kawaiibunny
New Kit
2 and a half year old male mini lop. Lives outdoors, sleeps in hutch located in our shed and has access to part of the house (conservatory) at all times for relaxing etc.
Generally in good health apart from losing a lot of hair lately (as in I have to give him a thorough brush every day to remove lots of excess hair). He's usually quite an inquisitive/happy rabbit but lately I've noticed he's developed some unusual head movements as well as being quite quiet and not himself/slightly off his food.
I feed him twice a day usually on pellets from pets at home and sometimes I alternate with wagg, he very rarely eats timothy hay although he always has access to it. He is drinking as normal.
Although I don't have scales to weigh him he feels a little bit on the thin side - I noticed this before whilst grooming him.
The problem is when I pour out some food for him he gets all excited as usual - sometimes even clawing at the bag as I'm pouring it, then once it's in the bowl he is ignoring it. When he does eat he seems to spend a LONG time just brushing the food around the floor with his head, he has also developed a habit of tipping over his feed and drink bowl in some sort of protest. When he has food in his mouth he keeps raising his head in an odd fashion.. quite high and then back down again - it looks like he may be struggling to eat or something?
When I give him a fruit treat such as a small slice of banana which he usually loves - he will take it and then sit with it in his mouth while raising his head up and down as if he can't do anything about it?!
Lastly I've noticed when he sits down there is movement coming from under his chin sometimes - like a kind of grinding or something? I can't hear any noise coming from him but I thought I'd ask on here if these symptoms sound familiar to any owners here. We'll be taking him to the vets this week. Or any suggestions would be awesome in the meantime!
Thanks!
Generally in good health apart from losing a lot of hair lately (as in I have to give him a thorough brush every day to remove lots of excess hair). He's usually quite an inquisitive/happy rabbit but lately I've noticed he's developed some unusual head movements as well as being quite quiet and not himself/slightly off his food.
I feed him twice a day usually on pellets from pets at home and sometimes I alternate with wagg, he very rarely eats timothy hay although he always has access to it. He is drinking as normal.
Although I don't have scales to weigh him he feels a little bit on the thin side - I noticed this before whilst grooming him.
The problem is when I pour out some food for him he gets all excited as usual - sometimes even clawing at the bag as I'm pouring it, then once it's in the bowl he is ignoring it. When he does eat he seems to spend a LONG time just brushing the food around the floor with his head, he has also developed a habit of tipping over his feed and drink bowl in some sort of protest. When he has food in his mouth he keeps raising his head in an odd fashion.. quite high and then back down again - it looks like he may be struggling to eat or something?
When I give him a fruit treat such as a small slice of banana which he usually loves - he will take it and then sit with it in his mouth while raising his head up and down as if he can't do anything about it?!
Lastly I've noticed when he sits down there is movement coming from under his chin sometimes - like a kind of grinding or something? I can't hear any noise coming from him but I thought I'd ask on here if these symptoms sound familiar to any owners here. We'll be taking him to the vets this week. Or any suggestions would be awesome in the meantime!
Thanks!