Help! My rabbit wont eat!

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 17sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 5 months ago by Aaron.

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- 02/01/2017 at 6:01 AM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  So, this all started this morning. I went in to feed my dutch bunny Sebastian his morning pellets, and he didn’t even look interested in eating. He just spreaded his legs and layed down. He did eat his papaya treats that I gave him, and I thought I saw him eat a pellet, but I am not sure. He actually was a wellness vet visit tomorrow. I am really worried about this because he is my baby! I listened to his stomach and I heard gurgling, which I think is normal. Does he have GI Stasis?
- 02/01/2017 at 6:27 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17045 posts
  Gurgling as a rule means gas. Since he ate his papaya treat, I’d first try with baby gas drops (somethicone), 1 ml. It often helps after ca 30 min. Try to make him move around to help the gas escape. If he won’t move and still won’t eat, it’s safest to contact a vet.
- 02/01/2017 at 7:05 AM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  I am at school so I can’t see him. My mom texted me saying that he ate some pellets, and had pieces of banana. His stomach gurgling sounds like liquid moving through his gut, like what it sounds like when a human stomach grumbles. If he still seems strange when I get home, I will get the simethicone. Is it GI Stasis?
- 02/01/2017 at 7:30 AM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3312 posts
  You need to go easy on the fruit. Fruit is often what causes gas in rabbits. They don’t need all that sugar. He needs to be eating hay. Some leafy greens would be good for him too. It’s good to always have infant simethicone on hand, it’s so helpful to rabbits with gas and you never know when you are going to need it and not have it.
- 02/01/2017 at 7:55 AM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  I dont give him much fruit, some banana every couple days, but he gets a kale salad every night. Stasis?
- 02/01/2017 at 11:17 AM
  Joeythenethie
  Participant
  58 posts
  As long as he’s eating he should be fine, as GI stasis is caused by an inactive gut, hence the name. Just make sure he’s eating something, maybe drip some fruit juice on some hay to get him to eat a bit more. Try the simethicone since it works quickly and is a mechanical fix (almost impossible to overdose since it doesn’t get absorbed by the blood stream). If the simethicone doesn’t stop the gurgling/gas, then bring him to the vet. Also, if his belly is very hard and distended, that could be a symptom of bloat, which should be treated asap. Safest bet would be to keep him eating and bring him to the vet.
- 02/01/2017 at 12:08 PM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4691 posts
  As a member of the brassica family, kale can lead to gas causing stasis. Smaller amounts of kale are usually fine. Kale is also very high in calcium and as a rule shouldn’t be fed every day anyway due to bladder sludge.
  
  Since he’s still eating, treating with simethicone should do the trick, encourage him to eat hay if he will
- 02/01/2017 at 1:52 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  I just arrived home, and he seems fine, hopping around. I gave him a handful of pellets, and he didn’t touch them. I gave him his favorite treats and he gobbled it down. Picky eater? I am still worried if he was stasis. He was a vet appointment tomorrow anyway for a wellness exam. What are the signs of Stasis?
- 02/01/2017 at 2:05 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17045 posts
  The primary signs of stasis are that the bun won’t eat anything and there’s very little or no poop. But it can start with a reduced appetite, so you should mention his pellet-refusal to your vet tomorrow.
  
  Other signs of stasis is that the bun seems to be in discomfort and doesn’t wan’t to socialize. Some buns go lie in places they otherwise never lie in. Some buns hide and won’t come out. Some will actively try to press their tummy against the floor kind somewhat resembling of a human doing pushups. Other buns just sit hunched up and look uncomfortable.
  
  This is a great article about stasis, by Dana Krempel who is a rabbit expert. It has helped me lots in the past: http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html Bookmark it, because it has a lot of valuable tips.
- 02/01/2017 at 2:14 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  He isn’t hunched, but I can’t tell if he is pressing his stomach against the floor.
- 02/01/2017 at 3:06 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  Here is what know:
  
  1. He didn’t eat with his normal gusto this morning, like he is usually begging for food, but he went for it later.
  2. I placed my ear next to his stomach, and I heard a gurgling sound, not too loud, like what a human stomach grumbling.
  3. He isn’t hunched.
  4. He seems to be stretched out more on the floor with this legs out.
  5. He is eating the treats I gave him.
- 02/01/2017 at 8:06 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  Rescheduled vet appointment for tonight. Bot back, has stress induced GI Stasis. They gave me Oxbow Critical care 30 ml. A probiotic and annother med.
- 02/02/2017 at 5:22 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  How is your boy today?
- 02/02/2017 at 7:23 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  My furry baby is off an on today, but he has just been resting. He has passed some normal looking poop. I have seen him eat a 1/4 cup of pellets today, and a bit of hay, and he was been drinking his water. He is very stubborn with his meds, especially the Critical Care. He hates the syringe in his mouth, so I coated his pellets with it, and added some treats on top, and he ate it! It is a very rigourous regimend, but I love my little guy. I am a nervous wreck over him, and I hope he is ok. This morning, I heard something. When he went in his litterbox, it sounded like a loud fart almost, is this ok? is it the gas leaving his body?
  
  Sebastian and Juliet: My buns, my loves
- 02/04/2017 at 1:37 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  Today, Sebastian ate with his normal gusto! Pellets were gone! I was elated, until now. I gave 5 or 6 pellets as treats, and he didn’t take the right away. I must add he was laying down, almost sleeping when I came in, so I might have interrupted his nap. He did eat the pellets that put in his bowl, but now he is laying down with his legs out. Is he resting, or pushing his stomach against the floor. I am really worried because I thought he was going to be ok. Please answer
- 02/04/2017 at 2:24 PM
  12345ABCDE
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I wouldn’t say just lying on the floor with legs stretched out is a cause for concern. My bunnies relax like that a lot.
- 02/04/2017 at 2:35 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  I have to give him his meds, should I mix it with food, he hates the syringe? It is a bit of benebac, with critical care and anotehr medicine.
- 02/04/2017 at 2:37 PM
  Aaron
  Participant
  184 posts
  He just flopped!
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