How concerned should I be about my bun drinking less water?

[twigglybun]

My bun Twiggly usually is pretty good at drinking her water from the bowls I give her, but for the last few days it seems she hasn’t drank from them very much at all. I’ve noticed they’re pretty full and have a few hairs in them (once I see that, I change them). I’d change the water a bit more often because her fur would get in them. It’s worth noting that she is going through her first big shed, and I feed her leafy greens daily. Last night out of concern I thoroughly washed her bowls.

Today I noticed that she is improving though, as she left a noticeable dent in one of her water bowls. I just wonder if this is concerning, and how I can help her get back to her usual water consumption?

Also, I’ve thought about outside factors that have changed. The only change I can think of is that the house is much colder, so maybe the water is colder too. Advice?

[pinknfwuffy]

Hi! Sorry to hear Twiggly hasn’t been as thirsty lately. Sometimes it can be so hard to tell how much they drink since some rabbits can be very secretive about their drinking habits. Other times it is hard to tell because they drink so little it isn’t noticeable.

If she is still eating regularly and happily, and pooping normally (not too dry small), I would say it’s not too much of a concern yet. Keep and eye on her in case it gets worse or her habits change. Until then, I’d suggest sprinkling her veggies with water so she’ll get a little extra hydration that way. Also consider adding a second source of water in case she’s feeling lazy. I have one in Olaf’s cage and another in his favorite sitting area under the table so he is never far from a drink.

If you’re worried about the water temperature, maybe try filling it at room temp or lukewarm to see if she takes interest. Good luck!

[twigglybun]

Her poos are a little small lately, but I chalked it up to to the crappy hay I got from a pet store (kaytee).. which I have only given her for a few days because I was waiting for the small pet select hay to arrive (it came today). I will closely monitor her poos now that she has the good stuff. I hope she’s okay..

edit: Her poops are improving!

[LBJ10]

Is she getting more veggies than before? Veggies contain water, so she may be getting more that way and is less interested in drinking water.

[sarahthegemini]

I was also going to query her veggie quantity. Also I think type of veggie is important too because some are naturally more watery than others.

If she’s moulting, are you seeing any hairy poops? If so, it might be worth syringing some water just to help keep the fur shes ingesting pushed through.

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