets with warm water or if you have some weetabix do it with that.

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He has been eating some weetabix and some of the greens I put in. And still having to syringe feed with water. Apart from that no other change. But will say he is still quite happy to come out for a run about.


Will keep you informed on the progress.

Poor Bunny

Your vet doesnt sound too good at all... they shouldve checked the teeth, especially if youve been 3 times Is there another vet you could try? I think theres Eastborune Rabbit Rescue, is it Bunnyrun on here? She may be able to advise a good vet for you

Hope bunny gets sorted soon xXx

Just make sure you have all your bases covered until you're able to see the vet:

Food: Try to feed anything with fiber. My rabbit hated the powdered mix my vet suggested, so I just gave him a lot of romaine lettuce. This is helpful for fiber. (I would try and avoid giving too much spinach, specifically, though)

Water: Keep syringing that water into the bunny and offer fresh water twice a day if possible (morning and at night)

Exercise: Buns with blockages or stasis can benefit from running around a bit. Not sure the science behind it, but it certainly helped my bun.

Pain Relief: The sooner you can get a hold of some oral pain killers (like Metacam) the better. Bunnies can go into stasis from stress, which can be caused from pain, so it's a vicious cycle.

If you feel comfortable, you can also give your bun a bit of a tummy rub. This can sometimes help things, though if there is a blockage, it won't help as much.

Just try and keep bun in a low stress environment until getting him to the vets. Low lighting, quiet atmosphere.

Let us know how you get on.

Happy Hopping said:

Your vet is clearly not a rabbit specialist. Visual inspection should have been given long ago on the teeth molar. Teeth grinding is a sign of pain.

The bun is either have a GI stasis, which is a secondary cause of something else in her system. The most likely cause can be the teeth, or it can due to a lack of hay, and thus, fiber.

If the bun was eating hay in the past, and stop eating, then it's very, very high chance that the teeth is either having a molar injuring the inner jaw, or a tooth growing upwards from the inside towards the jaw in which x-ray is needed.

A good rabbit vet can simply put a bun under a deep sedation, (instead of a GA) and take a x-ray if needed

here's a medical link on Gi stasis

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=124510

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I must admit, I agree with Jason (Happy Hopping) here. I would get bun asap to a vet experienced with rabbits who will do a thorough inspection of your bunny's mouth, I find it very worrying that you have been to the vet 3 times and they have not at least had a look in his mouth with a scope yet.
He really does need to have his teeth checked asap. In the meantime do anything you can to keep him hydrated and at least some food of some sort going in. Good luck x

Your vet doesnt sound too good at all... they shouldve checked the teeth, especially if youve been 3 times Is there another vet you could try? I think theres Eastborune Rabbit Rescue, is it Bunnyrun on here? She may be able to advise a good vet for you

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Thanks for the advice have been in touch with Bunnyrun and she has given me the name of her Vet. Will be taking the rabbit there today. Will let you know what the outcome is later.

Well have been to the New Vets. They did a full check over, and seemed a lot friendlier than my other Vet. They checked its tummy and said it was not bloated. Checked the teeth with a scope and found that it had only slight spurs, and found that one of his front teeth was slightly longer than the other, but are going to sort them out today.

I do hope this will help him with his eating. Although he has been munching on Dandelion leaves and parsley today.

Do you think this will sort it out.

Hi there,

SO glad you found another vet.

It's a very good sign that he's now eating, particularly things that he hasn't eaten these last few days.

Let him eat whatever you can get him to eat but please try to up his hay intake asap. Bunnies should eat a block of hay the same size as their body EVERY day.

Please keep us posted over the next few days. Good luck!

Got any piccies??

Well Rabbit ( Marmite) is back from the vet. Have to take him back in a week for check up. But what a difference he has demolished a sprout, dandelion leaves, bunch of fresh grass and 2 or 3 spinach leaves as well this morning. have been out this morning and treated him to some little extras. Bought a willow ball for him to chew and play with. Some Timothy Hay with herbs, also so dried herbs. hope he likes all. But as yet have not seen him touch the Hay.

Is there any way I can encourage him to eat the hay, any suggestions welcome.

Hi there,

SO glad you found another vet.

It's a very good sign that he's now eating, particularly things that he hasn't eaten these last few days.

Let him eat whatever you can get him to eat but please try to up his hay intake asap. Bunnies should eat a block of hay the same size as their body EVERY day.

Please keep us posted over the next few days. Good luck!

Got any piccies??

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He's lovely Glad he's feeling better now Try mixing in some dried herbs with his hay to encourage him to eat some hay. How much dried food do you give him? Cutting those down would encourage him to eat more hay as well.

He's lovely, hope he gets better soon x