Rabbit won't drink water

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This topic has 6sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 15 years ago by Deleted User.

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- 07/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
  MD
  Participant
  49 posts
  I rescued a domestic rabbit yesterday. Today I noticed that it is not drinking any water. I’ve seen it sniff the water but not drink any. I had it in my rabbit carrier overnight and the urine in there was yellow-orange and pungent-smelling, so I thought it was dehydrated. Today I moved the rabbit to an exercise pen with a crate and litter box. I gave it some extra wet lettuce which it ate right away. I put a ceramic bowl full of clean water in the crate and also a plastic sandwich box in the exercise pen, but the litter is dry and there are no puddles in the area. The poops look a little on the small side, but aren’t tiny. The rabbit has been eating fresh Timothy hay. Its behavior is normal other than not drinking water.
- 07/05/2010 at 2:04 AM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Continue with the nice damp veggies if she isn’t interested in drinking, and make a vet appointment for the poor dear. After being outside for who knows how long a check up would be good for her regardless.
- 07/05/2010 at 5:35 AM
  angelicvampyre
  Participant
  754 posts
  grrrr I posted on this! was going to ask if you are giving her water in a dripper bottle or a bowl? Some rabbits don’t know how to use dripper bottles.
- 07/05/2010 at 10:12 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Keep offering the bowl, but give plenty of fresh wet veggies until the rabbit starts drinking. Having been a stray, he may be overwhelmed with everything and over time only will discover all the perks of captivity. Keep us posted!
- 07/05/2010 at 6:08 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  If he/she is an escaped pet, it might be that it’s accustomed to a water bottle. Wet veggies will provide water though. Depending on how long it’s been wandering about, it may have been getting it’s fluids in similar way – from wet grass. Some rabbits just don’t drink alot also.
- 07/06/2010 at 3:22 AM
  Ahvo
  Participant
  56 posts
  Ponyo likes to lick water from smooth things like tiles when he’s running around, so I splash some around now and then. Try damp tiles?
  Perhaps the poor thing just used condensation to get water? : < Maybe (s)he'll use a bowl when (s)he calms down a bit.
- 07/07/2010 at 11:57 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  How is it today? Is he drinking now?
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