Beware: Always Check Your Rabbit’s Water Bottle!

[LittleThumper]

Hi all! I recently had the biggest scare ever.

Actually, it happened several weeks back, but I still wish to remind bunny mommies to be wary of your rabbit’s water bottles.

So here’s what happened 2-3 weeks ago: one fine day, I noticed their cage and litter tray have very, very little poop. I found it very unusual as bunnies are usually big poopers. I didn’t think much about it as they were still looking and behaving normal.

On the 2nd day, I notice their poop were even fewer than yesterday’s. I begun to worry. I tried to give them their favourite treats but they have no interest in them at all. So I dropped a few carrots and they ate it very desperately. Then I began to see Bunny became lethargic than the day before… I began to worry and decided to bring them to the vet the next day (as it was night by then). And everytime I went near their cage, Bunny and Estee would stand and look at me as if they are trying to tell me something… but I don’t know what they want as they kept rejecting all sorts of foods I’ve given them. So I dropped more carrots as a temporary solution till I would bring them to the vet tomorrow.

But thankfully before I slept, I investigated their cage and found the water bottle’s ball-bearing stuck! And because it’s stuck, water couldn’t be dispensed at all. The ball was literally stuck – hard. Coincidentally, this happened after I washed and refilled the water bottle – not to mention the weather was very warm, which could have caused the metal ball bearing to expand somehow. As soon as I pushed the ball back in (I had to use some force, that’s how stuck it was), water started flowing and my two buns buns immediately ran towards the water bottle and drank vigorously. My heart sank… I felt heartbroken by the pathetic state of them drinking so desperately! I immediately place another additional water source (a bowl of water) in their cage and they kept on drinking and drinking. I was appalled, really… what could have happened if I had waited till the next day by then to see the vet? Would Bunny have died from dehydration? Not to mention the weather in my area was very warm then and they were shedding lots of fur. I was so thankful I found out the problem in time! (It also explains why they ate up the carrots desperately – for their souce of water content).

And yes, my buns buns are doing well after that awful discovery… they are eating, drinking, and pooping as normal. 

And this isn’t the first time I’ve encountered this. Few years back when I had hamsters the same issue happened and again I realise it at the very last minute before any of them died.

So yeah… just a heads up to other bun bun mommies! Be careful! And take note of your rabbit’s behaviour, whether is it their pooping frequency or any other unusual signs! I guess using a bowl of water as their water source would still be a safe bet, unless you’re checking up on their water bottles routinely.

[sarahthegemini]

This is a great reminder to everyone, thank you for sharing. So glad your bunnies are okay!

[Azerane]

This is always a good reminder, and it’s why I’ve noticed quite a few people actually have two water bottles instead of just one, so that there’s still one working if one stops. In addition to checking the flow twice a day during feed times.

I don’t use bottles at all and use a bowl, bowls can obviously sometimes be tipped, but I haven’t had that trouble with any of my buns and in summer I use two bowls in separate areas of the cage.

I’m glad your rabbits are ok

[Bam]

So glad your buns are ok and thank you for reminding all us bunny parents to check the water bottles!

[kirstyol]

I replace my buns’ water bottle every so often after a similar experience. in our case the ball did not appear to be stuck we could run our fingers over it and water would come out but for two days I noticed it looked like not a single drop of water had been drank out of the bottle even although it appeared to be working properly. Day three and desperately out of options to fix the problem since I couldn’t find a problem to begin with I bought a new water bottle and my buns did exactly what you describe, ran over to the bottle and drank hundreds of water. I felt terribly guilty, but honestly it appeared as if the old one was working but clearly it wasn’t working when they were trying to drink from it. I replace them regularly now and have never had another problem. My boys wont use a bowl, Ron likes to throw bowls about and bramble likes to either sit in them or knock them over.

[LittlePuffyTail]

So glad your buns are okay.

One of the reasons I prefer ceramic bowls for water. Easier to keep clean as well.

[Tgbarber]

So glad you figured it out. My breeder warned me as she nearly lost a bun because of a water bottle. Mine just stopped using his. I have him a ceramic crock then. Still keeping the bottle filled and randomly the other day he’s drinking from bottle. Hasn’t done it since. Its so confusing

Bramble…cute name and him or her sitting in a water bowl…2 funny. Buns are so funny (when they aren’t worrying us to death)

[Boston's Mama]

I use a heavy ceramic bowl and Oakley never tipped it

[Author]

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