Rabbit Suddenly Not Eating

An all too common thread ...

Teddy was fine all day yesterday. Free ranges and when I called him in, most unusually, he was not at all interested in the veggies.

Took him too the vets today and they cannot see anything obvious. His weight is the same as usual, temp normal, didn't feel anything in his tummy. She did notice some spurs but they have not caused ulceration (not that she can see).

I have separated him from his partner and up to now, he has not pooped although he has wee'd. He sort of nibbles at hay but has ignored the herbs etc which he would normally go for.

The vet has given him Emeprid 5mg/ml injection, loxicom 5mg/ml injection and Baytril 2.5% injection.

The Vet did suggest admitting him for teeth inspection under g.a. if he does not respond. Can anyone advise if this is a good next step please?

Other ideas of foods to try him with: soaked and mashed pellets, recovery food / critical care, Ella's Kitchen vegetable baby foods. It is important he eats something so his gut keeps moving.
Have you seen the threads about wild leaves which appear to be helpful in stasis? (one here.) If you have easy access to any of them near your home (e.g. brambles, apple trees) you may want to try those and see if he's interested.

Not sure why the vet gave him Baytril if he doesn't appear to have an infection. There have been quite a few posts recently where bunnies are only being given painkillers and gut motility drugs at the vets and having to go back once daily. But these don't last 24 hours before another dose is needed. I was given them to take home and administer at the required intervals and many other posters with specialist rabbit vets seem to have had the same.

I have no experience with dental rabbits but from what I've read of other posters rabbits who go into stasis when they get tooth problems, the dental should be done anyway in the circumstances. Hopefully someone who knows more about this will be able to advise.
Not sure how rabbit savvy your vet sounds; see what a few others think.

Hoping your bunny gets better soon. : )

Thanks for your reply.

Teddy is not a dental bunny (well, had him over a year and not had teeth issues to date). I will take a look at the thread you suggest but am thinking he is not interested in any of his fav things so not terribly convinced he will go for anything

Just wish he would poo as that would be encouraging.

one of my rabbits didnt have any teeth issues until he was 4 years old. i look for his chest to be wet and under his chin as he salivates from biting on his tongue. i would learn to syringe feed your bunny before he gets any worse. in some cases a vet wont put your bunny under GA if he is weak.

He won't poo if he's not eating anything , did the vet give you any Fibreplex and recovery food to give bunny , try tempting him with anything to get some food in him dandelions and the dandelion flower are a good choice, as is fresh herbs , mint is good for poorly tums, coriander,basil etc i hope he starts eating soon , did the vet give him any painkiller

Teddy is nibbling hay but I am unable to tempt him to anything else, including some of the suggestions and the foods he always likes.

I have some recovery food which I will have a go at when my husband comes home but I have always found it very difficult to syringe as it is sooo gluky.

Thanks for replies.

cara said:

Teddy is nibbling hay but I am unable to tempt him to anything else, including some of the suggestions and the foods he always likes.

I have some recovery food which I will have a go at when my husband comes home but I have always found it very difficult to syringe as it is sooo gluky.

Thanks for replies.

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Some people have found their rabbits are much more partial to the recovery food when it's mixed with baby food, and this also makes it less lumpy: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?387753-How-to-make-recovery-food-non-lumpy/page2

hi cara, buy some 1ML syringes from a chemist. you need to cut the end part off the syringe to allow food to been drawn up into the syringe. leave a little part of the narrower part on the syringe still otherwise the black rubber bung will pop out and end in in the rabbits throat. here is a photo of 2 1ML syringes-one having been modified and the other as they are. i wouldnt use a 10 ml syringe as you can pump too much food in one go and at least with the 1ML syringe you can just empty it safely. http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z242/abstractduk/DSC04140_zpsbe11cca0.jpg as you can see on the modified used syringe the bunny will bite down on it and make the brittle material sharp, so keep it filed smooth with a file/nail file or sand paper.

Thank you very much for the syringe feeding suggestion - really good tips and great photo example

Took Teddy back to the vets tea-time as he had not pooped at all, all day and was totally disinterested in any food. He was given another injection of Emeprid and I have to say he was much perkier and interested in hay after the visit. Still very picky as to what he will eat but did eat a bit of cracker and biscuit - I am just grateful he will eat anything! And joyously, there have been 2 or 3 poops. Now not sure whether I should syringe feed as I don't want to upset the apple cart if heading in the right direction :?

Hopefully he will improve on this overnight - shall see.

Glad Teddy is eating and pooping. Hope he's back to normal soon. Sending lots of vibes xx

Sending lots of vibes. xx

Have now posted in the Diet and Digestion forums as vet thinks that is Teddy's problem.

Thanks for all replies on this thread.

Cara