Why does my rabbit never move?

[Victoria]

I have seven rabbits who all show normal behaviours except one. Her name is Mika (mini lop)and she’s 2 years old and I’ve always thought she wasn’t the most active but she’d at least move a little throughout the day. She was bonded with another female Netherland dwarf who sadly died from unknown causes last October. At first Mika was clearly sad about it and stopped moving and eating for a couple days, so I took her to the vet and they just said that she’s basically mourning. However, she’s never gotten better. She just sits in her cage all day and won’t come out. On the odd occasion she does come out, she’ll sit in the same spot for hours on end. I feel like this is getting worse now because she’s moving so little that she’s not even bothering to go to her litter tray, she’s just doing her business right where she is and laying in it. Has anyone experienced anything like this and know what to do? I’m really worried now and she just constantly looks so sad just sitting like a little ball.

Any help would be much appreciated!

[sarahthegemini]

I would definitely get her checked at the vet to rule out any physical problems but to me it sounds like she’s depressed – have you thought about getting another bun to bond with her?

[Bam]

I sounds very worrysome that she sits and lies in her own pee. How is her eating- and drinking habits? Poop? (Amount, consistency, size, color).

Does she have human company during the day or is she alone much of the time?

[Vienna Blue in France]

Are your other six rabbits bonded in pairs or could you try one with Mika ?
It def sounds as if she’s going through major depression…. especially if she was fine and dandy when her bonded partner was alive.

As you’ve got other buns you don’t necessarily need to get another bun to see if it is indeed that. Do they interact together through bars / in the same room ?

[Victoria]

Hi everyone, thank you for your responses, I will definitely look into pairing her up with one of my bunnies but she’s never been particularly fond of other bunnies! However, this morning when I woke, I noticed she was grinding her teeth in pain so I went straight to the vets who confirmed her GI tract has has slowed down a lot and mentioned something called GI stasis. Luckily I’d caught it just in the beginning so she should hopefully make full recovery. She’s been giving pain medicine and another medicine that should help her GI tract. I’ve managed to get her to eat cabbage but nothing else. I was given critical care as well and told to syringe feed her but she’s not taking it. Any advice on getting her to take it?

Again, thank you so much!

[Bam]

How is your bunny doing now?

Most bunnies don’t like being syringe fed. We must still syringe feed them, having an empty tummy is really dangerous for a bunny. You can mix the CC with something yummy, canned (plain pumpkin), baby fruit- or veg puree. And expect to get quite a lot of the CC on yourself and on the bunny. As long as sth goes into her tummy it’s ok.

It’s good she’s eaten cabbage. Keep trying to encourage her to eat. Herbs like mint, cilantro, dill or parsley sometimes work. Serve herbs wet so she gets fluids.

[Author]

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