Two month old Teddy Lop not eating.

Hi there, I have a two month old teddy lop and his diet consists of pellets mainly (I was told my the pet shop that he should be fed only pellets until he's matured) and recently he stopped eating, he barely touches his food, I've tried giving him some alfafa but he doesn't want it, I'm not sure if its the weather because its 31 degrees celsius on average here so I usually place a 2litre bottle full of ice next to him to keep him cool but he seems to be sleeping all day and I'm really worried about him. His nose is dry too he seems sleepy all day and he doesn't want to drink or eat.

Please get him to the vet without delay

Promothian said:

Hi there, I have a two month old teddy lop and his diet consists of pellets mainly (I was told my the pet shop that he should be fed only pellets until he's matured) and recently he stopped eating, he barely touches his food, I've tried giving him some alfafa but he doesn't want it, I'm not sure if its the weather because its 31 degrees celsius on average here so I usually place a 2litre bottle full of ice next to him to keep him cool but he seems to be sleeping all day and I'm really worried about him. His nose is dry too he seems sleepy all day and he doesn't want to drink or eat.

Click to expand...

I think you should get him seen by a vet urgently, any length of time not eating can be very dangerous, even fatal for a bunny. Let us know how he gets on.

Hi :wave:

I have no idea what a teddy lop is but that is shocking and very bad advice. The main thing you need to feed rabbits is hay, pellets should be limited and not a main food source, especially not to be only fed until they mature.

I would get him to the vets as it is possible it has something to do with his teeth. Hay should be 90% of a rabbits diet, pellets just 5% and forage/herbs or veg the other 5%. The hay keeps rabbits teeth down and prevents spurs on their teeth which can grown out and start cutting into the walls of their mouth or grow in and cut their tongue. It is also fibrous and keeps their guts moving and healthy.

Only a vet (who is competent with rabbits as well as other animals) can really assist you Not eating in rabbits is serious as they can go down hill very quickly.

The only vets in this country (suriname) are for dogs and cats, they don't specialize in rabbits at all, I can take him but I'm afraid they'll make a mistake like they did with my hamster (they miss-diagnossed her with cancer). There are no rabbit experts in this country which is why I'm asking here, does anyone know any signs I can look for to figure out what is the most likely thing going on?

Also teddy lops are also called American Fuzzy lops.

Promothian said:

Hi there, I have a two month old teddy lop and his diet consists of pellets mainly (I was told my the pet shop that he should be fed only pellets until he's matured) and recently he stopped eating, he barely touches his food, I've tried giving him some alfafa but he doesn't want it, I'm not sure if its the weather because its 31 degrees celsius on average here so I usually place a 2litre bottle full of ice next to him to keep him cool but he seems to be sleeping all day and I'm really worried about him. His nose is dry too he seems sleepy all day and he doesn't want to drink or eat.

Click to expand...

Hi, welcome to the forum.

As the others have said, the best option is to get your bunny to a vet as soon as possible.

Rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and they only need to stop eating for a several hours for their entire systems to stop working altogether, in which case, without intervention then usually they will gradually die I'm afraid. Your bunny needs to see a vet now as there are lots of things a vet can do at this earlier stage to prevent the bunny getting worse and to help keep your bunny's digestive system moving. For a start, your vet can use a stethoscope to hear whether or not your bunny's stomach is working properly and can have a feel to see if there is a suspected blockage.

Secondly, as your rabbit is still only a baby, he will sadly go downhill quicker without medical help so please without delay go to the vet.

Oh just seen your reply: this is NOT INSTEAD OF A VET'S ADVICE THOUGH, this is a guide as to what MY vet might do so that you can ask questions when you take your bunny to the vet! Normally a vet would listen to the rabbit's stomach with a stethoscope to hear the gut movement, to hear if the digestive system is working normally or not, and have a very long feel of the stomach to check for blockages and build ups of gas. They'd also check the teeth to see whether or not there's a clear dental problem stopping the rabbit from eating. If it's a stomach problem then they will administer a pain relief medication and gut stimulant injections and also antacids. They may also give intravenous fluids and critical care formula (or another syringe food) as well as Fibreplex which is a paste with friendly bacteria to help the gut. They may decide to take him into the hospital or let you nurse him at home depending on how ill he is and how much time and what environment you have for him at home.

I've never had a rabbit with teeth problems so I'll pass on what a vet will do then, perhaps someone else could help?
Best of luck and please let us know how you get on. If your rabbit gets ill he's better seeing a cat or dog vet than no vet at all!

I'm afraid we aren't vets so can't really help, but everything you have described are signs of a rabbit who needs his teeth and stomach looking at in depth asap :wave:

I have 2 dental rabbits, one is a severe case. So much so, she stopped eating for a day and we had to syringe feed her for 2 months because her mouth got tore up so badly by her spurs. She became a bag of bones and very nearly died. I don't mean to worry you but that's how fast bunnies can go downhill.

I should mention that the pet shop owner gave him vitamins when I went there today since that's the closest thing to a vet and also gave me some to give him later tonight. everything is closed for tonight and I'll only be able to do something external tommorow, is there any thing I should be doing right now? also if I do force feed him , what should I feed him and how?

Promothian said:

I should mention that the pet shop owner gave him vitamins when I went there today since that's the closest thing to a vet and also gave me some to give him later tonight. everything is closed for tonight and I'll only be able to do something external tommorow, is there any thing I should be doing right now? also if I do force feed him , what should I feed him and how?

Click to expand...

Please don't force feed, there could be any number of things going on, one might be a blockage and force feeding will block him up even more which could be fatal.

I'm afraid vitamins will do nothing, he really needs a vet to give the correct pain relief and possible dental. The shop owner doesn't sound very knowledgable on rabbits at all.

I wouldn't take the advice of the pet shop owner any more, the feeding advice he gave you was completely wrong and giving the bunny vitamins won't help.

You could try mashing some of the pellets up with water. Has the bunny had any water? Especially in the heat it's important to get him to drink.

Like Aly said, don't force feed, but if his teeth are sore just leave the mash there with him. He can have it if he wants it.

Has he been drinking? If not it's very important to try and get him to have some water, especially as it's so hot where you are

Well ,he just ate a little bit and drank a little too, if he is going to recovery do they recovery gradually or instantenuously?

He won't recover instantaneously, as long as he's gradually eating and drinking it will be better for him but he won't recover by himself, he really needs to see a vet.

No, they recover gradually but my baby lop rabbit had the same thing in January and needed 9 injections from the vet to survive.

Eating is a good sign but they need to be eating and pooing completely normally before they're better.

Please take your bunny to the vet when they open tomorrow, I understand in your country there aren't many options overnight but when the vets are open please go there and give the pet shop owner a miss! He gave you some wrong advice before, like as people said rabbits can't live on just pellets, it's probably what caused your bunny to be so ill. They need lots and lots of hay!

But do hang round on the forum, and when your bunny is better do stay here we're a friendly bunch and we'd love to see a photo of your bunny!

I might be completely wrong, but at 8 weeks old - I would have thought pellets would have been on demand along with hay? and as they mature you gradually reduce the amount?

The vet might have been referring to not feeding fruit/veg etc. possibly?

I am sorry not to have anymore advice but the fact your rabbit is eating and drinking a little is a positive sign.

Hopefully someone else may be able to advise. Good luck.

cara said:

I might be completely wrong, but at 8 weeks old - I would have thought pellets would have been on demand along with hay? and as they mature you gradually reduce the amount?

The vet might have been referring to not feeding fruit/veg etc. possibly?

I am sorry not to have anymore advice but the fact your rabbit is eating and drinking a little is a positive sign.

Hopefully someone else may be able to advise. Good luck.

Click to expand...

Yes, that would be right, but I don't think the OP ever mentioned hay or a vet!

I appreciate all the replies and advice but the vets in this country are poorly trained when it comes to the subjects they do specialize in, they already killed a friend's pet by giving it dog medicine. I really don't trust them.

In all countries rabbits get given medication that is marketed as for other animals. There are very very few medications that are licensed for buns! So vets use what is available to them depending on what is suitable. I'm sorry that your friends pet died, and obviously I don't know if the vet was to blame but using dog medication is not always a bad sign.

My buns have had medications licensed for dogs, cats and one that is really a human baby medication and the vet got me to sign a form stating that I understood that it was not a medication licensed for animals :shock: it was fine though and exactly what she should have prescribed!

Sending lots of vibes for your bun, I know we must sound like a broken record but realistically a poor vet will still stand more chance of helping then we will from trying to diagnose from a different country, as at the very least they will be able to see the rabbit.

Xxx

I'll take him to the dog vet tommorow but that's around 15 hours from now, also he still can kick real hard .. I hope him having strength is a good sign.

Promothian said:

I appreciate all the replies and advice but the vets in this country are poorly trained when it comes to the subjects they do specialize in, they already killed a friend's pet by giving it dog medicine. I really don't trust them.

Click to expand...

it doesn't matter if you trust them or not, they are the only ones who can prescribe the drugs that your bun will need to get him well again.
You can ask to get referred to a specialist or thy can call the specialist and ask for advice.
Unfortunately without actually going to a vet your bun may very well die, as you will not be able to get hold of the meds he may need.