Not drinking water, hardly eating hay

[Laura]

Miss Meadow has not touched her water today, hardly any last night, and less than usual a few days ago. At the same time she hasn’t eaten her pellets, until today, she ate 1/2 of what she usually does. She also hasn’t touched much of her hay. I thought it might be the hay so I got a different brand last night and she still hasn’t eaten much. During this time she has eaten all of her veggies. I have given her extra veggies today and made sure they were plenty wet. (I feed my rabbits twice a day, pellets and veggies, so she has gotten wet veggies this am and pm.)

Her poos are varied shapes and sizes.

At about the same time this started Hazel got out of her pen and bit Meadow on the nose through her pen. I have also changed Meadows run around room (from the living room to the office, her son is in the office and they get along ok, I am wanting to bond them soon as I think Meadow is lonely). Meadow has also been destroying her blanket and wonder if she injested some (for the most part she doesn’t as I am always picking up the bits).

Anything I can do at home to get her drinking and eating hay again?

Thanks.

[jerseygirl]

Maybe a stress reaction? Regardless, keeping her hydrated is critical so if she’s eating the wet veggies that’s good. What about trying some pedialyte? Or diluted juice?

Does she drink from a bottle or bowl?

[Otti]

Adding a little bit of apple juice to a bowl of water works with my bunny when he isn’t drinking..

[Deleted User]

I would make a vet appointment since change in water intake and hay consumption are often indicators of dental trouble.

[Laura]

Petzy-I thought the same thing, but she is chewing her wicker basket and apple tree twigs.

[Otti]

My rabbit had a jaw abscess and stopped eating his hay but would still chew on his wicker tent and sometimes even his straw mat or the carpet before he was cured. Not saying your rabbit definitely has teeth issue, but just warning you that even if they keep chewing some things, I know from experience there can still be serious teeth/mouth issues that are best caught early if present.

[Elrohwen]

I’m going to second the vet advice. Hannah had molar spurs when she came to me and she ate most of her food, though slowly, and would still chew on wicker and things. Now that her teeth are better she eats much faster and is always hungry, but since I had just brought her home I didn’t know what was normal for her. Since you know normal and she’s acting different I’d go to the vet.

[Laura]

The apple juice didn’t work. Hubby dropped her off at the vet (there were NO appointments available!) and vet said she has a blockage in her gut. They are keeping her overnight to decide what to do. I wish I had more info than that. Now I’m worried and feel bad that she is not home.

[jerseygirl]

(((((Vibes)))))
Is this one of your own or a foster bunny?

[Laura]

She and her 3 boys were my first fosters almost 2 years ago. I just couldn’t give her back to the shelter. I’m so worried and sad.

[jerseygirl]

Continuing {{{Vibes}}}

How is Meadow doing?

[Laura]

Meadow is doing better. Vet didn’t find anything wrong. Took an x-ray of her abdomen as he thought he stomach felt very full. But there was no blockage, no gas, etc. She ate food and hay and drank while she was there. She had no tooth spurs. We could only afford to do 1 xray, so he did her abdomen. I was going to do a 2nd xray of her head if she didn’t improve.  She spent the night and most of the next day and they watched her and they said she seemed happy and was eating hay and drinking.

I get her home and she only ate her veggies! Vet did give some probiotic but she won’t eat it if sprinkeled on veggies, so I mush up a small bit of banana and mix the probiotic in that. Since the vet visit I have been spending more time with her and letting her out. I got some hay from the vet (because she was eating it when she was there) and bought some oat hay. She is eating most of her pellets now, eating more hay, but not drinking as much as she used to. Her poops are still not normal for her, but those have improved also.

I’m going to work more on bonding her with her son.

Thanks all for your help and suggestions. I love this bunny board.

Sorry I didn’t update you sooner. Our computer got a virus a few days ago and was taken in to be fixed, it’s the only access to the internet I have unless I go to the library.

[jerseygirl]

Thanks for the update. Good to hear she’s doing better! That’s interesting she began eating the hay at the vets then not at home.

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