Rabbit drinking oddly

ghibli · May 6, 2017

Hi everyone,

I'm a little concerned about the way Ghibli's drinking. He doesn't lap the way he used to. He takes a bit of water and raises his head and kind of 'mouths' it would be the closest description, then goes back for more. He's always made little noises, which I just thought all rabbit's until I got Twinkle

, but he's never done this before. He did have a cist on his eye, and a slight infection which has now gone away [and which I thought might have been the reason for the drinking] but that was a couple of weeks ago. The vet looked him over thoroughly and couldn't find anything worng with his teeth or mouth, or anything else. Should I be worried?

I've put up a video of him on YouTube drinking first thing in the morning. Twinkle

does the same thing with her water, but after she's finishes drinking.

https://youtu.be/J6SY8JeeKDo

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

MimzMum · May 6, 2017

He seems to be favoring his right side. Did the vet give him any sedation to look at his teeth? You can't see the molars properly (usually where most of the trouble is) unless the bunny is asleep.

He might have a small spur that can't be seen under a normal exam and that's making moving his tongue uncomfortable for him.

I'd also have the vet check his ears for infection. If he's brewing one it'll make the ear on that side hurt and that could be making him tip his head.

Just a few thoughts on what I saw in the video. Others who are more knowledgeable might have better suggestions and hopefully will post soon.

ghibli · May 7, 2017

The thing that's puzzling me is that he's eating normally! He's not showing any sign of discomfort, he's bounding around like normal, and chomping hay and veg!

The vet checked his teeth really thoroughly and they're fine. She also checked for an tenderness around his mouth and jaw [which I'd actually already done anyway] and he's OK there too!

His diet is just hay and veg, and occasionally dried corn as a treat [hardly any fruit and never any pellets].

It's just when he drinks that he does it!

I was just wandering if it's a sign of anything, or if anyone's seen something like it before.

It could be that it was soothing when his eye had a cist, and he's just carried on doing it. He seems to be doing it less now, but he's still doing it intermittently!

Sent from my F8331 using Tapatalk

Rabbit drinking oddly

ghibli

Warren Scout

MimzMum

Wise Old Thumper

ghibli

Warren Scout

Similar threads