• Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
  • Please Note - Medical Advice

    Please keep in mind that posts on this forum are from members of the public sharing personal opinions. It is not a replacement for qualified medical advice from a veterinarian. Many illnesses share similar symptoms but require different treatments. A medical exam is necessary for an accurate diagnosis, without which appropriate treatment cannot be given.

    You should always consult your vet before following any suggestions for medication or treatment you have read about. The wrong treatment could make your rabbit worse or mean your vet is unable to give the correct treatment because of drug interactions. Even non prescription drugs can do harm if given inappropriately.

    We are very grateful to members who take time to answer other members questions, but please do be clear in your replies that you are sharing personal experience and not giving instructions on what must be done.

    Urgent Medical Advice: If you need, or think you might need, urgent medical advice you should contact a vet. If it is out of working hours phone your vet's normal number and there should be an answer phone message with instructions on what to do.

Rabbit showing interest in food but won't eat.

GrunBunMum

Warren Scout
Apologies posting agsin, Milton had his eye removed last Sunday along with an abcsess that was behind it. As he'd been bitten by our other bun on the eye quite badly we put it down to that. All went well but he's not eating by himself since.
Today he had another GA and X Ray to see if anything was stopping him eating. His insisors were slightly out but rest of his teeth, roots, jaw are absolutely fine.
Our savvy vet straightened his teeth out and he's back home again.
He's exactly the same though, showing interest in food but just wont eat.
I don't know what to do for him. Any ideas why?
Vet has said to see what he's like over next day or 2.
Hes currently on the following meds, twice a day.
Tramadol, metecam, cisterpride, zantac.
Depocillin every 2 days.
 
Apologies posting agsin, Milton had his eye removed last Sunday along with an abcsess that was behind it. As he'd been bitten by our other bun on the eye quite badly we put it down to that. All went well but he's not eating by himself since.
Today he had another GA and X Ray to see if anything was stopping him eating. His insisors were slightly out but rest of his teeth, roots, jaw are absolutely fine.
Our savvy vet straightened his teeth out and he's back home again.
He's exactly the same though, showing interest in food but just wont eat.
I don't know what to do for him. Any ideas why?
Vet has said to see what he's like over next day or 2.
Hes currently on the following meds, twice a day.
Tramadol, metecam, cisterpride, zantac.
Depocillin every 2 days.

I am sorry to hear this :cry:

Did the Vet mention changing the antibiotic ? Depocillin can cause anorexia. Tramadol can too.

What is his poo output like, any sign of very soft poo/diarrhoea ? I assume you are syringe feeding him ? Is he receiving fluid therapy (subcutaneously or IV) ?

Did the Vet run a blood profile before his most recent GA to check his kidney and liver function ?

Sorry for all the questions, I hope he feels better soon xx
 
He's only just been moved to tramadol and depocillin. He's was on ermm a painkiller beginning with Buf something, I'm not at home. He was on Sulfatrim antibiotics but as he wasn't eating wweve just changed them. We are syringe feeding, emerald recovery mix, mushed pellets and pumpkin which he is taking well. No bloods done yet, that's our next step. He started to not eat day before his op he's picking food up on his own but just dropping it. He's been begging up for food but just not interested when you actually give it him.
 
No. Fluid therapy, he drinking though no probs and he's popping dark tiny poops. He's grooming himself and his wifebun and laying chilled out but just won't bloody eat :(
 
I would give the Vet a call as Anorexia in a Rabbit on Depocillin is potentially a serious issue. Also maybe the Tramadol is exacerbating things. Tramadol makes me feel as sick as a dog. I know Rabbits cant vomit but they may still feel nauseous. Is his urine output normal ? Not very dilute, like water and a lot more than usual ?
 
I'll get in touch with the vet today about the depocillin, he's actually on Gabapentin not tramadol
He's picking herbs up and starting to eat but then just changes his mind. He actually seems happy enough. He's been out in the garden today and was pottering around foraging and digging up no eating.
His urine looks fine to me, he's not drinking any more than he did before.
My husband is at home, says he seems to be getting frustrated that he can't eat.
 
I'll get in touch with the vet today about the depocillin, he's actually on Gabapentin not tramadol
He's picking herbs up and starting to eat but then just changes his mind. He actually seems happy enough. He's been out in the garden today and was pottering around foraging and digging up no eating.
His urine looks fine to me, he's not drinking any more than he did before.
My husband is at home, says he seems to be getting frustrated that he can't eat.

What is his poo like ?

Are you syringe feeding him ?

Personally I would still call the Vet today as Bunny is on a combination of some heavy duty medication and supportive fluid therapy (even if he is drinking for himself) may be appropriate.

So as I understand it he stopped eating BEFORE the enucleation op' ? The injury was caused by a bite from another Rabbit ? Is he now back with that Rabbit ?
 
He's pooing, small round dark ones.
We are syringe feeding recovery, mushed pellets and pumpkin which he is taking well, won't eat them on his own accord though.
He stopped eating a couple of days before his eye removal. He had a bulging eye at that point and was waiting for his op, they rushed him in a day early. He was on metecam, tramadol and sulfatrim them.
The bunny who bite him isn't housed with him, it was an accident how they met! They are housed in different rooms.
He has a partner though.
I'm due at the vets tonight, apart from bloods what else do I need to ask them to look at?
 
He's pooing, small round dark ones.
We are syringe feeding recovery, mushed pellets and pumpkin which he is taking well, won't eat them on his own accord though.
He stopped eating a couple of days before his eye removal. He had a bulging eye at that point and was waiting for his op, they rushed him in a day early. He was on metecam, tramadol and sulfatrim them.
The bunny who bite him isn't housed with him, it was an accident how they met! They are housed in different rooms.
He has a partner though.
I'm due at the vets tonight, apart from bloods what else do I need to ask them to look at?

I'd definitely want a full blood profile run. I would also want to discuss changing the abx and pain relief.

Did you actually witness the incident where-by the eye injury occurred ?
 
Our savvy vet isn't in today, he's had bloods done though and she'll ring us once results are back.
My husband was there when they fought. Elsie had escaped into Milton's area, he chased her, but her ass and she bit his eye. We didn't take him vets at the time, I know now we should have, it didn't look that bad and we already have a massive bill for 2 of the other bunnies.
I've just witnessed him attempting to eat. Managed to film it, but sure if you can add videos on here. It looks like he can't chew to me but all X Rays look fine.
 
Our savvy vet isn't in today, he's had bloods done though and she'll ring us once results are back.
My husband was there when they fought. Elsie had escaped into Milton's area, he chased her, but her ass and she bit his eye. We didn't take him vets at the time, I know now we should have, it didn't look that bad and we already have a massive bill for 2 of the other bunnies.
I've just witnessed him attempting to eat. Managed to film it, but sure if you can add videos on here. It looks like he can't chew to me but all X Rays look fine.

Has he still got sutures closing the eye socket ? Do you know if it was the Rabbit Savvy Vet who viewed the Xray films ? It must be very stressful for you to see him wanting to eat but apparently being unable to do so.

Will he eat the food you are syringe feeding him from a PLATE. Not a bowl as until he gets used to only having one eye putting his head in a bowl to eat may worry him.
 
He's had it stitched from the inside, disolvable ones.
Our vet is a newly qualified (2 year's) exotic pet specialist. She's the one who has done all his treatment bar bloods results but they rang her about that.
He's picking very little tiny bits of herbs up from the ground after us tempting him with then for ages, trying to chew them but spitting them out after a few mins. Will not entertain anything else off the ground, wont eat anything you put in front of him.
When we syringe feed he looks awkward chewing, he even lookd like he's trying to chew meds when he has them. It's like he's forgotten how to eat.
 
He's had it stitched from the inside, disolvable ones.
Our vet is a newly qualified (2 year's) exotic pet specialist. She's the one who has done all his treatment bar bloods results but they rang her about that.
He's picking very little tiny bits of herbs up from the ground after us tempting him with then for ages, trying to chew them but spitting them out after a few mins. Will not entertain anything else off the ground, wont eat anything you put in front of him.
When we syringe feed he looks awkward chewing, he even lookd like he's trying to chew meds when he has them. It's like he's forgotten how to eat.

Well to me it clearly sounds as though there must be something going on in his mouth. Is he still on all the same meds and what has his poo output been like today ?

Does his remaining eye look OK ?
 
Update.
His other eye looks fine, he is pooing, small black one's. A lot more around this mromingi.
We increased his metacam on Saturday and he's now started eating herbs on his own accord and doesn't look like he's struggling now either.
He will not eat anything else though and we're still syringe feeding recovery and mushed pellets.
He's due at the vets today, any advise on what I need to be asking for?
It's a week on now, can he continue with this diet or will it be doing more harm?
Different pain meds?
Thank you so much for the replys.
 
Just want to wish you and bunny good luck at the vets today, no advice really but would definately get his mouth checked out. Hope all goes well x
 
Update.
His other eye looks fine, he is pooing, small black one's. A lot more around this mromingi.
We increased his metacam on Saturday and he's now started eating herbs on his own accord and doesn't look like he's struggling now either.
He will not eat anything else though and we're still syringe feeding recovery and mushed pellets.
He's due at the vets today, any advise on what I need to be asking for?
It's a week on now, can he continue with this diet or will it be doing more harm?
Different pain meds?
Thank you so much for the replys.

Is he still on Ranitidine (Zantac) ? If not I would request that it is still prescribed for both its anti GI tract ulcer protection properties and it prokinetic properties on the hind gut

A Vit B12 injection can boost the appetite

I'd ask the Vet about whether changing the abx may be advisable and I'd want him/her to check Milton's teeth again.
I'd also ask if a full blood profile to check his renal function may be useful
Sending lots more vibes x
 
Back
Top