How do I make my rabbit to drink more water ?

[Anda]

I just came back from a vet appointment with my rabbit, and my vet said that my rabbit is dehydrated. Corrie, my rabbit, is going to surgery soon in about a week, so I need to get her blood levels back to normal within a week. Any tips for encouraging Corrie to drink more water? Thanks for reading!

 

[KCG]

If it's drinking water from the bottle, drink it from the bowl. If it's drinking water from the bowl, change its water often. Put cold and fresh water. If that doesn't work either, get a water dispenser. That's all I know, I hope someone on the forum helps more.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vinsic-Aut...rds=cat+water+dispenser&qid=1620810364&sr=8-8

 

[Shimmer]

To increase water consumption:
- make sure they have free access to fresh water at all times - bowls are better than bottles. Change the water daily and top up in between if needed.
- feed fresh grass and veg / forage / herbs rather than dried. You can always rinse the veg / forage / herbs and leave it wet, so extra fluid is ingested along with the greens

This may be helpful:
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/illness/rabbit-bladder-problems/

Also make sure that they have adequate accommodation and access to shade, so they are not obliged to be in full sun all day. Being confined to a small hutch could contribute to dehydration. Rabbits need a lot of space to move about freely.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-housing/space-recommendations/

If your rabbit already has a decent living space and free access to water in a bowl, I would be more worried about why she is dehydrated and why the vet didn't investigate further.

 

[InspectorMorse]

To increase water consumption:
- make sure they have free access to fresh water at all times - bowls are better than bottles. Change the water daily and top up in between if needed.
- feed fresh grass and veg / forage / herbs rather than dried. You can always rinse the veg / forage / herbs and leave it wet, so extra fluid is ingested along with the greens

This may be helpful:
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-health/illness/rabbit-bladder-problems/

Also make sure that they have adequate accommodation and access to shade, so they are not obliged to be in full sun all day. Being confined to a small hutch could contribute to dehydration. Rabbits need a lot of space to move about freely.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-housing/space-recommendations/

If your rabbit already has a decent living space and free access to water in a bowl, I would be more worried about why she is dehydrated and why the vet didn't investigate further.

This is what concerns me. Also, if your Rabbit is dehydrated was fluid therapy given by the Vet ?

 

[AnjaSanja]

I had to syringe water for two days. I did put very little of 100% apple juice or vanila stick or mint leaves (soking them for some time) or probiotic powder. And every 3 hours I put 10 ml into him. Slowly but still.

Other possibility is if you know how to, fluis under the skin-sterile saline.

 

[Shimmer]

If the surgery isn't urgent, I would look at delaying it a week or two, and reassess the situation. I wouldn't put a health-compromised rabbit through a procedure that could wait. Rabbits don't do well when stressed, and surgery on its own is stressful. If they have a pre-existing condition that may affect the outcome of the surgery, it would be safest to sort that out first, if at all possible.

How is she doing now?