Rabbit ate about 5 inches of yarn!!! In a panic

[Gamefreak1996]

Now before someone just says “take him to a vet” I know deep down you all have to know that SOMETIMES that just isn’t possible at the moment! Now before you lay into me for neglect just hear me out! I do nothing but spook my babies and always make them my top priority! Even after my bun started eating the walls and furniture when he was free roam, I still refuse to keep him locked up. I put rugs in the living room/laundry room area and he has a lot of room. But he loves running and jumping at mach speed so the 10 feet he has isn’t quite enough for him to do that. Tonight I was busy and would be the rest of the night but he still needs his exercise. So I let him out to run around for about 10 minutes while I was busy with my current task in the other room. Come back and lo and behold he has eaten the yarn string from a cat toy! Now I’m worried since he’s a Dutch so small and nearly a year old. I cannot take him to a vet-Now just wait please-the reason being I am currently on mandatory medical leave from my (already low paying) job because I’ve been sick often lately. And it’s a Walgreens so they got worried and told me I cannot return without a doctor’s note. I’ve already been off for two weeks because there weren’t any immediate openings, on top of that a 130 dollar copay because I don’t have a good insurance, AND me and my boyfriend are struggling with bills and trying to afford a rental house! So don’t say I am neglecting him! But I am very worried and am wondering if any of you have had this happen without an incident!

Also he is a VERY picky water when it comes to hay. I’ve tried several varieties and there’s only one kind I can get him to eat a tiny bit of but that’s only temporary even. He will literally starve himself rather than eat hay however it’s never been an issue because his poops are a healthy amount and his feed is highly nutritional and expensive. But how can I get him to hopefully pass this if he won’t eat his hay?

[Bam]

Hopefully he chewed the yarn well before swallowing it. Rabbits as a rule do that, they’re not like cats and dogs that swallow stuff whole.

Freshly rinsed dripping wet leafy greens/herbs like parsley, cilantro, mint or dandelion will provide both extra fluids and fiber. Hydration is key when you fear a blockage.

If he stops eating and/or pooping, you’ll need to take him to a vet.

[sarahthegemini]

Sorry but not seeking veterinary treatment is neglect. Whether intentional or not.

Hopefully he’ll be okay but if he stops pooping, becomes lethargic etc you’ll need a vet. Maybe try hand feeding some hay?

[Bam]

How is your bunny doing now?

Rabbits often eat strange things. Most come out fine. There are cases that don’t have a good outcome though, and yarn would definitely be a concern. A vet wouldn’t do much to begin with, because a bunny can’t vomit and you can’t induce vomiting in a bunny due to their anatomy. So what comes in must pass through. In very rare cases surgery to remove a blockage is needed. But you’d first try fluids, by mouth, and hay because of it’s high fiber content. Wet greens, since your bun won’t eat hay, although hand-feeding as Sarah suggests can sometimes make a bunny willing to try at least a strand or two. If the bunny loses it’s appetite and/or stops pooping, it’s an emergency that requires vet care. With a blockage, treatment is based on hydration. Motility drugs are not routinely used, because increased intestinal movement can cause the intestines to rupture if there’s a blockage.

[tobyluv]

You didn’t say what variety of hay your rabbit will eat. Even though alfalfa hay is mainly for young rabbits and should only be given (if at all) in small quantities occasionally as a treat to adult rabbits, you may want to try some alfalfa. Most rabbits love it, and that would be some needed fiber to help him pass the yarn.

[Gamefreak1996]

He is pooping his normal amount and his behavior is the same as usual. Just to be safe I got him his favorite hay (botanical). I was trying to see if he would eat timothy because even botanical he won’t eat very much of. He just doesn’t like eating hay I guess but so far no issues. Will keep this updated

[Bam]

Thank you! We’ll be happy for updates.

[jerseygirl]

May be some hay cakes, or 100% hay pellets for times like this? Just to get the fibre moving through him. (  I wouldn’t recommend either for long term use as they require less chewing action and we want our rabbits to chew so their teeth wear against each other).

ETA:  Im not sure if you could apply for this, but CareCredit can be useful in times when funds are tight. There is also Pet Assure insurance. 

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