Can’t tell if my Rabbit is sick or not

[CJG1993]

Rabbits about 8months old. He hasn’t been eating his pellets at all(LM Farms VitaMix) they would sit there for several days at a time and he’s doesn’t really like hay. Only type I see him eating is Oxbow Oat and it’s only when he’s in the mood(tried a bunch of different type of hay, botanical, orchard, Timothy, etc.

Recently switched him over to Oxbow pellets two days ago. Luckily I’ve seen the level in his food bowl change(he ate a little portion of it)

Today is what worried me. He was laying down sleeping and is usually insanely alert. If I go near him when he’s sleeping he will spring right up. He also doesn’t like to be pet when he’s laying down and today he didn’t care. He wouldn’t respond to treats and refused to go inside his cage. He also doesn’t like to be handled when he’s laying down and he let me pick him up. Tried for about 20 mins to get him to go inside his cage and he wouldn’t. Would try to nudge him a little on his butt so he would stand up but wouldn’t after a few nudges and himresistong he would run to the other end of the room and then lay down over there. Trying to make a vet appointment but I am pretty worried he’s usually pretty mischevious and full of energy and very alert but today he was none of those things.

Can it also he a heat issue? It’s been in the high 90’s here and I always make sure to keep a fan near him so he has the option to lay in front of if it gets too hot and if he gets too cold from the wind he can move somewhere else.

[Mikey]

It sounds like a mix of heat and diet. Rabbits need to eat. Their tummys need to have something in it at all times. If they dont eat anything within 8 hours, they are likely in GI Stasis which can kill a rabbit. If he wont eat, you need to syringe (no needles) feed him pellet mash. You take some pellets and some water and create a liquid goo of that, then suck it up with the syringe. Stick the end of the syringe in your rabbits lip and squirt once or twice. Wait a few seconds. If he swallows, do it again then wait again. If it comes out of his nose or lip, it means hes not swallowing and needs to see a vet as soon as possible

I think its heat also because rabbits are prone to over heating and having heat strokes. Rabbits are generally at risk at any temp over 80F degrees. A fan will help, but not as much as some people think. Youll want to add ice to his water, a cold damp towel on the cage in front of the fan area, ice bottles/ice packs inside of the cage, ect

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