Suggestions To Get My Rabbit To Drink?

[Deleted User]

So, as you know, my rabbits were spayed today. Now if they so much as sneeze, I worry that something is wrong. () One rabbit refuses to drink (but has passed some poop in her potty) and is cleaning herself. She doesn’t appear to be licking the “spot”, just grooming. The other rabbit hasn’t pooped yet, but she is drinking and isn’t cleaning herself. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can try to get Esmeralda to drink? I tried putting water on my clean fingers for her to lick off, in my palm, holding her bottle up to her, and a bowl.  Marge will drink from the bowl just fine.

[Sarita]

I would just let them relax tonight – they’ve had some major pain meds and anesthesia – they need to rest. I would try again in the morning to try to get them to drink. They usually just want to be left alone the first night to recover.

[Deleted User]

Okay.  

[KatnipCrzy]

Did they get IV or SQ fluids at the vet during their procedure? That can cause decreased thirst when they first come home. But I agree- for tonight just let them relax. My female bunny that came home after a spay would not eat that night- but she started eating the next day.

[RabbitPam]

They’re more likely to start drinking again when you’re not so close also. I would smear a tiny bit of banana on the tip of the water bottle and on the inside edge of the water bowl, then leave it. The smell will attract them and you will lead a bunny to water – then see what happens. My bunny only drinks from her bowl when I’ve been quietly in the room with her for a while, so she’s started to feel safe and ignore me. After a procedure, they’re just uncomfortable and cranky already, and need to rest and get back to normal on their own time table.

[BinkyBunny]

update?

[stinkybinky]

when i first got my baby rabbit, who never drank out of a bottle before, it was recommended we put honey on the tip of the bottle to get him to drink and it worked!

[Deleted User]

I dipped the veggies in water before giving them to Esmeralda. That offered a little water to her. She started drinking the night after the operations, but she is still drinking just a tiny, teeny, amount, so I’m going to put something on the nozzle of the water bottle.

[Sarita]

Try giving them a bowl as well.

[Deleted User]

They both are drinking a lot more after I put some banana on the end of the water bottle nozzle.

[BinkyBunny]

Ah….great trick!

[Author]

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