Bunny having trouble eating

My poor 7 yr old bunny hasn't had a very good year so far. Over xmas he developed head tilt, as he's a house bunny we noticed very quickly his behaviour wasn't normal so we caught it in good time and he made pretty much a full recovery. The only difference being he no longer does his bunny flops or goes up the stairs. We were of course very relieved he got better.

However, over Easter (it's always the holidays!) his left ear suddenly flopped down and he started having trouble eating. It's like he wanted to eat but had trouble picking food up so had to be hand fed. After a couple of days we managed to get him to the vet who kept him in overnight to check his teeth under GA. They were fine and he said he thought the problem was stasis, I'm sure it's not though. Something caused the stasis and when I asked about his ear he just shrugged!

Anyway, he gave me some food to syringe feed him with which he just wouldn't take and some gut motility meds which helped alot. He seemed to be well on the way to recovery but after being scared witless by a cat in the garden on 2 occassions (we now watch like hawks if he's outdoors) the stasis has started again. He lost loads of weight, it's awful seeing him so skinny as he was such a healthy strapping bun. We've got more meds which have helped, he's lots happier, but he still has trouble eating. He finds it hard to pick up food and it takes him ages to chew. He had a small carrot stick yesterday and it took him 5 mins to eat 1/2 of it!

Could he have had a stroke, or banged his head jumping off something? I know he's an old bun now but I'm not ready to give up on him. He's not in pain (least doesn't appear to be) and seems content. I just want him to be able to feed himself and put on weight. He won't eat hay, never has, he'd rather starve! And I tried him on oats as I read they're good for increasing weight but he won't eat those. Any advice?!?!? I love my bunny and worry about him all the time just now.

Has he had any skull radiographs ?

I really have no idea what could be wrong with him, but like you I have a bun who doesn't eat hay, never has, what he loves though, is wholemeal bread with milk. Sounds weird, but he loves it and he's had that every other day of his life and he's 11 now. Brian my other much younger bun, really likes it too. Just thought you may want to try him with that, it can't do any harm and may even help him put on some weight. Hoping he improves, it's so worrying when they're ill.

No, all the vet did was check his teeth and when they were OK he said that he thought it was just a case of stasis. He never volunteered any theory as to his ear flopping. Dockie finds it annoying as obviously he's used to his pointy up ears. I was worried he'd hit his head jumping off the settee or something, or worse one of my teenage step-sons friends had accidentally kicked him and not told anyone!! :shock:

He does have bread actually, at the moment I'm only allowing him to have it after he's had some greens so he doesn't get full of bread. I dipped it in his water this morning to make it easier but if they're allowed milk then I'll try that as I'm desperate to get some weight on him. I also bought him some yogurt treats which he's never had before but as I said, I'm desperate. He will eat them thankfully so I've let him have some every day, but not too many. Mostly as he's very fussy and gets bored of foods quickly. He does seem to be slowly improving, I cut apple into little chips for him and cucumber and he seems to be able to eat those on his own with some effort, and green beans. He loves dandelion leaves too, things that are long and thin and not too hard he appears to be OK with.

It is worrying, I've been on the internet every day researching. At least he's not looking miserable any more. This time last week we thought he was going to die.

We're going on holiday in a few weeks and my neighbour always looks after him while we're away, but I am so worried he won't eat anything at all!!! I would stay at home to be honest but my husband think's that's being OTT. :?

is your vet any sort of rabbit specialist? does he know what to look for in teeth problems? there might be something not immediately obvious to a non-rabbit savvy vet that is going on inside his mouth.

I'm with you regarding the holiday but my OH would be like your husband, I would go and spend the entire time worried and miserable as sin. :roll: But you have a few weeks yet so hopefully he will be fine
As for the milk, it never even crossed my mind that they maybe couldn't get it, but I think they can, well my bun's been lapping it up for years and he's never has anything wrong with him, been quite a healthy boy
Good luck with your little bun, really hope he improves.

Roseberry, he's been on specialist rabbit training so I'm assuming he knows what he's doing. He's certainly been the best vet we've been to although he does have a tendency to be very blunt, the first time Dock went into stasis he said 'give him this medicine but he'll probably die' thankfully he didn't!! And when he had head tilt he said that the medicine didn't usually work but it was worth a go. Again, he made a very good recovery. I suppose better that than mislead you. :roll:

Anyway Dock was running around last night and asking for food so that's a very good sign. I bought him his own loaf so he shall be getting some milky bread today. We thought we'd give him a go on a strawberry and he snatched it off me - lol. I only gave him one though as I was worried it would give him the runs. Feeling better about him anyway as he is starting to feed himself, I cut his food into small chips and he found that much easier. I just want to get some weight on him so that if he does stop eating while we're away at least he'll have some reserves. I've asked my neighbour to feed him as usual but I've also asked a friend to pop round and give him cuddles so he doesn't get depressed. Have to look after my little bunny!!

So glad he's improving, had to laugh at the picture of him snatching the strawberry from you :lol:
Things are definately looking up so when you go on holiday, you'll be able to relax a bit more.

yay! sounds like he is a good vet, it didnt seem clear to me in you OP. :wave:

In addition to Jack's-Jane's thoughts I was wondering myself whether had had blood tests done, firstly for EC and secondly for anything else that might be going on in his system.

I'd be asking my vet for more investigation.

helgalush said:

In addition to Jack's-Jane's thoughts I was wondering myself whether had had blood tests done, firstly for EC and secondly for anything else that might be going on in his system.

I'd be asking my vet for more investigation.

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He had EC over xmas which caused the head tilt and he made an excellent recovery. His symptoms are very different this time and happened practically overnight. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced that he has banged his head somehow which has broken his ear and caused misalignment of his teeth. If this is the case is there any treatment? Or is it a case of he has to learn to cope with his new situation.

Obviously thinking that one of my step-son's friends could ahve kicked him makes me sick and angry, even if it was an accident. So I am trying not to think about that possibility!!! But that could just be my prejudice against teenage boys!!

At least he's on the road to recovery, he was very quiet this morning which had me worried but as soon as I produced another strawberry he was much more lively - lol. :lol:

Hi Bunbun
I've just been reading in the Rabbit Care Reference section of the forum that rabbits are lactose intolerent, so maybe if it's not too late you shouldn't give your bun bread with milk, although any rabbit that I've had haven't had any problems with milk but I thought I should just warn you.

Thanks, I decided to soak the bread in water as he's 7 so I thought it might be too much of a shock for his system to suddenly try and digest milk. Your rabbits have probably got used to it.

Dockie was doing so well over the weekend, so much back to his old self. But today he's poorly again, we are now starting to talk about putting him to sleep. It just seems like it is probably time but I'm finding it hard to think about it.

I haven't really got any advice other than if you don't think he is ready to go then maybe you should ask your vet to do more tests or like Jane suggested, have an xray done. He may have teeth probs that might not show by just looking in his mouth. Sending vibes for you both xx

Would a vet be able to fix his teeth even if he has though? The other thing is, he's nearly 8 which for his breed is very old, they normally live 5-7 years. I don't know if it's fair on him to put him through another operation, or whether he'd even survive to be honest. I'd rather he was put down at home. Perhaps I'm thinking too much from a human perspective. He's all hunched up and quiet this morning.

Hi!

Sorry Rocky's not himself.

If it's any help, my Schumi was dental, had most of his teeth out when he was about 9 and lived for another two years. He used to eat his bread and we used to add water to is dried food. I'm not sure entirely it's recommended but I know Jacks-Jane gives one of her buns a few porridge oats to build his strength up (they're really fattening). Quite a lot of people on here have older/special needs buns so might be able to help you if you think perhaps it's not his time.

Hope he feels better soon.

:wave:

Bunbun2011 said:

Would a vet be able to fix his teeth even if he has though? The other thing is, he's nearly 8 which for his breed is very old, they normally live 5-7 years. I don't know if it's fair on him to put him through another operation, or whether he'd even survive to be honest. I'd rather he was put down at home. Perhaps I'm thinking too much from a human perspective. He's all hunched up and quiet this morning.

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I'm really sorry to read this, poor toot. I think there comes a time when we know what we have to do and it's the hardest decision to make. I had to make the decision to put my old rabbit to sleep in March, everything had been done for him and I knew he wouldn't get better, broke my heart to do it. Thinking of you, you'll know when it's the right time. xx

The trouble is he's always been a fussy eater, and only gotten worse with age. He is very faddy, he loved baby sweetcorn for years and then totally went off it. He won't eat hay or pelleted food, he picks the pea flakes out of his dried food. At the moment all he'll eat is dandelion leaves, apple, the odd strawberry if he's in the mood and green beans. I tried him on oats and he won't eat them. And he's gone off bread as well now.

It's such a shame as it feels like it's been very sudden to me. My husband said the fateful words 'he's a strapping rabbit, he'll go on for years!!' and then literally the next day his ear flopped and he started struggling to eat. We both still think a stroke is quite likely.

The question is whether to put him through the stress of a trip to the vets, who will more than likely suggest putting him down as he did last time. Or just get him to come to our house. I don't want him to be put down at the vets as it will be so upsetting. I just want there to be a miracle and when I go home he'll be hopping about as usual. I don't know what's gone wrong in between Sunday night and Monday morning as he seemed so well at the weekend. :?

Bunbun2011 said:

The trouble is he's always been a fussy eater, and only gotten worse with age. He is very faddy, he loved baby sweetcorn for years and then totally went off it. He won't eat hay or pelleted food, he picks the pea flakes out of his dried food. At the moment all he'll eat is dandelion leaves, apple, the odd strawberry if he's in the mood and green beans. I tried him on oats and he won't eat them. And he's gone off bread as well now.

It's such a shame as it feels like it's been very sudden to me. My husband said the fateful words 'he's a strapping rabbit, he'll go on for years!!' and then literally the next day his ear flopped and he started struggling to eat. We both still think a stroke is quite likely.

The question is whether to put him through the stress of a trip to the vets, who will more than likely suggest putting him down as he did last time. Or just get him to come to our house. I don't want him to be put down at the vets as it will be so upsetting. I just want there to be a miracle and when I go home he'll be hopping about as usual. I don't know what's gone wrong in between Sunday night and Monday morning as he seemed so well at the weekend. :?

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Did the vet say anything about a stroke, did the vet listen to you? if it's not his teeth, which I believe can become bad very quickly if they don't eat the right food, there has to be something undetected, have you considered another vet? One vet at the practice we use, is quite dismissive regarding old rabbits, she went on and on about Blondies age and how he's coming to th eend of his life, if she had her way he would have been PTS there and them. As it turned out he was PTS, but we gave him a fighting chance which I felt better about. had we just gone ahead I would alway have wondered if there was anything we could have done.
I know it can be stressful for him to go to the vet again, but he will be with you and you never know another opinion maybe just what's needed.
If you do decide to PTs, being at home will help you too, you know he'll have been relaxed and it really will be peaceful.

Bunbun2011 said:

The trouble is he's always been a fussy eater, and only gotten worse with age. He is very faddy, he loved baby sweetcorn for years and then totally went off it. He won't eat hay or pelleted food, he picks the pea flakes out of his dried food. At the moment all he'll eat is dandelion leaves, apple, the odd strawberry if he's in the mood and green beans. I tried him on oats and he won't eat them. And he's gone off bread as well now.

It's such a shame as it feels like it's been very sudden to me. My husband said the fateful words 'he's a strapping rabbit, he'll go on for years!!' and then literally the next day his ear flopped and he started struggling to eat. We both still think a stroke is quite likely.

The question is whether to put him through the stress of a trip to the vets, who will more than likely suggest putting him down as he did last time. Or just get him to come to our house. I don't want him to be put down at the vets as it will be so upsetting. I just want there to be a miracle and when I go home he'll be hopping about as usual. I don't know what's gone wrong in between Sunday night and Monday morning as he seemed so well at the weekend. :?

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Are you sure he's not related to my old Schumi? He was exactly the same. :roll:

Maybe try grating up some veggies? His mouth is probably really sore so he might appreciate easier food.

Elderly buns are SUCH a worry!!