Water Bottle woes

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 11 months ago by Misskaruhl.

Viewing 10 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 04/16/2011 at 5:09 PM
  scxl
  Participant
  14 posts
  Hi!
  
  On Thursday, I adopted a beautiful rabbit from my local SPCA. He’s a two year old dwarf and has an amazing personality and seems great with everyone petting him. Now, this is the first pet I have soul ownership for and I am very nervous about what to do and if I’m actually doing it the correct way.
  
  After I set the cage up and put him inside, he hopped over to the food and water bowl and ate/drink from it then he tipped it over. Okay, so I went back to the pet store and bought a water bottle and a crock for the food and water. The crock seems to be too high up so tipped over food I can manage. My only problem is right now is that he won’t drink from the water bottle! He knows the concept of using it and he’s done it a couple times but he seems to pretty much ignore it! So what can I do…?
  
  Sorry if I seem a bit frantic but I’m just kinda nervous of doing anything wrong to hurt my little guy.
  
  tl;dr: my rabbit won’t drink out of the water bottle but tips over his water bowl… what do I do?
- 04/16/2011 at 5:29 PM
  Emmie
  Participant
  461 posts
  I had a hamster once that didn’t know how to use the water bottle. He eventually learned!
  
  Why was the water bowl being knocked over? Are you able to put a solid, heavy bowl in an area of his cage that won’t be in his way? Zelda used drink from a water bottle, but it kept getting stuck and leaking, so I have a small plastic bowl in a corner she won’t knock over.
  
  What has the rabbit been doing to the water bottle in general?
  
  And congrats on the new bunny! I’m a new owner myself, I’ve had Zelda for 5days now. Its scary at times but the guys on the forum here have been invaluable to me.
- 04/16/2011 at 5:32 PM
  LizzieKnittyBun
  Participant
  2147 posts
  I suggest a really heavy ceramic bowl, one that’s too thick and solid to move.
  
  Congratulations = D
- 04/16/2011 at 5:39 PM
  scxl
  Participant
  14 posts
  I find he likes to try and rearrange his cage to the best of his ability and I was pretty much using a porcelain bowl, very light weight and easy to tip over.
  
  I think what I’ll do is when I figure out what corner he pees in and keeps to it~ I’ll poke holes in the plastic of the cage and just mount the crocks there so it’s not high up and easily accessible for use of both his food and water? Is that okay? lol
- 04/16/2011 at 8:44 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  I do prefer crocks but sometimes they aren’t practical for all situations. Sometimes in cages — don’t know how big yours is, crocks can get messy. Hay and food and hair can get in them. I’m not sure if I fully understood your solution, but if it works that’s great.
  If you find that it still is challenging using even a heavy crock, then the way you can get your bunny to drink water from a water bottle is to smear something that he may like on the tip. Like, my bunnies like bananas, and so if I were going to use a water bottle, I would smear just a little bit of banana on the tip.
  
  You do want to be careful with too many treats/sugary fruit especially since he has just recently transitioned from the shelter to your home. But if you just smear a tiny tiny amount, it will be enough for him to smell it and lick on it.
  
  Congratulations on your new bunny! He’s adorable! Cute black bunny with a little white nose. CUTE!!
- 04/17/2011 at 5:25 AM
  scxl
  Participant
  14 posts
  So far, I haven’t gave him any surgery treats beyond a few baby carrots and little pieces of celery each day when I get home from work so he knows I haven’t left or forgot about him <3 I found some heavy bows and they seem to do the trick! I woke up and there was no water on the cage floor! I'm so proud of him!
- 04/17/2011 at 5:50 AM
  Emmie
  Participant
  461 posts
  Excellent! Sounds like your bunny was just anxious, being in a new home and all that.
- 04/17/2011 at 7:59 AM
  Bumblebunny
  Participant
  134 posts
  I remember looking through rabbit supply catalogs on the internet. There was a company that sold ceramic crocks and crock holders so they could be attached to the cage/condo. Unfortunately I don’t remember the name of the company; I think it located in southern Calif. If he keeps up moving it or spilling that might help.
- 04/17/2011 at 8:01 PM
  scxl
  Participant
  14 posts
  I found a really heavy bowl in my cupboard and he dosen’t try to tip that over (:
- 04/17/2011 at 9:13 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Good! Sounds like you found a winner.
- 04/19/2011 at 12:22 PM
  Misskaruhl
  Participant
  32 posts
  My bunnies won’t use the water bottle either. Just get them ceramic bowls.
Author

Messages

Viewing 10 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.