Am frantic. Have been trying to bond spayed Dutchess with Arnold. Put them outside in adjoining playpen again today for 1 1/2 hour then returned them to their separate indoor hutches. Dutchess always grabs a piece of dried apple ring when she is back in her hutch. Today she just ignored it and ate just a tiny fragment from it. Also not eating lettuce back in her cage. She ate a small piece of green leaf while in her outside playpen cage and made maybe a dozen normal poops. But now she is actingreally lethargic. Normally she is rambunctious. She wont let me look at her teeth. Am scared. GI stasis? Tooth pain? When we first got her a few months ago vet suggested rechecking her in 6 months because she had a possible sharp molar spot in the back. Woukd this make her suddenly act this way? Will call the exotic vet in the morning. She is a lionhead. Arnold seems fine and is a voracious eater. He also drinks a lot of water and his litter box is always soaking wet so i have to wash ut out and dry it every day.
Bunny refusing favorite treats and kind of lethargic
- Thread starter cwebster
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Is Dutchess eating any of her hay or pellets? Not eating can certainly be caused by a tooth issue. Stress in general can also cause GI stress. She could be stressed from the bonding attempts. So it's rather difficult to determine if it is a tooth issue, stress, or something else. A vet opinion would be a good idea.
Will try to get vet appt tomorrow. Gave her fresh hay and saw her eat a little bit. She did not eat any pelkets and ate about half a lettuce leaf. Am frantic because usually she grabs tge small appke slice and wouldnt eat it. Thank you.
If she's not eating a decent amount today, I would try and get her seen today. Reason is that by tomorrow you could have full blown stasis, and getting her on gut motility meds now could help prevent that from happening.
Other option if she's still eating a little would be to spend a lot of time today getting her to eat more. Ditch the apple(and any other high carb/sugary foods) as the sugars slow down a rabbits digestion, which is opposite of what you want now. If she will nibble on lettuce(dark leaf types, not iceberg) or her other usual leafy greens, I would keep offering it to her at least every half hour, and keep encouraging hay eating. If she isn't eating much by later today I would try and get her in at the end of the day if at all possible.
Other option if she's still eating a little would be to spend a lot of time today getting her to eat more. Ditch the apple(and any other high carb/sugary foods) as the sugars slow down a rabbits digestion, which is opposite of what you want now. If she will nibble on lettuce(dark leaf types, not iceberg) or her other usual leafy greens, I would keep offering it to her at least every half hour, and keep encouraging hay eating. If she isn't eating much by later today I would try and get her in at the end of the day if at all possible.
somebunnylovesme
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What you can try doing if you have no critical care on hand. Get a table spoon of pellets, add 2 to 3 tablespoon of water. Let the pellets soak until soft. Mash up the pellets and until they have a fuffy, mushy texture. Wipe a small amount under your bunny nose ( not on her nose) This may help with your bunny to get some food into her belly, she'll lick it off and may help her eat again.
I've tried it, it works. Hopefully this will work for you. But still have your vet check her out.
I've tried it, it works. Hopefully this will work for you. But still have your vet check her out.
Today she ate some hay and grabbed her lettuce. Seems much better. But if she shows any more symptoms will give her pellet slurry and get her to the vet. Am hoping she is just stressed from the bonding attempts but is ok.
