Change in Appetite

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 4 months ago by LittlePuffyTail.

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- 03/12/2017 at 7:17 PM
  Ardelt
  Participant
  41 posts
  So my 5.5 year old rabbit has had a change in appetite lately. He has had GI statsis in the past and I have successfully treated it with over the years but this time things are different. He is still eating hay daily and never turns it down when offered and he still pooping a fair amount daily. But for some reason he isn’t eating his green ps or is pellets like he used to. The change has been happening gradually and about two weeks ago and I’ve been obsessing about it ever since. But looking back I realize his appetite has been slowly decreasing for months. He still eats the same amount of greens but over the course of several hours rather than as soon as I put the plate down. Same as his pellets I sprinkle 1/8 cup over the floor and he takes the day to eat then rather and about an hour. As I said his poop seems to be fine. So I don’t know if he is just getting older, or is sick, or if the fact that we are in the process of moving into a new home, but other than me being busy I don’t think it has effected him much. Has anyone had a similar experience? The vet is 40 minutes away and the trip stresses him out so much I hate to take him if it isn’t necessary.
- 03/13/2017 at 7:37 AM
  Luna
  Participant
  2219 posts
  It could be the process of moving into a new home, but there could also be a dental issue too. Is he dribbling his water at all when he drinks?
- 03/13/2017 at 9:08 AM
  Ardelt
  Participant
  41 posts
  No there doesn’t appear to be any issues with water and I think his teeth are fine as he is still eating hay like a champ, just not as fussy about greens and oxbow pellets, which I would think would be easier to eat than hay. We are still in our old house for another two weeks and not much has been moved from his current spot so I don’t know if it is that or not. This morning he was binking around when I fed him and there are lots of poos in his box. Overl it just seems strange that he seems less food motivated. I’ve been checking his belly, to the point where he is grunting at me now when I do, and when he is less interested it is certainly quite full and swollen but that comes and goes. Part of me thinks it’s nothing just aging and part of me is worried I’m missing something that could turn serious.
- 03/13/2017 at 9:08 AM
  Ardelt
  Participant
  41 posts
  Sorry hit submit too many times. ☺️
- 03/13/2017 at 9:19 AM
  Luna
  Participant
  2219 posts
  Oh I thought you had moved already. Not sure then. Well at least he is eating his hay. Since you say he’s still eating his greens and pellets (even though it takes him a while to finish them now) I’d say he’s probably ok as long as he is not eating less overall.
- 03/13/2017 at 9:59 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17045 posts
  At age 5,5, teeth issues is the first I come to think of. As a rabbit ages the bones in his face become weaker/thinner and this can cause slight malocclusion and molar spurs can form. (The thinning/weakening of skeletal bones happens to humans as well as we age, but we don’t have continuously erupting teeth so we can’t get molar spurs). Molar spurs can cause pain when the bunny eats. Some buns will still eat hay but be reluctant about pellets and veg, some buns stop eating hay.
  
  So I’d have his teeth checked by a vet. The bunny as a rule have to be under GA for a proper thorough dental exam, but if the spurs are obvious a rabbit vet can sometimes see them with an otoscope. A good bunny vet can also check how the teeth in the lower resp upper jaw move against each other. Rabbits’ jaws are very sideways mobile, but the hinge joint can’t open as wide as ours can “horizontally” and the molars are far back in the mouth, so they can’t be seen without an otoscope.
  
  I think you should start weighing him as well. You can weigh him in a bowl on kitchen scales once a week and write down the result, (if you’re anything like me – I always think I’ll remember, but I now know I don’t.) That way you can keep close track of his weight, it’s not easy to see subtle-ish fluctuations of weight with your eyes only.
- 03/27/2017 at 6:59 PM
  Ardelt
  Participant
  41 posts
  Thanks for the advice and sorry for the slow response, we were without internet for awhile during the move. I’m happy to report that Nigel,s appetite is returning to normal. It was just about there and we moved on Friday. He’s still nervous in the new house so he is eating a little less again but I think that temporary.
- 03/28/2017 at 3:45 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17045 posts
  I’m glad to hear there’s improvement! Thank you for the update!
- 03/28/2017 at 10:19 AM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I’m glad he is eating better but if his appetite is still reduced at all, I suggest a dental check. He may just need a quick molar trim. This is very common in older bunnies. Bunnies can develop painful abscesses in their mouths if left unchecked.
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