Struggling with water bottle BUT wet dewlap from bowl

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This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by River&Luna.

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- 11/28/2017 at 9:32 AM
  River&Luna
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  One of my rabbits, River, has been having a rough go with water. He is 3.5, but I’ve only had him for about half a year, his previous owner says he only had a water bottle. However, when I got him I switched to a water bowl as that’s what my other rabbit is used to. He’s been fine with it for about 6 months now, but over the past week he has been making a HUGE mess of it. He gets water all over his chin, like it is dripping, and he can’t clean it fully. I’ve noticed his skin underneath is now VERY red and flaky. So, I blowdried him, and bought some water bottles for them both. Now, he is struggling with the water bottle, he won’t drink a lot, gets frustrated with it, chews it, and then just goes away. I know he’s still thirsty because if I squeeze it, he comes back and drinks a lot. What should I do? Are there any water bottles that are best/easiest to drink from? Why is he suddenly so bad with drinking water from a bowl?? Anyone have any insight on this? (He has been to the vet very recently, his teeth are good, no drooling, etc.) Any help or advice would be amazing!!!
- 11/28/2017 at 10:26 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5835 posts
  Has he recently gained or loss weight, or is his fur length different due to molting?
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 11/28/2017 at 10:40 AM
  River&Luna
  Participant
  4 posts
  Weight is the same. Fur length seemed a little longer, but I ended up trimming it when blowdrying because it was so wet.
- 11/28/2017 at 11:18 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5835 posts
  I don’t think being consistently wet would cause the redness and flakiness, but more so any excessive grooming that may occur. Aside from redness, is there crust around the fur follicles in that area and is there any fur loss? I ask because Wick recently finished treatment for his fungal infection, which I thought was fur loss/flakiness from drool but it was a completely different cause.
  
  A smaller diameter water bowl may help, preventing drinking from the middle of the bowl where the neck fur would trail into it.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 11/28/2017 at 11:23 AM
  River&Luna
  Participant
  4 posts
  I’ve been told that consistent wetness can cause skin infections though, the damp and warm environment helps the bacteria grow quickly. He hasn’t been grooming it at all, he just leaves it. There is some fur loss, not really seeing crust though. What was the cause of Wick’s infection?
- 11/28/2017 at 11:29 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Would a shallower bowl help prevent him getting so wet?
- 11/28/2017 at 11:44 AM
  River&Luna
  Participant
  4 posts
  One of them already is pretty shallow, the other isn’t. But either way, he started struggling with both over the past week. It’s weird and seems random.
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