Rabbits stomach making loud gurgle noises?

[TheFunBun]

She started a couple of days ago, but I’ve been monitoring her and she’s still eating fantastic although she doesn’t eat hay or pellets(never was very fond of them). She is still very social and loves to hop up on the couch for snuggles. Wondering what’s going on with her?

[Bam]

Gurgling noises as a rule means gas. Gas can be dangerous for a bunny and it can become very painful. You should help her get the gas out. You can do that by gently massaging her tummy. Here’s a nice, instructive YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnuxGLa2reg

You can also give her baby gas drops, simethicone. There is little scientific evidence as to it’s effectiveness, but it’s widely used with rabbits and recommended by Medirabbit. You give about 1-0,5 ml, every hour for three hours, then with a few hours apart. It’s function is to break up big gas bubbles into smaller ones that are easier to pass.

Your bunny needs hay even if she doesn’t like it. Pellets are not absolutely essential, but it’s a simple way of getting all the nutrients a bun needs into the bun. Hay is more or less essential though, unless she eats lots of fresh grass. Bunny tummies need lots of dietary fiber to work properly.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree with Bam that a lot of gurgling probably means gas but sometimes, my Bindi gets a little gurgly now and then. Doesn’t usually last long, though.

Your bunny def needs to eat hay to have a healthy gi tract. Try some different brands or types. My buns really love Oxbow Orchard Grass.

[TheFunBun]

I’ve been trying all kinds of different hay, I have over 5 bags of different kinds and she just wants no part of it what so ever. I tried leaving her with it and cutting out her other foods and it seems she would rather starve then eat it.

[TheFunBun]

I did just find a retailer in my area that carries oxbow(praying they have some in stock as there the only ones) and I’ll give her some of that and see if she likes it! Fingers are crossed!!

[Bam]

Yay, mine too =) They often like Oxbow, the spoilt little brats =) I too have had a hay-problem with mine and had to try loads of different hays and cuts. Turned out mine prefer 3rd and 4th cuts, they are softer and more leafy than hay harvested earlier in the year.

[TheFunBun]

We are in luck!! She absolutely LOVES the oxbow Hay! She was standing IN the bowl of hay eating it and couldn’t eat it fast enough! Also I think the gurgles in her belly were caused by a tad too much broccoli(her favourite). I read online they can cause a lot of gas so I cut it out of her diet and the gurgles have gone away! Thanks a lot guys

[Bam]

So glad to hear it! Make sure she drinks enough now when she’s eaten so much hay, she’ll need more water than when she eats fresh vegs. She should of course regulate her water-intake herself, most buns do that perfectly “automatically”, but you could keep an extra eye the next couple of days or so. If she has a water-bottle, you could give her a water-bowl as well.

Some buns tolerate broccoli, others are more sensitive. It’s all about finding out what works for your bun =)

[LittlePuffyTail]

Glad you found hay she likes.

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